1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,000 [bright tone] 2 00:00:18,167 --> 00:00:21,167 [dramatic vocal music] 3 00:00:21,250 --> 00:00:28,417 ♪ ♪ 4 00:00:40,500 --> 00:00:42,083 - What is missing from Me Too? 5 00:00:42,167 --> 00:00:46,125 I--it's difficult for me 6 00:00:42,167 --> 00:00:46,125 to say, 7 00:00:46,208 --> 00:00:47,792 but I don't think 8 00:00:46,208 --> 00:00:47,792 it's a coincidence 9 00:00:47,875 --> 00:00:49,458 that most of the women 10 00:00:47,875 --> 00:00:49,458 who have come forward 11 00:00:49,542 --> 00:00:51,250 in Hollywood 12 00:00:49,542 --> 00:00:51,250 have been white women. 13 00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:52,833 I don't think 14 00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:52,833 it's a coincidence 15 00:00:52,917 --> 00:00:55,625 that they are generally 16 00:00:52,917 --> 00:00:55,625 quite successful. 17 00:00:56,583 --> 00:00:59,292 If we look at the earning power 18 00:00:56,583 --> 00:00:59,292 of people in America, 19 00:00:59,375 --> 00:01:01,792 for example, 20 00:00:59,375 --> 00:01:01,792 at the very top are white men, 21 00:01:01,875 --> 00:01:05,458 and at the very bottom 22 00:01:01,875 --> 00:01:05,458 are women of color, 23 00:01:05,542 --> 00:01:08,417 and that is something 24 00:01:05,542 --> 00:01:08,417 that I think is necessary 25 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:11,625 to look at when we are talking 26 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:11,625 about who gets to come forward 27 00:01:11,708 --> 00:01:14,458 and give their own stories 28 00:01:11,708 --> 00:01:14,458 about surviving sexual abuse 29 00:01:14,542 --> 00:01:16,333 or sexual assault. 30 00:01:16,417 --> 00:01:18,792 - America picks and chooses 31 00:01:16,417 --> 00:01:18,792 who they're gonna listen to. 32 00:01:18,875 --> 00:01:20,667 Not only does class 33 00:01:18,875 --> 00:01:20,667 have an indicator, 34 00:01:20,750 --> 00:01:23,375 but what that person 35 00:01:20,750 --> 00:01:23,375 looks like has an indicator. 36 00:01:23,458 --> 00:01:26,542 So who we decide to listen to 37 00:01:23,458 --> 00:01:26,542 is totally predicated 38 00:01:26,625 --> 00:01:29,167 on who we see as valuable 39 00:01:26,625 --> 00:01:29,167 in America. 40 00:01:29,250 --> 00:01:36,375 ♪ ♪ 41 00:01:37,583 --> 00:01:39,750 - A lot of black women 42 00:01:37,583 --> 00:01:39,750 felt disconnected 43 00:01:39,833 --> 00:01:41,000 from Me Too initially. 44 00:01:41,083 --> 00:01:42,833 They felt like, "That's great 45 00:01:42,917 --> 00:01:44,167 "that this sister is out there, 46 00:01:44,250 --> 00:01:46,500 "and we support her 47 00:01:44,250 --> 00:01:46,500 as an individual, 48 00:01:46,583 --> 00:01:48,792 but this movement 49 00:01:46,583 --> 00:01:48,792 is not for us." 50 00:01:48,875 --> 00:01:53,333 ♪ ♪ 51 00:01:53,417 --> 00:01:55,458 - If we're gonna 52 00:01:53,417 --> 00:01:55,458 move this forward, 53 00:01:55,542 --> 00:02:00,208 it can't simply remain 54 00:01:55,542 --> 00:02:00,208 a problem of the beautiful, 55 00:02:00,292 --> 00:02:02,125 the wealthy, 56 00:02:00,292 --> 00:02:02,125 the popular. 57 00:02:02,208 --> 00:02:05,917 This has to be a moment where, 58 00:02:02,208 --> 00:02:05,917 yes, that might lead us, 59 00:02:06,042 --> 00:02:08,333 but we need to be able 60 00:02:06,042 --> 00:02:08,333 to make sure 61 00:02:08,417 --> 00:02:11,083 that a broader group of women 62 00:02:08,417 --> 00:02:11,083 are introduced 63 00:02:11,167 --> 00:02:14,000 into the public consciousness 64 00:02:11,167 --> 00:02:14,000 at the same time. 65 00:02:14,083 --> 00:02:16,875 ♪ ♪ 66 00:02:16,958 --> 00:02:20,583 - It is high time 67 00:02:16,958 --> 00:02:20,583 that the lens turns to us 68 00:02:20,667 --> 00:02:23,167 and that we're allowed 69 00:02:20,667 --> 00:02:23,167 to be heard 70 00:02:23,250 --> 00:02:25,833 and, more importantly, 71 00:02:23,250 --> 00:02:25,833 believed. 72 00:02:25,917 --> 00:02:33,083 ♪ ♪ 73 00:02:57,167 --> 00:02:59,375 - [grunts, sniffles] 74 00:02:59,458 --> 00:03:01,417 Where is it? 75 00:03:06,333 --> 00:03:11,583 Okay, so I think I have 76 00:03:06,333 --> 00:03:11,583 to look in my closet. 77 00:03:11,667 --> 00:03:16,250 How could I have lost it 78 00:03:11,667 --> 00:03:16,250 so quickly? 79 00:03:16,333 --> 00:03:17,708 Here it is. 80 00:03:17,792 --> 00:03:20,750 Yeah, this is the demo 81 00:03:17,792 --> 00:03:20,750 for "Junior M.A.F.I.A." 82 00:03:20,833 --> 00:03:22,708 [chuckles] 83 00:03:20,833 --> 00:03:22,708 - That's insane, right? 84 00:03:22,792 --> 00:03:23,708 - Yeah. 85 00:03:23,792 --> 00:03:25,250 With Lil' Kim and-- 86 00:03:25,333 --> 00:03:27,083 I think actually 87 00:03:25,333 --> 00:03:27,083 Biggie gave me this, 88 00:03:27,167 --> 00:03:31,083 or Daddy-O must have given me 89 00:03:27,167 --> 00:03:31,083 this demo. 90 00:03:31,167 --> 00:03:32,875 At the time, Biggie was-- 91 00:03:32,958 --> 00:03:35,833 let's just call it 92 00:03:32,958 --> 00:03:35,833 a entrepreneur. 93 00:03:35,917 --> 00:03:37,292 [laughs] 94 00:03:37,375 --> 00:03:40,500 So he was working outside, 95 00:03:37,375 --> 00:03:40,500 you know? 96 00:03:40,583 --> 00:03:42,292 He just lived 97 00:03:40,583 --> 00:03:42,292 around the corner, 98 00:03:42,375 --> 00:03:45,208 and he was trying 99 00:03:42,375 --> 00:03:45,208 to be a rapper. 100 00:03:45,292 --> 00:03:47,125 I was trying to be 101 00:03:45,292 --> 00:03:47,125 a rap A&R person. 102 00:03:47,208 --> 00:03:48,833 We were all trying 103 00:03:47,208 --> 00:03:48,833 to be something. 104 00:03:48,917 --> 00:03:51,125 - ♪ Tell the people 105 00:03:48,917 --> 00:03:51,125 what you're here for ♪ 106 00:03:51,208 --> 00:03:54,292 [Gang Starr's 107 00:03:51,208 --> 00:03:54,292 "What I'm Here 4"] 108 00:03:54,375 --> 00:03:56,042 ♪ ♪ 109 00:03:56,125 --> 00:03:57,417 - ♪ It's the message 110 00:03:56,125 --> 00:03:57,417 in the song ♪ 111 00:03:57,500 --> 00:03:58,792 ♪ That makes you rock on ♪ 112 00:03:58,875 --> 00:04:00,125 ♪ Some people go to places ♪ 113 00:04:00,208 --> 00:04:01,375 ♪ Where they don't belong ♪ 114 00:04:01,458 --> 00:04:02,625 ♪ Whether wrong or right ♪ 115 00:04:02,708 --> 00:04:03,875 ♪ A lot of people fight ♪ 116 00:04:03,958 --> 00:04:05,000 ♪ But I'm here to bless ♪ 117 00:04:05,083 --> 00:04:07,375 ♪ This mic, all right ♪ 118 00:04:07,458 --> 00:04:10,333 [car horns honking] 119 00:04:10,417 --> 00:04:11,833 - When I lived here, 120 00:04:11,917 --> 00:04:14,000 I worked at Empire 121 00:04:11,917 --> 00:04:14,000 Artist Management. 122 00:04:14,083 --> 00:04:16,333 I was a receptionist 123 00:04:14,083 --> 00:04:16,333 pre-Def Jam. 124 00:04:16,417 --> 00:04:19,042 I was working with Gang Starr, 125 00:04:16,417 --> 00:04:19,042 DJ Premier, 126 00:04:19,125 --> 00:04:22,083 Jeru the Damaja. 127 00:04:22,167 --> 00:04:24,542 This is how I would walk 128 00:04:22,167 --> 00:04:24,542 to the train, 129 00:04:24,625 --> 00:04:27,667 and I specifically walked this 130 00:04:24,625 --> 00:04:27,667 way because Biggie told me, 131 00:04:27,750 --> 00:04:31,000 "Walk down my block 132 00:04:27,750 --> 00:04:31,000 because I run my block 133 00:04:31,083 --> 00:04:32,708 "and everybody knows 134 00:04:31,083 --> 00:04:32,708 you're cool with me, 135 00:04:32,792 --> 00:04:34,083 "so if you walk down my block, 136 00:04:34,167 --> 00:04:35,708 you're not gonna have 137 00:04:34,167 --> 00:04:35,708 any problems." 138 00:04:35,792 --> 00:04:37,625 I mean, it was different. 139 00:04:35,792 --> 00:04:37,625 It was the early '90s. 140 00:04:37,708 --> 00:04:39,542 There were crack vials 141 00:04:37,708 --> 00:04:39,542 everywhere. 142 00:04:39,625 --> 00:04:43,708 It was still, you know, 143 00:04:39,625 --> 00:04:43,708 rough and rugged. 144 00:04:44,708 --> 00:04:46,833 I always wonder 145 00:04:44,708 --> 00:04:46,833 what would have happened 146 00:04:46,917 --> 00:04:47,833 if Biggie had lived. 147 00:04:47,917 --> 00:04:49,000 I feel like Biggie-- 148 00:04:49,083 --> 00:04:51,750 Biggie had my back. 149 00:04:49,083 --> 00:04:51,750 [laughs] 150 00:04:53,708 --> 00:04:56,625 [dramatic music] 151 00:04:56,708 --> 00:05:03,875 ♪ ♪ 152 00:05:07,875 --> 00:05:12,292 Music has always been sort of 153 00:05:07,875 --> 00:05:12,292 this language that I spoke. 154 00:05:12,375 --> 00:05:15,208 Everything from, you know, 155 00:05:12,375 --> 00:05:15,208 the Doors to the Beatles 156 00:05:15,292 --> 00:05:16,833 to Prince to jazz. 157 00:05:16,917 --> 00:05:18,833 You know, my mom was a big 158 00:05:16,917 --> 00:05:18,833 Billie Holiday fan, 159 00:05:18,917 --> 00:05:22,583 so I consumed Billie Holiday 160 00:05:18,917 --> 00:05:22,583 voraciously. 161 00:05:22,667 --> 00:05:24,417 I mean, I would stay up 162 00:05:22,667 --> 00:05:24,417 in the middle of the night 163 00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:27,708 and organize my mom's albums 164 00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:27,708 on the living room floor 165 00:05:27,792 --> 00:05:30,208 and I would just play 166 00:05:27,792 --> 00:05:30,208 the songs in order 167 00:05:30,292 --> 00:05:32,750 and I would chase the fades. 168 00:05:32,833 --> 00:05:36,750 I would turn it up to catch 169 00:05:32,833 --> 00:05:36,750 every last drop of the record 170 00:05:36,833 --> 00:05:39,833 because some of the best stuff 171 00:05:36,833 --> 00:05:39,833 was in the fade. 172 00:05:41,208 --> 00:05:44,792 Hip-hop then also had this 173 00:05:41,208 --> 00:05:44,792 additional appeal to me 174 00:05:44,875 --> 00:05:50,625 as this sort of black movement 175 00:05:44,875 --> 00:05:50,625 that was empowering people 176 00:05:50,708 --> 00:05:52,583 who were otherwise lost 177 00:05:50,708 --> 00:05:52,583 and overlooked, 178 00:05:52,667 --> 00:05:54,583 and I grew up feeling 179 00:05:52,667 --> 00:05:54,583 like that was my mission 180 00:05:54,667 --> 00:05:58,333 as the daughter 181 00:05:54,667 --> 00:05:58,333 of local politicians. 182 00:05:58,417 --> 00:06:01,667 I grew up in the thick 183 00:05:58,417 --> 00:06:01,667 of black D.C. 184 00:06:01,750 --> 00:06:03,667 You know, 185 00:06:01,750 --> 00:06:03,667 knocking on doors, 186 00:06:03,750 --> 00:06:07,917 trying to convert one voter 187 00:06:03,750 --> 00:06:07,917 at a time, 188 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,250 and then hip-hop just combined 189 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,250 two things that I loved: 190 00:06:11,333 --> 00:06:16,125 activism and this sense 191 00:06:11,333 --> 00:06:16,125 of pride with music. 192 00:06:16,208 --> 00:06:17,667 And it seemed like it could 193 00:06:17,750 --> 00:06:19,958 sort of, I thought, 194 00:06:17,750 --> 00:06:19,958 change the world. 195 00:06:20,042 --> 00:06:20,958 [laughs] 196 00:06:21,042 --> 00:06:22,958 - Mayor Dixon, are you-- 197 00:06:23,042 --> 00:06:25,500 Mrs. Dixon, are you prepared 198 00:06:23,042 --> 00:06:25,500 to take the oath? 199 00:06:25,583 --> 00:06:27,333 - I am indeed. 200 00:06:25,583 --> 00:06:27,333 [laughter] 201 00:06:27,417 --> 00:06:30,792 - Would you please place 202 00:06:27,417 --> 00:06:30,792 your left hand on the Bible? 203 00:06:30,875 --> 00:06:33,958 - When my mom was elected 204 00:06:30,875 --> 00:06:33,958 mayor of D.C., 205 00:06:34,042 --> 00:06:36,625 I took my junior year off 206 00:06:34,042 --> 00:06:36,625 from Stanford 207 00:06:36,708 --> 00:06:40,042 to help 208 00:06:36,708 --> 00:06:40,042 with her inaugural ball, 209 00:06:40,125 --> 00:06:43,083 and in the process of putting 210 00:06:40,125 --> 00:06:43,083 together her inauguration, 211 00:06:43,167 --> 00:06:45,000 I had the opportunity 212 00:06:43,167 --> 00:06:45,000 to pick the artists. 213 00:06:45,083 --> 00:06:46,833 So I picked Rare Essence, 214 00:06:45,083 --> 00:06:46,833 my favorite go-go band. 215 00:06:46,917 --> 00:06:49,542 [upbeat music playing] 216 00:06:49,625 --> 00:06:50,750 I picked Kwamé. 217 00:06:50,833 --> 00:06:51,917 - ♪ I came here for something ♪ 218 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:53,125 ♪ Funky to happen ♪ 219 00:06:53,208 --> 00:06:55,042 - And I picked Big Daddy Kane. 220 00:06:55,125 --> 00:06:56,542 - ♪ Let me hear you say ho ♪ 221 00:06:56,625 --> 00:06:57,625 all: Ho! 222 00:06:57,708 --> 00:06:59,125 ♪ Say ho ♪ 223 00:06:59,208 --> 00:07:00,667 - Suddenly I was interacting 224 00:06:59,208 --> 00:07:00,667 with the people 225 00:07:00,750 --> 00:07:02,833 behind the scenes, 226 00:07:00,750 --> 00:07:02,833 and it occurred to me, 227 00:07:02,917 --> 00:07:04,417 "Oh, what about those jobs? 228 00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:06,000 "Maybe that's what I should do. 229 00:07:06,083 --> 00:07:08,083 "There's, like, this industry, 230 00:07:06,083 --> 00:07:08,083 and there's people 231 00:07:08,167 --> 00:07:09,833 "who aren't the artists 232 00:07:08,167 --> 00:07:09,833 but they kind of 233 00:07:09,917 --> 00:07:11,500 "make it all happen. 234 00:07:11,583 --> 00:07:14,625 Maybe that's the thing for me." 235 00:07:14,708 --> 00:07:18,333 And so when I found out 236 00:07:14,708 --> 00:07:18,333 there was this job called A&R, 237 00:07:18,417 --> 00:07:20,625 where you could discover 238 00:07:18,417 --> 00:07:20,625 new artists 239 00:07:20,708 --> 00:07:23,667 and make great songs, 240 00:07:23,750 --> 00:07:25,333 you know, 241 00:07:23,750 --> 00:07:25,333 I started reading "Billboard," 242 00:07:25,417 --> 00:07:28,542 and I had all of these books 243 00:07:25,417 --> 00:07:28,542 and magazines, 244 00:07:28,625 --> 00:07:31,208 and Russell Simmons 245 00:07:28,625 --> 00:07:31,208 was a huge part of, like, 246 00:07:31,292 --> 00:07:32,542 that sort of ideal. 247 00:07:32,625 --> 00:07:35,125 Like, that's where I wanna be. 248 00:07:35,208 --> 00:07:37,833 I mean, I drove across 249 00:07:35,208 --> 00:07:37,833 the country to New York 250 00:07:37,917 --> 00:07:40,542 with a dream 251 00:07:37,917 --> 00:07:40,542 to make hip-hop records. 252 00:07:40,625 --> 00:07:43,250 I mean, I--I can't even put 253 00:07:40,625 --> 00:07:43,250 into words how excited I was. 254 00:07:43,333 --> 00:07:46,292 [upbeat music] 255 00:07:46,375 --> 00:07:48,375 ♪ ♪ 256 00:07:48,458 --> 00:07:51,333 - I was an A&R coordinator 257 00:07:48,458 --> 00:07:51,333 at EMI Records. 258 00:07:51,417 --> 00:07:53,208 I met Drew when she'd 259 00:07:51,417 --> 00:07:53,208 just finished college 260 00:07:53,292 --> 00:07:55,417 and she had moved to New York 261 00:07:53,292 --> 00:07:55,417 from D.C. 262 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:58,208 She was, like, this bright 263 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:58,208 spirit that came out, 264 00:07:58,292 --> 00:08:00,375 and we hit it off right away. 265 00:08:00,458 --> 00:08:03,333 - I started by answering 266 00:08:00,458 --> 00:08:03,333 phones at various companies 267 00:08:03,417 --> 00:08:05,833 from Jive Records 268 00:08:03,417 --> 00:08:05,833 to Warner Bros. Records 269 00:08:05,917 --> 00:08:08,000 and eventually became 270 00:08:05,917 --> 00:08:08,000 a publishing executive 271 00:08:08,083 --> 00:08:09,667 at Zomba Music Publishing. 272 00:08:09,750 --> 00:08:14,167 - Drew was a young, powerful 273 00:08:09,750 --> 00:08:14,167 something to watch. 274 00:08:14,250 --> 00:08:17,333 An interesting, 275 00:08:14,250 --> 00:08:17,333 intelligent woman 276 00:08:17,417 --> 00:08:19,708 who cared so much 277 00:08:17,417 --> 00:08:19,708 about this music. 278 00:08:19,792 --> 00:08:22,125 - After about two years 279 00:08:19,792 --> 00:08:22,125 of just being in the mix, 280 00:08:22,208 --> 00:08:24,208 eventually I guess people 281 00:08:22,208 --> 00:08:24,208 sort of figured out, 282 00:08:24,292 --> 00:08:26,708 "Oh, this woman is always 283 00:08:24,292 --> 00:08:26,708 hanging out and showing up 284 00:08:26,792 --> 00:08:28,917 and knowing what's hot." 285 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:30,833 And so when Def Jam called me 286 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:30,833 and was like, 287 00:08:30,917 --> 00:08:33,750 "Russell wants to offer you 288 00:08:30,917 --> 00:08:33,750 this job," 289 00:08:33,833 --> 00:08:35,292 I mean, I was thrilled. 290 00:08:35,375 --> 00:08:36,542 I was--it was my-- 291 00:08:36,625 --> 00:08:37,625 It was like, "That's it. 292 00:08:36,625 --> 00:08:37,625 I won." 293 00:08:37,708 --> 00:08:39,083 [laughs] 294 00:08:37,708 --> 00:08:39,083 - ♪ Yes ♪ 295 00:08:39,167 --> 00:08:40,667 ♪ Was the start of my last jam ♪ 296 00:08:40,750 --> 00:08:43,583 ♪ So here it is again, 297 00:08:40,750 --> 00:08:43,583 another def jam ♪ 298 00:08:43,667 --> 00:08:45,500 - Who didn't wanna be 299 00:08:43,667 --> 00:08:45,500 Russell Simmons? 300 00:08:45,583 --> 00:08:47,417 I mean, he had the foresight 301 00:08:45,583 --> 00:08:47,417 to cultivate 302 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:50,083 what was in these clubs 303 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:50,083 and in these streets 304 00:08:50,167 --> 00:08:51,417 in New York City 305 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:53,042 and make it into, like, 306 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:53,042 this business. 307 00:08:53,125 --> 00:08:56,000 - The Russell Simmons 308 00:08:53,125 --> 00:08:56,000 that I met 309 00:08:56,083 --> 00:08:58,125 when I was 21 or 22 310 00:08:58,208 --> 00:09:01,917 was the godfather 311 00:08:58,208 --> 00:09:01,917 of the whole damn thing. 312 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,250 - I met Russell 313 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,250 at Disco Fever. 314 00:09:04,333 --> 00:09:07,375 Disco Fever was, like, 315 00:09:04,333 --> 00:09:07,375 the popular club in the Bronx 316 00:09:07,458 --> 00:09:12,875 that everybody who was somebody 317 00:09:07,458 --> 00:09:12,875 was able to go. 318 00:09:12,958 --> 00:09:14,958 You know, he was like God 319 00:09:12,958 --> 00:09:14,958 to everybody. 320 00:09:15,042 --> 00:09:17,458 - Everybody always looked 321 00:09:15,042 --> 00:09:17,458 at Russell as Def Jam, 322 00:09:17,542 --> 00:09:19,125 so that's a black label. 323 00:09:19,208 --> 00:09:22,208 'Cause the major labels 324 00:09:19,208 --> 00:09:22,208 was not touching us. 325 00:09:22,292 --> 00:09:23,792 They were saying, 326 00:09:22,292 --> 00:09:23,792 "You a fad. 327 00:09:23,875 --> 00:09:25,625 What is this rap thing?" 328 00:09:25,708 --> 00:09:27,292 - He managed Run-DMC, 329 00:09:27,375 --> 00:09:30,167 one of the first groups 330 00:09:27,375 --> 00:09:30,167 to ever break the mold 331 00:09:30,250 --> 00:09:31,958 with pop music 332 00:09:30,250 --> 00:09:31,958 with Aerosmith. 333 00:09:32,042 --> 00:09:33,625 That had never 334 00:09:32,042 --> 00:09:33,625 been done before. 335 00:09:33,708 --> 00:09:36,292 - ♪ She told me to ♪ 336 00:09:33,708 --> 00:09:36,292 - ♪ Walk this way ♪ 337 00:09:36,375 --> 00:09:38,708 ♪ Talk this way ♪ 338 00:09:38,792 --> 00:09:40,792 - And Drew was there 339 00:09:38,792 --> 00:09:40,792 in the middle of, like, 340 00:09:40,875 --> 00:09:44,000 all of this swell of hip-hop, 341 00:09:44,083 --> 00:09:49,167 and Def Jam became the royalty 342 00:09:44,083 --> 00:09:49,167 of labels to be on. 343 00:09:49,250 --> 00:09:54,000 - Working for Russell Simmons, 344 00:09:49,250 --> 00:09:54,000 doing A&R, 345 00:09:54,083 --> 00:09:58,167 I mean, I could not 346 00:09:54,083 --> 00:09:58,167 have scripted it better. 347 00:09:58,250 --> 00:10:01,167 [dramatic music] 348 00:10:01,250 --> 00:10:05,167 ♪ ♪ 349 00:10:05,250 --> 00:10:07,833 - Exactly one month since the 350 00:10:05,250 --> 00:10:07,833 first "New York Times" story 351 00:10:07,917 --> 00:10:09,625 about Weinstein's harassment, 352 00:10:09,708 --> 00:10:12,167 more and more powerful men 353 00:10:09,708 --> 00:10:12,167 have been held to account. 354 00:10:12,250 --> 00:10:13,875 They've been accused 355 00:10:12,250 --> 00:10:13,875 of harassing 356 00:10:13,958 --> 00:10:16,833 or assaulting behavior, 357 00:10:13,958 --> 00:10:16,833 so what is next? 358 00:10:16,917 --> 00:10:19,125 Or maybe I should say, 359 00:10:16,917 --> 00:10:19,125 "Who is next?" 360 00:10:22,625 --> 00:10:29,792 ♪ ♪ 361 00:10:31,083 --> 00:10:33,583 - So when the Harvey Weinstein 362 00:10:31,083 --> 00:10:33,583 stories started coming out, 363 00:10:33,667 --> 00:10:36,167 it was upsetting. 364 00:10:36,250 --> 00:10:37,458 I didn't know anything 365 00:10:36,250 --> 00:10:37,458 about him. 366 00:10:37,542 --> 00:10:38,458 I didn't know him, 367 00:10:38,542 --> 00:10:41,167 but it was so familiar, 368 00:10:41,250 --> 00:10:42,542 and I was so grateful 369 00:10:42,625 --> 00:10:44,167 that those women 370 00:10:42,625 --> 00:10:44,167 were being believed, 371 00:10:44,250 --> 00:10:46,000 'cause I knew--I could 372 00:10:44,250 --> 00:10:46,000 just feel in my bones-- 373 00:10:46,083 --> 00:10:49,708 like, I know what that's like; 374 00:10:46,083 --> 00:10:49,708 I know what that's about. 375 00:10:49,792 --> 00:10:51,208 But I was also kind of like, 376 00:10:51,292 --> 00:10:53,417 "I don't really wanna read 377 00:10:51,292 --> 00:10:53,417 these articles. 378 00:10:53,500 --> 00:10:55,917 "I don't really 379 00:10:53,500 --> 00:10:55,917 wanna take this in, 380 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,708 "because I don't want this 381 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,708 to get too close to me, 382 00:10:58,792 --> 00:11:01,417 "where I'm gonna have 383 00:10:58,792 --> 00:11:01,417 to decide, 384 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:03,250 "well, what would I do 385 00:11:03,333 --> 00:11:05,167 "if I had the opportunity 386 00:11:03,333 --> 00:11:05,167 to come forward? 387 00:11:05,250 --> 00:11:07,750 I don't think I wanna 388 00:11:05,250 --> 00:11:07,750 even think about that." 389 00:11:07,833 --> 00:11:09,917 And also, I felt like, 390 00:11:07,833 --> 00:11:09,917 as a black woman, 391 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,958 I was like, 392 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,958 "I don't know if this applies. 393 00:11:12,042 --> 00:11:13,583 I don't think this applies." 394 00:11:13,667 --> 00:11:16,167 - Victims of sexual harassment 395 00:11:13,667 --> 00:11:16,167 in Hollywood 396 00:11:16,250 --> 00:11:18,208 continue 397 00:11:16,250 --> 00:11:18,208 to tell their stories. 398 00:11:18,292 --> 00:11:21,833 This morning, allegations 399 00:11:18,292 --> 00:11:21,833 surfaced against Brett Ratner, 400 00:11:21,917 --> 00:11:23,875 a filmmaker best known 401 00:11:21,917 --> 00:11:23,875 for directing 402 00:11:23,958 --> 00:11:25,250 the "Rush Hour" trilogy. 403 00:11:25,333 --> 00:11:26,750 - When Brett's name came up, 404 00:11:26,833 --> 00:11:29,042 then I literally started to get, 405 00:11:26,833 --> 00:11:29,042 like, you know, 406 00:11:29,125 --> 00:11:31,042 the, like, knots in my stomach. 407 00:11:31,125 --> 00:11:33,708 Like, "Oh, boy, 408 00:11:31,125 --> 00:11:33,708 here we go." 409 00:11:33,792 --> 00:11:35,875 And then Russell's name 410 00:11:33,792 --> 00:11:35,875 started to come up 411 00:11:35,958 --> 00:11:37,500 in the stories about Brett. 412 00:11:37,583 --> 00:11:39,250 - The "Los Angeles Times" 413 00:11:37,583 --> 00:11:39,250 revealed accusations 414 00:11:39,333 --> 00:11:41,500 of Simmons teaming up 415 00:11:39,333 --> 00:11:41,500 with Hollywood director 416 00:11:41,583 --> 00:11:44,250 Brett Ratner 417 00:11:41,583 --> 00:11:44,250 to allegedly assault women. 418 00:11:44,333 --> 00:11:45,500 - And then literally 419 00:11:44,333 --> 00:11:45,500 what happened, 420 00:11:45,583 --> 00:11:47,333 one of my friends, 421 00:11:45,583 --> 00:11:47,333 she said, 422 00:11:47,417 --> 00:11:49,000 "You know, I'm friends 423 00:11:47,417 --> 00:11:49,000 with Jodi Kantor 424 00:11:49,083 --> 00:11:50,833 at 'The New York Times.' 425 00:11:49,083 --> 00:11:50,833 Do you wanna talk with her?" 426 00:11:50,917 --> 00:11:53,125 I was like, "No, no, no, no, no, 427 00:11:50,917 --> 00:11:53,125 no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 428 00:11:53,208 --> 00:11:58,625 I do not wanna be radioactive. 429 00:11:53,208 --> 00:11:58,625 No." 430 00:11:58,708 --> 00:12:01,292 But then he denied everything, 431 00:12:01,375 --> 00:12:04,958 and I was so infuriated that 432 00:12:01,375 --> 00:12:04,958 I texted her back and I said, 433 00:12:05,042 --> 00:12:08,458 "Okay, intro me 434 00:12:05,042 --> 00:12:08,458 to Jodi Kantor. 435 00:12:08,542 --> 00:12:10,458 Just intro me." 436 00:12:10,542 --> 00:12:13,750 [distant siren whooping] 437 00:12:17,458 --> 00:12:19,625 I spoke 438 00:12:17,458 --> 00:12:19,625 to "The New York Times." 439 00:12:19,708 --> 00:12:22,208 So I met with Jodi 440 00:12:19,708 --> 00:12:22,208 and Joe Coscarelli, 441 00:12:22,292 --> 00:12:23,958 the other reporter, 442 00:12:24,042 --> 00:12:26,125 and I was like, 443 00:12:24,042 --> 00:12:26,125 "This is off the record. 444 00:12:26,208 --> 00:12:27,750 "I'm just meeting with you. 445 00:12:27,833 --> 00:12:29,500 "I just wanna kind of generally 446 00:12:27,833 --> 00:12:29,500 tell you my story, 447 00:12:29,583 --> 00:12:32,708 "and you guys tell me if you 448 00:12:29,583 --> 00:12:32,708 think it's even worth, 449 00:12:32,792 --> 00:12:34,167 you know, documenting." 450 00:12:32,792 --> 00:12:34,167 - Mm-hmm. 451 00:12:34,250 --> 00:12:35,417 - So they were like, 452 00:12:34,250 --> 00:12:35,417 "We'll think about it." 453 00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:36,708 You know, "Just think about it. 454 00:12:36,792 --> 00:12:38,292 Let's stay in touch." 455 00:12:36,792 --> 00:12:38,292 And, um-- 456 00:12:38,375 --> 00:12:41,000 - What are the stakes for you 457 00:12:38,375 --> 00:12:41,000 in terms of this, like, 458 00:12:41,083 --> 00:12:43,167 coming out? 459 00:12:41,083 --> 00:12:43,167 - Chaos. 460 00:12:43,250 --> 00:12:45,583 I don't really want chaos 461 00:12:43,250 --> 00:12:45,583 'cause I have kids 462 00:12:45,667 --> 00:12:47,875 and my husband 463 00:12:45,667 --> 00:12:47,875 doesn't like chaos. 464 00:12:47,958 --> 00:12:49,042 - Have you talked to your kids? 465 00:12:49,125 --> 00:12:50,500 - My kids know generally 466 00:12:50,583 --> 00:12:52,583 that men 467 00:12:50,583 --> 00:12:52,583 behaved inappropriately 468 00:12:52,667 --> 00:12:55,250 with me in the music industry, 469 00:12:55,333 --> 00:12:57,708 and that's all I said. 470 00:12:57,792 --> 00:13:02,167 And I'm also just afraid 471 00:12:57,792 --> 00:13:02,167 that after finally finding 472 00:13:02,250 --> 00:13:06,500 some sort of peace after 473 00:13:02,250 --> 00:13:06,500 some really rough years, 474 00:13:06,583 --> 00:13:09,542 it's inviting more chaos 475 00:13:06,583 --> 00:13:09,542 into our lives. 476 00:13:11,917 --> 00:13:15,125 [distant sirens wailing] 477 00:13:16,375 --> 00:13:20,083 So this is, um, where Def Jam 478 00:13:16,375 --> 00:13:20,083 used to be. 479 00:13:20,167 --> 00:13:23,875 160 Varick Street. 480 00:13:20,167 --> 00:13:23,875 Spent two years of my life here. 481 00:13:23,958 --> 00:13:27,958 You know, I definitely remember 482 00:13:23,958 --> 00:13:27,958 somewhere along this street, 483 00:13:28,042 --> 00:13:32,542 catching cabs because 484 00:13:28,042 --> 00:13:32,542 I have #LightPrivilege, 485 00:13:32,625 --> 00:13:34,875 so I would, like, 486 00:13:32,625 --> 00:13:34,875 get the cab, 487 00:13:34,958 --> 00:13:37,375 and, like, I remember, like, 488 00:13:34,958 --> 00:13:37,375 Method Man and Redman 489 00:13:37,458 --> 00:13:38,542 would be like, 490 00:13:37,458 --> 00:13:38,542 "All right, guys, 491 00:13:38,625 --> 00:13:40,125 everybody in, everybody in!" 492 00:13:40,208 --> 00:13:42,750 I would be, like, 493 00:13:40,208 --> 00:13:42,750 the stealth cab catcher. 494 00:13:42,833 --> 00:13:44,250 [chuckles] 495 00:13:45,958 --> 00:13:47,833 This was Def Jam in the '90s. 496 00:13:47,917 --> 00:13:50,583 This is where it all went down. 497 00:13:50,667 --> 00:13:53,583 [hip-hop music] 498 00:13:53,667 --> 00:13:55,708 ♪ ♪ 499 00:13:55,792 --> 00:13:59,500 - I was an executive assistant 500 00:13:55,792 --> 00:13:59,500 at Def Jam. 501 00:13:59,583 --> 00:14:03,750 It didn't feel like an office 502 00:13:59,583 --> 00:14:03,750 so much as almost, like, 503 00:14:03,833 --> 00:14:06,917 you're in a-- 504 00:14:03,833 --> 00:14:06,917 like, a club. 505 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,208 - When I started doing outside 506 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,208 counsel legal services 507 00:14:10,292 --> 00:14:11,583 for Def Jam, 508 00:14:11,667 --> 00:14:13,333 Russell had in place 509 00:14:11,667 --> 00:14:13,333 someone else 510 00:14:13,417 --> 00:14:16,625 who was really running 511 00:14:13,417 --> 00:14:16,625 the operation day-to-day. 512 00:14:16,708 --> 00:14:18,583 That was Lyor Cohen. 513 00:14:16,708 --> 00:14:18,583 Very, very so-- 514 00:14:18,667 --> 00:14:20,708 I mean, he's legendary 515 00:14:18,667 --> 00:14:20,708 for being, you know, 516 00:14:20,792 --> 00:14:23,333 just this hugely strong 517 00:14:20,792 --> 00:14:23,333 personality. 518 00:14:23,417 --> 00:14:27,208 - Russell and I's daily 519 00:14:23,417 --> 00:14:27,208 meeting was at Danceteria, 520 00:14:27,292 --> 00:14:29,917 'cause he was just nonstop: 521 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,458 "and we're going to do this, 522 00:14:31,542 --> 00:14:34,000 "and once we do this, 523 00:14:31,542 --> 00:14:34,000 we're going to do that, 524 00:14:34,083 --> 00:14:37,500 and goddamn, 525 00:14:34,083 --> 00:14:37,500 she's fine." 526 00:14:37,583 --> 00:14:39,458 - So Lyor was president 527 00:14:37,583 --> 00:14:39,458 of the label 528 00:14:39,542 --> 00:14:41,250 on my first day. 529 00:14:41,333 --> 00:14:45,125 At some point, he called me 530 00:14:41,333 --> 00:14:45,125 into his office and he's like, 531 00:14:45,208 --> 00:14:47,667 "I don't know 532 00:14:45,208 --> 00:14:47,667 who the fuck you are, 533 00:14:47,750 --> 00:14:50,708 "but I don't have any time 534 00:14:47,750 --> 00:14:50,708 for any of Russell's 535 00:14:50,792 --> 00:14:52,542 "tall, skinny bitches, 536 00:14:52,625 --> 00:14:54,750 "so this is what 537 00:14:52,625 --> 00:14:54,750 I want you to do. 538 00:14:54,833 --> 00:14:56,792 "If you see me in the building, 539 00:14:56,875 --> 00:14:58,708 "if you see me in the hallway, 540 00:14:58,792 --> 00:15:00,958 "find the nearest open office-- 541 00:15:01,042 --> 00:15:02,458 "the nearest open door, 542 00:15:02,542 --> 00:15:04,208 "go into it, 543 00:15:02,542 --> 00:15:04,208 and hide, 544 00:15:04,292 --> 00:15:06,833 "because I don't want 545 00:15:04,292 --> 00:15:06,833 to fucking see any tall, 546 00:15:06,917 --> 00:15:09,125 "skinny bitches who are friends 547 00:15:06,917 --> 00:15:09,125 with Russell. 548 00:15:09,208 --> 00:15:11,333 Got it? 549 00:15:09,208 --> 00:15:11,333 Got it, tall, skinny?" 550 00:15:11,417 --> 00:15:13,292 I was like, "Got it." 551 00:15:13,375 --> 00:15:16,375 [smooth music] 552 00:15:28,458 --> 00:15:30,000 - It was clear what he meant. 553 00:15:30,083 --> 00:15:33,208 There was this perception 554 00:15:30,083 --> 00:15:33,208 that I had a certain kind 555 00:15:33,292 --> 00:15:35,208 of relationship with Russell, 556 00:15:35,292 --> 00:15:37,333 which was definitely not true, 557 00:15:37,417 --> 00:15:39,708 and so I didn't wanna fail. 558 00:15:39,792 --> 00:15:41,833 I mean, how much better 559 00:15:39,792 --> 00:15:41,833 of a shot could I get 560 00:15:41,917 --> 00:15:45,083 than being the director 561 00:15:41,917 --> 00:15:45,083 of A&R at Def Jam? 562 00:15:45,167 --> 00:15:47,167 This has to work. 563 00:15:47,250 --> 00:15:51,958 And so the only way to really 564 00:15:47,250 --> 00:15:51,958 get his full attention-- 565 00:15:52,042 --> 00:15:53,917 'cause he was quite scattered-- 566 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:55,667 was to be in front of him. 567 00:15:55,750 --> 00:15:57,792 So I would stay in touch 568 00:15:55,750 --> 00:15:57,792 with his driver, Kenny Mac. 569 00:15:57,875 --> 00:15:59,708 "Where is he gonna be and when 570 00:15:57,875 --> 00:15:59,708 is he gonna be there?" 571 00:15:59,792 --> 00:16:01,083 He'd be like, "He's gonna be 572 00:15:59,792 --> 00:16:01,083 in front of the building. 573 00:16:01,167 --> 00:16:02,583 Just come out now." 574 00:16:02,667 --> 00:16:06,667 And that's essentially 575 00:16:02,667 --> 00:16:06,667 how I made it work. 576 00:16:06,750 --> 00:16:09,875 Eventually Russell gave me 577 00:16:06,750 --> 00:16:09,875 a soundtrack to put together, 578 00:16:09,958 --> 00:16:12,167 and it was 579 00:16:09,958 --> 00:16:12,167 a hip-hop documentary 580 00:16:12,250 --> 00:16:14,208 and it was like a survey 581 00:16:12,250 --> 00:16:14,208 of hip-hop. 582 00:16:14,292 --> 00:16:16,750 - ♪ Put your hands in the air 583 00:16:14,292 --> 00:16:16,750 if you's a true player ♪ 584 00:16:16,833 --> 00:16:18,917 - So when you're pulling 585 00:16:16,833 --> 00:16:18,917 a soundtrack, 586 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,000 you have to get all these 587 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,000 different types of sounds 588 00:16:21,083 --> 00:16:22,458 for the score. 589 00:16:22,542 --> 00:16:24,792 - ♪ The R to the E 590 00:16:22,542 --> 00:16:24,792 to the S-P-ECT ♪ 591 00:16:24,875 --> 00:16:27,083 - Working with 592 00:16:24,875 --> 00:16:27,083 that kind of a budget 593 00:16:27,167 --> 00:16:29,292 and it's, like, 594 00:16:27,167 --> 00:16:29,292 your first record to do, 595 00:16:29,375 --> 00:16:31,208 it was, like, a daunting task, 596 00:16:31,292 --> 00:16:33,375 but, um, like, she was 597 00:16:31,292 --> 00:16:33,375 definitely up for the challenge. 598 00:16:33,458 --> 00:16:35,958 - Here you had 599 00:16:33,458 --> 00:16:35,958 very sophisticated deals 600 00:16:36,042 --> 00:16:38,292 that had to be done 601 00:16:36,042 --> 00:16:38,292 to license these songs, 602 00:16:38,375 --> 00:16:41,167 to license the sound recordings 603 00:16:38,375 --> 00:16:41,167 of the songs, 604 00:16:41,250 --> 00:16:43,750 artists that you had to deal 605 00:16:41,250 --> 00:16:43,750 with all their representatives, 606 00:16:43,833 --> 00:16:47,083 and so she had a lot 607 00:16:43,833 --> 00:16:47,083 of ground to cover. 608 00:16:47,167 --> 00:16:48,958 - I just started picking up 609 00:16:47,167 --> 00:16:48,958 the phone and calling, like, 610 00:16:49,042 --> 00:16:51,042 "Hi, my name is Drew Dixon. 611 00:16:49,042 --> 00:16:51,042 I work at Def Jam. 612 00:16:51,125 --> 00:16:53,000 "We're doing a soundtrack 613 00:16:51,125 --> 00:16:53,000 about hip-hop 614 00:16:53,083 --> 00:16:55,333 and I think it's important 615 00:16:53,083 --> 00:16:55,333 that you're represented. 616 00:16:55,417 --> 00:16:57,167 "I wanna represent 617 00:16:55,417 --> 00:16:57,167 the Midwest. 618 00:16:57,250 --> 00:16:58,625 "I wanna represent 619 00:16:57,250 --> 00:16:58,625 the South. 620 00:16:58,708 --> 00:17:00,083 "I feel like 621 00:16:58,708 --> 00:17:00,083 these are the genres 622 00:17:00,167 --> 00:17:02,583 that represent 623 00:17:00,167 --> 00:17:02,583 the state of the art," 624 00:17:02,667 --> 00:17:04,833 and I just sort of made it up 625 00:17:02,667 --> 00:17:04,833 as I went along. 626 00:17:04,917 --> 00:17:06,750 [lasers zapping] 627 00:17:06,833 --> 00:17:08,375 Like, I called 628 00:17:06,833 --> 00:17:08,375 Bone Thugs-n-Harmony 629 00:17:08,458 --> 00:17:09,583 out of the clear blue 630 00:17:08,458 --> 00:17:09,583 'cause I saw them 631 00:17:09,667 --> 00:17:11,208 on "Video Music Jukebox," 632 00:17:11,292 --> 00:17:13,083 and I just called them and said, 633 00:17:11,292 --> 00:17:13,083 "Can we have a song?" 634 00:17:13,167 --> 00:17:14,708 And they were like, "Cool," 635 00:17:13,167 --> 00:17:14,708 and even, like, 636 00:17:14,792 --> 00:17:16,417 Def Jam was like, "Who?" 637 00:17:14,792 --> 00:17:16,417 And I was like, "Trust me. 638 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:17,583 They're dope." 639 00:17:17,667 --> 00:17:19,083 - ♪ It's an everyday thang ♪ 640 00:17:19,167 --> 00:17:20,917 ♪ When you let 641 00:17:19,167 --> 00:17:20,917 your nuts hang ♪ 642 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,667 - And at the end of the 643 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,667 record, I have a shout-out. 644 00:17:22,750 --> 00:17:24,458 "Everyday Thang," 645 00:17:22,750 --> 00:17:24,458 if you listen to it. 646 00:17:24,542 --> 00:17:28,125 - Much love to Drew 647 00:17:24,542 --> 00:17:28,125 and everybody at Def Jam. 648 00:17:28,208 --> 00:17:29,542 - It was my first shout-out. 649 00:17:29,625 --> 00:17:30,833 [laughs] 650 00:17:30,917 --> 00:17:32,375 It was so great. 651 00:17:30,917 --> 00:17:32,375 Well, they were like, 652 00:17:32,458 --> 00:17:34,292 "You're from Def Jam 653 00:17:32,458 --> 00:17:34,292 and you're calling us?" 654 00:17:34,375 --> 00:17:37,125 I was like, "Yeah, 655 00:17:34,375 --> 00:17:37,125 you guys are dope." 656 00:17:37,208 --> 00:17:38,833 - Tupac was on that album. 657 00:17:38,917 --> 00:17:41,417 Slick Rick, 658 00:17:38,917 --> 00:17:41,417 Dr. Dre. 659 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:45,542 She got Method Man and Redman 660 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:45,542 on the record together. 661 00:17:45,625 --> 00:17:47,375 - Method Man and Redman. 662 00:17:47,458 --> 00:17:50,167 That literally meant she gave 663 00:17:47,458 --> 00:17:50,167 some of the best MCs 664 00:17:50,250 --> 00:17:52,875 on the planet a deal. 665 00:17:52,958 --> 00:17:56,833 That's dope. 666 00:17:52,958 --> 00:17:56,833 That's dope. 667 00:17:56,917 --> 00:17:58,417 - "The Show" was a big success. 668 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:01,167 Um, I worked on other things 669 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:01,167 that were big successes. 670 00:18:01,250 --> 00:18:04,458 I, um, heard an interlude 671 00:18:01,250 --> 00:18:04,458 when they were working 672 00:18:04,542 --> 00:18:06,500 on Method Man's album, 673 00:18:06,583 --> 00:18:08,583 and the interlude literally 674 00:18:06,583 --> 00:18:08,583 was just Method Man 675 00:18:08,667 --> 00:18:10,208 a cappella saying, 676 00:18:10,292 --> 00:18:12,500 "Shorty, I'm there for you 677 00:18:10,292 --> 00:18:12,500 anytime you need me. 678 00:18:12,583 --> 00:18:13,833 "For real, girl, 679 00:18:12,583 --> 00:18:13,833 it's me in your world. 680 00:18:13,917 --> 00:18:14,875 Believe me." 681 00:18:14,958 --> 00:18:16,500 - ♪ Believe me ♪ 682 00:18:16,583 --> 00:18:18,292 ♪ Nothing make a man 683 00:18:16,583 --> 00:18:18,292 feel better than a woman ♪ 684 00:18:18,375 --> 00:18:20,208 ♪ Queen with a crown 685 00:18:18,375 --> 00:18:20,208 that be down for whatever ♪ 686 00:18:20,292 --> 00:18:23,083 - I was like, "Wow. 687 00:18:20,292 --> 00:18:23,083 Well, that's dope. 688 00:18:23,167 --> 00:18:27,542 "That's, like, 689 00:18:23,167 --> 00:18:27,542 a hip-hop sonnet. 690 00:18:27,625 --> 00:18:30,375 That's dope." 691 00:18:30,458 --> 00:18:32,125 Like, I remember 692 00:18:30,458 --> 00:18:32,125 telling Russell, 693 00:18:32,208 --> 00:18:34,208 "That's a song. 694 00:18:32,208 --> 00:18:34,208 That's not an interlude. 695 00:18:34,292 --> 00:18:36,333 And it should be a duet." 696 00:18:36,417 --> 00:18:37,708 I was like, 697 00:18:36,417 --> 00:18:37,708 "What about Mary?" 698 00:18:37,792 --> 00:18:39,250 He's like, "Okay." 699 00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:41,292 And then I remember 700 00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:41,292 a phone call with Puffy. 701 00:18:41,375 --> 00:18:44,125 And he's like, "Okay, so I 702 00:18:41,375 --> 00:18:44,125 have an idea for this record. 703 00:18:44,208 --> 00:18:46,667 Do you know the song 704 00:18:44,208 --> 00:18:46,667 "You're All I Need to Get By" 705 00:18:46,750 --> 00:18:48,208 by Marvin Gaye 706 00:18:46,750 --> 00:18:48,208 and Tammi Terrell? 707 00:18:48,292 --> 00:18:49,750 I was like, "Of course I do." 708 00:18:49,833 --> 00:18:52,083 He's like, "Okay, can you sing 709 00:18:49,833 --> 00:18:52,083 the Tammi Terrell part?" 710 00:18:52,167 --> 00:18:54,042 And I was like, "Okay." 711 00:18:52,167 --> 00:18:54,042 ♪ You're all I need ♪ 712 00:18:54,125 --> 00:18:55,500 - ♪ You're all I need ♪ 713 00:18:55,583 --> 00:18:57,542 - ♪ All I need ♪ 714 00:18:55,583 --> 00:18:57,542 - ♪ To get by ♪ 715 00:18:57,625 --> 00:19:00,000 - ♪ To get by ♪ 716 00:18:57,625 --> 00:19:00,000 - ♪ Aye ♪ 717 00:19:00,083 --> 00:19:02,875 - He's like, "Okay, 718 00:19:00,083 --> 00:19:02,875 now imagine the-- 719 00:19:02,958 --> 00:19:06,208 the 'Children's Story' track." 720 00:19:02,958 --> 00:19:06,208 [beatboxing] 721 00:19:06,292 --> 00:19:07,708 He's like, "Okay." 722 00:19:07,792 --> 00:19:09,250 ♪ Shorty, I'm there for you 723 00:19:07,792 --> 00:19:09,250 anytime you-- ♪ 724 00:19:09,333 --> 00:19:10,750 And I'm, like, singing Tammi 725 00:19:09,333 --> 00:19:10,750 and he's like... 726 00:19:10,833 --> 00:19:12,083 ♪ For real girl ♪ 727 00:19:10,833 --> 00:19:12,083 I was like, "Oh, my God. 728 00:19:12,167 --> 00:19:14,167 "Mind blown! 729 00:19:12,167 --> 00:19:14,167 Yo, this is crazy! 730 00:19:14,250 --> 00:19:17,625 Oh, my God. 731 00:19:14,250 --> 00:19:17,625 We have to do this." 732 00:19:18,625 --> 00:19:21,625 - To this day 733 00:19:18,625 --> 00:19:21,625 when you hear that song, 734 00:19:21,708 --> 00:19:23,292 you know that the people 735 00:19:21,708 --> 00:19:23,292 behind that had a vision. 736 00:19:23,375 --> 00:19:24,583 First of all, you had to know 737 00:19:24,667 --> 00:19:26,208 that Mary and Method 738 00:19:24,667 --> 00:19:26,208 go together. 739 00:19:26,292 --> 00:19:30,083 They just do, 740 00:19:26,292 --> 00:19:30,083 but who knew? 741 00:19:30,167 --> 00:19:33,167 - The record won a Grammy. 742 00:19:33,250 --> 00:19:35,583 I mean, literally, 743 00:19:33,250 --> 00:19:35,583 it's on Obama's mixtape 744 00:19:35,667 --> 00:19:37,250 of his favorite songs, 745 00:19:35,667 --> 00:19:37,250 and I'm like... 746 00:19:37,333 --> 00:19:38,708 [gasps] 747 00:19:40,667 --> 00:19:45,000 After the duet was successful, 748 00:19:45,083 --> 00:19:46,958 and then "The Show" soundtrack 749 00:19:45,083 --> 00:19:46,958 hit number one 750 00:19:47,042 --> 00:19:51,083 on the R&B chart, 751 00:19:47,042 --> 00:19:51,083 shipped platinum, 752 00:19:51,167 --> 00:19:53,083 it really helped build 753 00:19:51,167 --> 00:19:53,083 our credibility 754 00:19:53,167 --> 00:19:55,333 with PolyGram records. 755 00:19:55,417 --> 00:19:57,625 I was suddenly on the radar 756 00:19:55,417 --> 00:19:57,625 with the parent company. 757 00:19:57,708 --> 00:20:01,125 I wasn't just Drew Dixon 758 00:19:57,708 --> 00:20:01,125 from Def Jam. 759 00:20:01,208 --> 00:20:04,917 Lyor sent me this, like, 760 00:20:01,208 --> 00:20:04,917 massive gourmet gift basket 761 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,833 to thank me for my hard work 762 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,833 and to sort of say, "I'm sorry 763 00:20:07,917 --> 00:20:10,750 I didn't appreciate 764 00:20:07,917 --> 00:20:10,750 how talented you were." 765 00:20:10,833 --> 00:20:11,958 - That's one 766 00:20:10,833 --> 00:20:11,958 of the beautiful things 767 00:20:12,042 --> 00:20:13,875 about the music industry. 768 00:20:13,958 --> 00:20:17,125 If you have a great work ethic 769 00:20:13,958 --> 00:20:17,125 and you have some talent, 770 00:20:17,208 --> 00:20:19,708 you can end up 771 00:20:17,208 --> 00:20:19,708 running a label. 772 00:20:19,792 --> 00:20:21,500 So it is a space 773 00:20:19,792 --> 00:20:21,500 where there was 774 00:20:21,583 --> 00:20:24,125 a lot of mobility for women, 775 00:20:24,208 --> 00:20:26,917 but at the same time, 776 00:20:24,208 --> 00:20:26,917 there was tremendous amount 777 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,708 of sexual harassment that was 778 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,708 just baked into the culture. 779 00:20:38,250 --> 00:20:41,292 all: Thank you, Daddy. 780 00:20:38,250 --> 00:20:41,292 [laughter] 781 00:20:41,375 --> 00:20:43,958 - Music comes with a certain 782 00:20:41,375 --> 00:20:43,958 sense of promiscuity. 783 00:20:44,042 --> 00:20:45,417 Like, whether you're an artist 784 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:46,917 or the--you're the guy 785 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:46,917 making the artist, 786 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:48,208 you have that kind of power 787 00:20:48,292 --> 00:20:50,625 where sex is just part 788 00:20:48,292 --> 00:20:50,625 of the game. 789 00:20:50,708 --> 00:20:53,542 - When things went awry, 790 00:20:50,708 --> 00:20:53,542 if things were uncomfortable, 791 00:20:53,625 --> 00:20:56,333 if they were misogynist, 792 00:20:53,625 --> 00:20:56,333 if they were sexist, 793 00:20:56,417 --> 00:20:59,500 you didn't get a lot 794 00:20:56,417 --> 00:20:59,500 of sympathy for that, you know? 795 00:20:59,583 --> 00:21:02,042 That was considered 796 00:20:59,583 --> 00:21:02,042 the price of admission. 797 00:21:02,125 --> 00:21:06,667 - The first time Russell 798 00:21:02,125 --> 00:21:06,667 was inappropriate with me, 799 00:21:06,750 --> 00:21:09,833 we were at Café Tabac. 800 00:21:09,917 --> 00:21:11,583 He was waiting outside 801 00:21:09,917 --> 00:21:11,583 of the restroom 802 00:21:11,667 --> 00:21:13,542 as I was leaving the restroom 803 00:21:11,667 --> 00:21:13,542 and he grabbed me 804 00:21:13,625 --> 00:21:17,500 and pulled me into a closet 805 00:21:13,625 --> 00:21:17,500 and tried to kiss me 806 00:21:17,583 --> 00:21:19,708 and I got away, 807 00:21:19,792 --> 00:21:22,167 and then it started happening 808 00:21:19,792 --> 00:21:22,167 in my office, 809 00:21:22,250 --> 00:21:25,292 and he would come in 810 00:21:22,250 --> 00:21:25,292 and lock the door. 811 00:21:25,375 --> 00:21:27,500 The first couple times, 812 00:21:25,375 --> 00:21:27,500 he would just try to kiss me 813 00:21:27,583 --> 00:21:29,500 and I got out of it, 814 00:21:29,583 --> 00:21:31,250 but then Russell escalated 815 00:21:31,333 --> 00:21:32,708 from pushing me 816 00:21:31,333 --> 00:21:32,708 against the wall 817 00:21:32,792 --> 00:21:34,542 to literally coming in, 818 00:21:32,792 --> 00:21:34,542 not touching me, 819 00:21:34,625 --> 00:21:37,125 but exposing himself. 820 00:21:37,208 --> 00:21:40,708 I thought that he was, 821 00:21:37,208 --> 00:21:40,708 like, this tragic, like, 822 00:21:40,792 --> 00:21:45,083 ADD puppy dog that I just had 823 00:21:40,792 --> 00:21:45,083 to keep retraining, 824 00:21:45,167 --> 00:21:48,292 but then he wasn't, 825 00:21:45,167 --> 00:21:48,292 like, violent. 826 00:21:48,375 --> 00:21:49,958 - [speaking indistinctly] 827 00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:52,958 - He always sheepishly 828 00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:52,958 apologized later, 829 00:21:53,042 --> 00:21:57,917 so I thought, "He feels bad," 830 00:21:53,042 --> 00:21:57,917 and he would sort of back off 831 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,042 for a while, and then 832 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,042 he would do it again. 833 00:22:01,125 --> 00:22:03,542 I guess I thought it was part 834 00:22:01,125 --> 00:22:03,542 of the culture 835 00:22:03,625 --> 00:22:07,500 and I needed 836 00:22:03,625 --> 00:22:07,500 to just manage around it, 837 00:22:07,583 --> 00:22:12,208 and then eventually I thought 838 00:22:07,583 --> 00:22:12,208 that I had proven myself 839 00:22:12,292 --> 00:22:17,375 and was now too valuable for him 840 00:22:12,292 --> 00:22:17,375 to wanna burn the bridge. 841 00:22:17,458 --> 00:22:20,417 I thought, 842 00:22:17,458 --> 00:22:20,417 "I am an executive with value, 843 00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:21,750 "and he's a businessperson, 844 00:22:21,833 --> 00:22:23,458 "and he's a very 845 00:22:21,833 --> 00:22:23,458 well-regarded one, 846 00:22:23,542 --> 00:22:25,625 so surely he'll leave me alone." 847 00:22:25,708 --> 00:22:27,750 [crowd cheering] 848 00:22:27,833 --> 00:22:29,417 I really didn't understand 849 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:32,250 that all of those 850 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:32,250 other violations 851 00:22:32,333 --> 00:22:36,708 of my physical boundaries 852 00:22:32,333 --> 00:22:36,708 were breaking me down. 853 00:22:46,333 --> 00:22:50,667 - You stay because you hope 854 00:22:46,333 --> 00:22:50,667 that perhaps you can 855 00:22:50,750 --> 00:22:53,417 provide enough value 856 00:22:50,750 --> 00:22:53,417 to the company 857 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:55,583 and move ahead, 858 00:22:55,667 --> 00:22:59,042 but part of the ability 859 00:22:55,667 --> 00:22:59,042 to ascend 860 00:22:59,125 --> 00:23:03,458 is contingent upon your ability 861 00:22:59,125 --> 00:23:03,458 to either, A, 862 00:23:03,542 --> 00:23:06,625 comply with someone's 863 00:23:03,542 --> 00:23:06,625 sexual advances 864 00:23:06,708 --> 00:23:13,792 or letting them think that they 865 00:23:06,708 --> 00:23:13,792 might have a shot in hell 866 00:23:13,875 --> 00:23:16,542 without encouraging them. 867 00:23:16,625 --> 00:23:18,750 It's something that you have 868 00:23:16,625 --> 00:23:18,750 to go along with 869 00:23:18,833 --> 00:23:22,958 because the alternative 870 00:23:18,833 --> 00:23:22,958 is that you'll be unemployed. 871 00:23:23,042 --> 00:23:26,625 - I think for a lot of women 872 00:23:23,042 --> 00:23:26,625 of that era, 873 00:23:26,708 --> 00:23:31,667 it's only now that we're really 874 00:23:26,708 --> 00:23:31,667 unpacking how toxic 875 00:23:31,750 --> 00:23:34,042 so much of that time was. 876 00:23:34,125 --> 00:23:38,292 [percussive music] 877 00:23:38,375 --> 00:23:41,833 - When I was in college 878 00:23:38,375 --> 00:23:41,833 and rap started, 879 00:23:41,917 --> 00:23:44,708 it was like party music, 880 00:23:44,792 --> 00:23:49,208 and at some point, I remember 881 00:23:44,792 --> 00:23:49,208 dancing and--and singing along, 882 00:23:49,292 --> 00:23:53,333 and then words--"bitch," 883 00:23:49,292 --> 00:23:53,333 "ho," you know, 884 00:23:53,417 --> 00:23:55,667 stuff like that started 885 00:23:53,417 --> 00:23:55,667 coming into the music, 886 00:23:55,750 --> 00:23:57,083 and I was like, 887 00:23:57,167 --> 00:23:59,583 "I'm not quite sure 888 00:23:57,167 --> 00:23:59,583 if I'm down for this." 889 00:24:06,875 --> 00:24:08,542 - I'd say by mid-'80s, 890 00:24:08,625 --> 00:24:12,833 you have your G Raps and 891 00:24:08,625 --> 00:24:12,833 you have your hard-core MCs 892 00:24:12,917 --> 00:24:17,375 who are introducing misogyny 893 00:24:12,917 --> 00:24:17,375 over, like, dope beats 894 00:24:17,458 --> 00:24:20,042 and then things 895 00:24:17,458 --> 00:24:20,042 become palatable. 896 00:24:24,500 --> 00:24:27,917 - And then you introduce video 897 00:24:24,500 --> 00:24:27,917 at the level video begins 898 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,875 in the '90s, and women began 899 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,875 to look alike. 900 00:24:31,958 --> 00:24:34,458 They were all typically 901 00:24:31,958 --> 00:24:34,458 light-skinned. 902 00:24:34,542 --> 00:24:38,875 They all had long 903 00:24:34,542 --> 00:24:38,875 and/or wavy hair. 904 00:24:38,958 --> 00:24:44,500 It was clearly a statement 905 00:24:38,958 --> 00:24:44,500 against the large majority 906 00:24:44,583 --> 00:24:47,333 of black women, 907 00:24:44,583 --> 00:24:47,333 how we look 908 00:24:47,417 --> 00:24:48,792 and how we present. 909 00:24:48,875 --> 00:24:50,958 - ♪ And go dig in them guts 910 00:24:48,875 --> 00:24:50,958 like a gardener ♪ 911 00:24:51,042 --> 00:24:53,500 ♪ If she starts screaming, 912 00:24:51,042 --> 00:24:53,500 I'ma fuck the bitch harder ♪ 913 00:24:53,583 --> 00:24:55,958 - I actually think that 914 00:24:53,583 --> 00:24:55,958 the things that are being said 915 00:24:56,042 --> 00:24:59,167 about black women 916 00:24:56,042 --> 00:24:59,167 are actually racist. 917 00:24:59,250 --> 00:25:01,250 You know, 918 00:24:59,250 --> 00:25:01,250 you're basically dancing, 919 00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:06,458 you know, to, um, ideology 920 00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:06,458 that had been, you know, 921 00:25:06,542 --> 00:25:08,167 spread by defenders of slavery. 922 00:25:08,250 --> 00:25:11,500 You don't realize that this 923 00:25:08,250 --> 00:25:11,500 is basically the same kind 924 00:25:11,583 --> 00:25:14,792 of idea that justified the-- 925 00:25:11,583 --> 00:25:14,792 the abuse of black women 926 00:25:14,875 --> 00:25:17,250 for centuries. 927 00:25:14,875 --> 00:25:17,250 - When I was younger, 928 00:25:17,333 --> 00:25:19,708 I would look at the women 929 00:25:17,333 --> 00:25:19,708 and I would judge them, right? 930 00:25:19,792 --> 00:25:20,958 And I would feel 931 00:25:19,792 --> 00:25:20,958 some type of way, 932 00:25:21,042 --> 00:25:22,292 but as I get older, 933 00:25:22,375 --> 00:25:24,167 I look at the culture 934 00:25:22,375 --> 00:25:24,167 that breeds that. 935 00:25:24,250 --> 00:25:28,042 - Hip-hop certainly didn't 936 00:25:24,250 --> 00:25:28,042 invent misogyny in music. 937 00:25:28,125 --> 00:25:29,417 Just did not. 938 00:25:29,500 --> 00:25:33,750 Every other music form 939 00:25:29,500 --> 00:25:33,750 essentially 940 00:25:33,833 --> 00:25:37,542 has some level of misogyny. 941 00:26:15,375 --> 00:26:17,583 - Hip-hop has always 942 00:26:15,375 --> 00:26:17,583 been reflective 943 00:26:17,667 --> 00:26:19,917 of the world that we live in. 944 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,625 These white patriarchal 945 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,625 power structures that exist, 946 00:26:22,708 --> 00:26:24,083 we just mimic them, 947 00:26:24,167 --> 00:26:25,792 and we carry them on 948 00:26:25,875 --> 00:26:27,167 and make them our own. 949 00:26:27,250 --> 00:26:30,208 - Hip-hop was not just 950 00:26:27,250 --> 00:26:30,208 about misogyny, 951 00:26:30,292 --> 00:26:33,000 that hip-hop was not just 952 00:26:30,292 --> 00:26:33,000 about sexism. 953 00:26:33,083 --> 00:26:35,333 - ♪ We got to fight 954 00:26:33,083 --> 00:26:35,333 the powers that be ♪ 955 00:26:35,417 --> 00:26:37,667 - And even though 956 00:26:35,417 --> 00:26:37,667 it may have been couched 957 00:26:37,750 --> 00:26:41,375 in very hyper-masculine 958 00:26:37,750 --> 00:26:41,375 imagery and language, 959 00:26:41,458 --> 00:26:44,750 there was really an expression 960 00:26:41,458 --> 00:26:44,750 of, like, pain 961 00:26:44,833 --> 00:26:46,667 and struggle 962 00:26:44,833 --> 00:26:46,667 and what it meant 963 00:26:46,750 --> 00:26:48,333 to grow up with the legacy 964 00:26:48,417 --> 00:26:51,292 that the hip-hop 965 00:26:48,417 --> 00:26:51,292 generation inherited. 966 00:26:51,375 --> 00:26:53,375 - You stand in solidarity 967 00:26:51,375 --> 00:26:53,375 with the movement 968 00:26:53,458 --> 00:26:54,333 as a black woman. 969 00:26:54,417 --> 00:26:55,667 You don't parse the sexism 970 00:26:55,750 --> 00:26:57,750 within the movement 971 00:26:55,750 --> 00:26:57,750 as a black woman, 972 00:26:57,833 --> 00:27:01,583 and we were all so excited 973 00:26:57,833 --> 00:27:01,583 about hip-hop and what it meant 974 00:27:01,667 --> 00:27:03,208 that we just sort of 975 00:27:01,667 --> 00:27:03,208 tolerated it. 976 00:27:03,292 --> 00:27:04,375 We laughed it off. 977 00:27:04,458 --> 00:27:05,667 We thought, like, 978 00:27:04,458 --> 00:27:05,667 "Whatever. 979 00:27:05,750 --> 00:27:10,042 "It's, you know, like-- 980 00:27:05,750 --> 00:27:10,042 it's-- 981 00:27:10,125 --> 00:27:11,542 don't be so thin-skinned," 982 00:27:11,625 --> 00:27:14,375 is sort of what we said 983 00:27:11,625 --> 00:27:14,375 to anyone who pushed back 984 00:27:14,458 --> 00:27:16,042 against some of that language, 985 00:27:16,125 --> 00:27:18,958 and now that I'm older, 986 00:27:16,125 --> 00:27:18,958 I realize that language 987 00:27:19,042 --> 00:27:20,875 set a tone, 988 00:27:20,958 --> 00:27:24,125 but I didn't see it that way 989 00:27:20,958 --> 00:27:24,125 at the time. 990 00:27:24,208 --> 00:27:27,375 [rain pattering] 991 00:27:30,292 --> 00:27:32,917 "The New York Times" is doing 992 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,792 a super-rigorous 993 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,792 background check 994 00:27:36,875 --> 00:27:40,667 to determine if I'm even 995 00:27:36,875 --> 00:27:40,667 a credible source, 996 00:27:40,750 --> 00:27:43,042 and I haven't even decided 997 00:27:40,750 --> 00:27:43,042 if I'm gonna do this-- 998 00:27:43,125 --> 00:27:45,167 if I'm even gonna go 999 00:27:43,125 --> 00:27:45,167 on the record. 1000 00:27:47,250 --> 00:27:50,458 [line trilling] 1001 00:28:01,250 --> 00:28:02,333 - Hello? 1002 00:28:02,417 --> 00:28:03,917 - Hey, Joe. 1003 00:28:02,417 --> 00:28:03,917 How are you? 1004 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:05,708 - Good, and you? 1005 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:05,708 - I'm okay. 1006 00:28:05,792 --> 00:28:06,958 Is this an okay time? 1007 00:28:07,042 --> 00:28:09,083 - Are we--are we on camera? 1008 00:28:09,167 --> 00:28:10,750 - Uh, you are, 1009 00:28:09,167 --> 00:28:10,750 so if you don't wanna be, 1010 00:28:10,833 --> 00:28:12,375 we can--we can remedy that. 1011 00:28:12,458 --> 00:28:15,500 - Yeah, I mean, I think 1012 00:28:12,458 --> 00:28:15,500 this'll probably be, like, 1013 00:28:15,583 --> 00:28:16,958 sort of sensitive. 1014 00:28:15,583 --> 00:28:16,958 - Okay. 1015 00:28:17,042 --> 00:28:20,667 - Uh, I don't know. 1016 00:28:17,042 --> 00:28:20,667 I, uh-- 1017 00:28:20,750 --> 00:28:22,375 I don't really know 1018 00:28:20,750 --> 00:28:22,375 what the rules are, 1019 00:28:22,458 --> 00:28:24,583 but I just feel like-- 1020 00:28:22,458 --> 00:28:24,583 'cause we wanna sort of 1021 00:28:24,667 --> 00:28:26,917 take you through the story, 1022 00:28:24,667 --> 00:28:26,917 uh-- 1023 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,667 - Yeah, okay. 1024 00:28:28,750 --> 00:28:30,125 - Yeah, I don't--I don't know. 1025 00:28:30,208 --> 00:28:32,667 Uh, let me merge Melena 1026 00:28:30,208 --> 00:28:32,667 onto the call. 1027 00:28:32,750 --> 00:28:34,583 Is that okay? 1028 00:28:32,750 --> 00:28:34,583 - Sure. 1029 00:28:34,667 --> 00:28:37,625 [dramatic music] 1030 00:28:37,708 --> 00:28:39,250 [sniffles] 1031 00:28:39,333 --> 00:28:46,125 ♪ ♪ 1032 00:28:46,208 --> 00:28:49,958 I don't have a game plan. 1033 00:28:46,208 --> 00:28:49,958 Zero. 1034 00:28:50,042 --> 00:28:55,958 I haven't told the story 1035 00:28:50,042 --> 00:28:55,958 in probably a decade, 1036 00:28:56,042 --> 00:29:01,250 and talking to the reporters 1037 00:28:56,042 --> 00:29:01,250 just brought it all back. 1038 00:29:01,333 --> 00:29:08,500 ♪ ♪ 1039 00:29:15,042 --> 00:29:17,500 That particular night, 1040 00:29:17,583 --> 00:29:20,708 we were all at the Bowery Bar, 1041 00:29:17,583 --> 00:29:20,708 which was very common, 1042 00:29:20,792 --> 00:29:23,208 and he left ahead of me, 1043 00:29:23,292 --> 00:29:27,208 which I think I actually 1044 00:29:23,292 --> 00:29:27,208 purposely waited for 1045 00:29:27,292 --> 00:29:28,500 because there had been times 1046 00:29:28,583 --> 00:29:31,250 when he'd sort of 1047 00:29:28,583 --> 00:29:31,250 followed me out, 1048 00:29:31,333 --> 00:29:36,333 and I had to walk by 1049 00:29:31,333 --> 00:29:36,333 his apartment to get a cab, 1050 00:29:36,417 --> 00:29:37,958 and he stopped me 1051 00:29:38,042 --> 00:29:39,708 and he asked me 1052 00:29:38,042 --> 00:29:39,708 where I was going, 1053 00:29:39,792 --> 00:29:41,958 and I said I was going home 1054 00:29:39,792 --> 00:29:41,958 and I was just getting cash 1055 00:29:42,042 --> 00:29:43,500 to get a cab, 1056 00:29:43,583 --> 00:29:45,375 and he was like, 1057 00:29:43,583 --> 00:29:45,375 "Don't be ridiculous, Money. 1058 00:29:45,458 --> 00:29:46,792 "Like, you've got 1059 00:29:45,458 --> 00:29:46,792 this hit record. 1060 00:29:46,875 --> 00:29:48,083 "Like, you're a big deal. 1061 00:29:48,167 --> 00:29:50,333 "Like, 1062 00:29:48,167 --> 00:29:50,333 you're a big executive now. 1063 00:29:50,417 --> 00:29:54,792 Why don't you, um, 1064 00:29:50,417 --> 00:29:54,792 let me order you a car?" 1065 00:29:54,875 --> 00:29:58,917 And so I went upstairs, 1066 00:29:54,875 --> 00:29:58,917 and this was the first time 1067 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,208 I literally walked 1068 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,208 into his apartment 1069 00:30:00,292 --> 00:30:01,708 and I was alone, 1070 00:30:01,792 --> 00:30:06,458 and I--I immediately 1071 00:30:01,792 --> 00:30:06,458 felt uncomfortable, 1072 00:30:06,542 --> 00:30:07,875 and so then I said, 1073 00:30:07,958 --> 00:30:11,500 "Why don't I wait downstairs 1074 00:30:07,958 --> 00:30:11,500 for the car?" 1075 00:30:11,583 --> 00:30:12,875 And he said, 1076 00:30:12,958 --> 00:30:14,542 "No, no, no, no, 1077 00:30:12,958 --> 00:30:14,542 no problem, Money, 1078 00:30:14,625 --> 00:30:19,667 "but there's a demo that I got 1079 00:30:14,625 --> 00:30:19,667 that you're gonna love. 1080 00:30:19,750 --> 00:30:23,833 I want you to hear that first," 1081 00:30:19,750 --> 00:30:23,833 which is catnip for me. 1082 00:30:23,917 --> 00:30:26,125 I was like, "Really? 1083 00:30:23,917 --> 00:30:26,125 Okay. 1084 00:30:26,208 --> 00:30:29,875 "Um, why don't I 1085 00:30:26,208 --> 00:30:29,875 take it with me? 1086 00:30:29,958 --> 00:30:31,875 I'll take it with me." 1087 00:30:31,958 --> 00:30:34,583 And he's like, "Okay, cool. 1088 00:30:34,667 --> 00:30:36,542 Um, it's in the CD player." 1089 00:30:36,625 --> 00:30:39,458 I'm like, 1090 00:30:36,625 --> 00:30:39,458 "Where's the CD player?" 1091 00:30:39,542 --> 00:30:40,833 "It's in my bedroom. 1092 00:30:40,917 --> 00:30:42,833 Just go in there 1093 00:30:40,917 --> 00:30:42,833 and make a left." 1094 00:30:42,917 --> 00:30:47,917 So I go in and I see 1095 00:30:42,917 --> 00:30:47,917 this huge, daunting stereo. 1096 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:49,417 I remember I was struggling 1097 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:49,417 to figure out 1098 00:30:49,500 --> 00:30:51,917 how to turn it on. 1099 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:53,250 The next thing I know, 1100 00:30:53,333 --> 00:30:57,750 he is naked 1101 00:30:53,333 --> 00:30:57,750 wearing a condom, 1102 00:30:57,833 --> 00:31:00,583 and he just grabbed me. 1103 00:31:00,667 --> 00:31:03,292 He just grabbed me, 1104 00:31:03,375 --> 00:31:08,333 and he just threw me on the bed 1105 00:31:03,375 --> 00:31:08,333 and he wrestled me to the bed 1106 00:31:08,417 --> 00:31:13,000 and pins me down, 1107 00:31:08,417 --> 00:31:13,000 and I'm fighting, 1108 00:31:13,083 --> 00:31:15,042 and I'm saying no. 1109 00:31:15,125 --> 00:31:18,458 He's telling me to stop 1110 00:31:15,125 --> 00:31:18,458 fighting in a very cold... 1111 00:31:21,917 --> 00:31:28,292 Menacing, 1112 00:31:21,917 --> 00:31:28,292 detached voice 1113 00:31:28,375 --> 00:31:32,167 that I'd never, 1114 00:31:28,375 --> 00:31:32,167 ever heard from him before. 1115 00:31:32,250 --> 00:31:37,958 Um, I see handcuffs dangling 1116 00:31:32,250 --> 00:31:37,958 from the canopy. 1117 00:31:38,042 --> 00:31:39,250 I'm not saying for one second 1118 00:31:39,333 --> 00:31:41,125 I had any interaction 1119 00:31:39,333 --> 00:31:41,125 with those, 1120 00:31:41,208 --> 00:31:46,208 but they scared me, 1121 00:31:41,208 --> 00:31:46,208 and I just blacked out. 1122 00:31:46,292 --> 00:31:48,625 I blacked out. 1123 00:31:48,708 --> 00:31:52,042 I blacked out, 1124 00:31:52,125 --> 00:31:56,250 which is something survivors 1125 00:31:52,125 --> 00:31:56,250 often do. 1126 00:31:56,333 --> 00:31:59,125 It's, like, 1127 00:31:56,333 --> 00:31:59,125 a self-preservation tactic. 1128 00:31:59,208 --> 00:32:03,667 ♪ ♪ 1129 00:32:03,750 --> 00:32:05,250 The next thing I remember, 1130 00:32:05,333 --> 00:32:08,750 I was in the bathtub 1131 00:32:05,333 --> 00:32:08,750 with him naked 1132 00:32:08,833 --> 00:32:10,250 and he says, 1133 00:32:10,333 --> 00:32:12,833 "And so now that you 1134 00:32:10,333 --> 00:32:12,833 and I are fucking, Drew, 1135 00:32:12,917 --> 00:32:15,917 we'll hang out 1136 00:32:12,917 --> 00:32:15,917 and we'll fuck all the time." 1137 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:20,625 And I was just like, 1138 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:20,625 "I'm gonna go." 1139 00:32:20,708 --> 00:32:21,833 I don't know if I said, 1140 00:32:20,708 --> 00:32:21,833 "I'm gonna go." 1141 00:32:21,917 --> 00:32:22,875 Maybe I said I'm gonna go. 1142 00:32:22,958 --> 00:32:24,208 I got out, 1143 00:32:22,958 --> 00:32:24,208 I'm naked, 1144 00:32:24,292 --> 00:32:25,833 I'm wet, 1145 00:32:25,917 --> 00:32:31,125 I'm naked walking around his bed 1146 00:32:25,917 --> 00:32:31,125 trying to find my clothes, 1147 00:32:31,208 --> 00:32:32,667 and I walk home. 1148 00:32:32,750 --> 00:32:36,625 I lived 22 blocks away. 1149 00:32:32,750 --> 00:32:36,625 I walk home. 1150 00:32:39,042 --> 00:32:41,042 And when I got home, 1151 00:32:41,125 --> 00:32:46,667 I got in the shower 1152 00:32:41,125 --> 00:32:46,667 with all my clothes on, 1153 00:32:46,750 --> 00:32:48,625 and I took, like, 1154 00:32:46,750 --> 00:32:48,625 a cold shower, 1155 00:32:48,708 --> 00:32:50,833 lying down just crying, 1156 00:32:50,917 --> 00:32:54,042 and I just laid there 1157 00:32:50,917 --> 00:32:54,042 for a really long time. 1158 00:32:54,125 --> 00:33:00,625 ♪ ♪ 1159 00:33:02,458 --> 00:33:05,917 I was reduced to nothing 1160 00:33:02,458 --> 00:33:05,917 in that moment. 1161 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,833 I was nothing. 1162 00:33:08,917 --> 00:33:10,667 I was trash. 1163 00:33:13,958 --> 00:33:15,583 Nothing about me mattered. 1164 00:33:15,667 --> 00:33:18,875 Nothing about anything that 1165 00:33:15,667 --> 00:33:18,875 makes me who I am mattered. 1166 00:33:18,958 --> 00:33:24,583 I was a physical object. 1167 00:33:18,958 --> 00:33:24,583 I was a physical device. 1168 00:33:24,667 --> 00:33:26,333 I was a physical... 1169 00:33:27,917 --> 00:33:31,417 I--I--some physical thing 1170 00:33:27,917 --> 00:33:31,417 that he utilized 1171 00:33:31,500 --> 00:33:33,083 for his pleasure. 1172 00:33:33,167 --> 00:33:39,542 ♪ ♪ 1173 00:33:39,625 --> 00:33:41,208 - At that time, 1174 00:33:39,625 --> 00:33:41,208 when she came to me, 1175 00:33:41,292 --> 00:33:43,250 she had told me that she had 1176 00:33:41,292 --> 00:33:43,250 been assaulted 1177 00:33:43,333 --> 00:33:46,208 a few days earlier. 1178 00:33:46,292 --> 00:33:48,125 I believed her 1179 00:33:46,292 --> 00:33:48,125 when she told me. 1180 00:33:48,208 --> 00:33:51,042 I could see it in her face, 1181 00:33:48,208 --> 00:33:51,042 like, something had happened. 1182 00:33:51,125 --> 00:33:52,750 That spirit, 1183 00:33:51,125 --> 00:33:52,750 that light wasn't there. 1184 00:33:52,833 --> 00:33:55,583 Like, it had been, like, 1185 00:33:52,833 --> 00:33:55,583 almost, like, taken away. 1186 00:33:55,667 --> 00:33:59,750 ♪ ♪ 1187 00:33:59,833 --> 00:34:03,333 Then I had asked her, um, 1188 00:33:59,833 --> 00:34:03,333 "Are you all right? 1189 00:34:03,417 --> 00:34:05,542 Do you wanna go to the police?" 1190 00:34:05,625 --> 00:34:09,708 And she was reluctant 1191 00:34:05,625 --> 00:34:09,708 because she was like, 1192 00:34:09,792 --> 00:34:11,292 "No one's gonna 1193 00:34:09,792 --> 00:34:11,292 take me seriously. 1194 00:34:11,375 --> 00:34:12,958 "He's, like, Russell Simmons. 1195 00:34:13,042 --> 00:34:14,458 Like, who's gonna believe me?" 1196 00:34:14,542 --> 00:34:17,042 - I think I must have 1197 00:34:14,542 --> 00:34:17,042 continued working there 1198 00:34:17,125 --> 00:34:18,292 for a little while longer. 1199 00:34:18,375 --> 00:34:20,292 I remember going in 1200 00:34:18,375 --> 00:34:20,292 for some meeting 1201 00:34:20,375 --> 00:34:21,417 and he was in the building 1202 00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:24,125 and asked me to sit on his lap, 1203 00:34:24,208 --> 00:34:27,417 and I just remember 1204 00:34:24,208 --> 00:34:27,417 feeling like, "My God." 1205 00:34:27,500 --> 00:34:31,292 I'm like... 1206 00:34:27,500 --> 00:34:31,292 [scoffs] 1207 00:34:31,375 --> 00:34:33,708 "He thinks I'm that person now." 1208 00:34:36,042 --> 00:34:39,208 "I'm not that person." 1209 00:34:39,292 --> 00:34:40,708 And so then I, like, 1210 00:34:40,792 --> 00:34:43,417 submitted a handwritten letter 1211 00:34:40,792 --> 00:34:43,417 of resignation 1212 00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:45,500 which I wrote once and had, 1213 00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:45,500 like, all these cross-outs, 1214 00:34:45,583 --> 00:34:47,833 but I literally did not even 1215 00:34:45,583 --> 00:34:47,833 have the physical strength 1216 00:34:47,917 --> 00:34:50,542 to crumple it up 1217 00:34:47,917 --> 00:34:50,542 and start again. 1218 00:34:52,292 --> 00:34:53,667 And they were like, 1219 00:34:52,292 --> 00:34:53,667 "Do you want more money? 1220 00:34:53,750 --> 00:34:55,500 "Do you wanna be 1221 00:34:53,750 --> 00:34:55,500 a vice president? 1222 00:34:55,583 --> 00:34:56,792 How much money 1223 00:34:55,583 --> 00:34:56,792 is it gonna take?" 1224 00:34:56,875 --> 00:34:59,375 This is Russell talking. 1225 00:34:59,458 --> 00:35:01,667 And then finally Lyor 1226 00:34:59,458 --> 00:35:01,667 was like, "Stop. 1227 00:35:01,750 --> 00:35:04,000 "Stop talking. 1228 00:35:04,083 --> 00:35:07,750 "Let her go. 1229 00:35:04,083 --> 00:35:07,750 She's gone. 1230 00:35:07,833 --> 00:35:09,250 Let her go." 1231 00:35:10,750 --> 00:35:13,625 And that was it. 1232 00:35:10,750 --> 00:35:13,625 [chuckles] 1233 00:35:18,583 --> 00:35:20,292 [chuckles] 1234 00:35:23,417 --> 00:35:25,500 Yeah. 1235 00:35:28,625 --> 00:35:30,417 So... 1236 00:35:28,625 --> 00:35:30,417 [scoffs] 1237 00:35:37,167 --> 00:35:40,042 [car engine revving] 1238 00:35:40,125 --> 00:35:43,375 [cell phone keyboard clacking] 1239 00:35:49,042 --> 00:35:52,250 [cell phone buzzing] 1240 00:35:54,167 --> 00:35:57,375 Wait, that was a call 1241 00:35:54,167 --> 00:35:57,375 from California. 1242 00:35:59,083 --> 00:36:00,542 That's scary. 1243 00:36:02,292 --> 00:36:03,833 Hey, Joe. 1244 00:36:03,917 --> 00:36:06,708 Like, every 310 phone call 1245 00:36:03,917 --> 00:36:06,708 I get today, 1246 00:36:06,792 --> 00:36:08,417 I have to tell, 1247 00:36:06,792 --> 00:36:08,417 you I've had a heart attack. 1248 00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:11,958 I'm like--I think it's, like, 1249 00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:11,958 either Russell or LA, 1250 00:36:12,042 --> 00:36:13,292 and I'm like, 1251 00:36:12,042 --> 00:36:13,292 "Oh, my God, oh, my God, 1252 00:36:13,375 --> 00:36:14,667 should I not answer? 1253 00:36:13,375 --> 00:36:14,667 Oh, my God." 1254 00:36:14,750 --> 00:36:16,167 [laughs] 1255 00:36:24,250 --> 00:36:25,667 - Mm-hmm. 1256 00:36:27,125 --> 00:36:28,542 - Sure, okay. 1257 00:36:29,750 --> 00:36:31,083 - Mm. 1258 00:36:31,167 --> 00:36:33,208 Okay, okay. 1259 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,167 "The New York Times" 1260 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,167 called me back and said 1261 00:36:37,250 --> 00:36:39,792 there were other women and 1262 00:36:37,250 --> 00:36:39,792 there were other black women 1263 00:36:39,875 --> 00:36:43,458 who've been assaulted 1264 00:36:39,875 --> 00:36:43,458 by Russell, 1265 00:36:43,542 --> 00:36:44,667 that they won't 1266 00:36:43,542 --> 00:36:44,667 go on the record 1267 00:36:44,750 --> 00:36:47,750 unless I go on the record, 1268 00:36:47,833 --> 00:36:51,792 but I'm still terrified 1269 00:36:47,833 --> 00:36:51,792 of the backlash. 1270 00:36:51,875 --> 00:36:57,750 ♪ ♪ 1271 00:36:57,833 --> 00:36:59,292 I remember my senior year 1272 00:36:57,833 --> 00:36:59,292 and Stanford, 1273 00:36:59,375 --> 00:37:02,417 watching 1274 00:36:59,375 --> 00:37:02,417 the Anita Hill hearings. 1275 00:37:02,500 --> 00:37:04,417 - Professor, do you swear 1276 00:37:02,500 --> 00:37:04,417 to tell the whole truth 1277 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:06,292 and nothing but the truth, 1278 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:06,292 so help you God? 1279 00:37:06,375 --> 00:37:07,708 - I do. 1280 00:37:07,792 --> 00:37:09,542 He spoke about acts 1281 00:37:07,792 --> 00:37:09,542 that he had seen 1282 00:37:09,625 --> 00:37:13,500 in pornographic films 1283 00:37:09,625 --> 00:37:13,500 involving such matters as women 1284 00:37:13,583 --> 00:37:15,417 having sex with animals 1285 00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:19,583 and films showing group sex 1286 00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:19,583 or rape scenes. 1287 00:37:19,667 --> 00:37:22,833 - I was like, "Well, that 1288 00:37:19,667 --> 00:37:22,833 didn't go very well for her. 1289 00:37:22,917 --> 00:37:26,125 "He's on the Supreme Court now. 1290 00:37:26,208 --> 00:37:28,208 I'm never gonna do that." 1291 00:37:28,292 --> 00:37:30,958 - Now, again, 1292 00:37:28,292 --> 00:37:30,958 for the record, 1293 00:37:31,042 --> 00:37:33,083 did he just say, 1294 00:37:33,167 --> 00:37:36,417 "I have great physical 1295 00:37:33,167 --> 00:37:36,417 capability and attributes," 1296 00:37:36,500 --> 00:37:37,833 or was he more graphic in-- 1297 00:37:37,917 --> 00:37:39,500 - He was much more graphic. 1298 00:37:39,583 --> 00:37:41,250 - Can you tell us what he said? 1299 00:37:41,333 --> 00:37:45,708 - Well, I can tell you that 1300 00:37:41,333 --> 00:37:45,708 he compared his penis size, 1301 00:37:45,792 --> 00:37:51,292 uh, he measured his penis 1302 00:37:45,792 --> 00:37:51,292 in terms of le--length, 1303 00:37:51,375 --> 00:37:54,667 um, those kinds of comments. 1304 00:37:54,750 --> 00:37:56,042 - I mean, that's one thing 1305 00:37:56,125 --> 00:38:00,375 about being a victim 1306 00:37:56,125 --> 00:38:00,375 of sexual abuse. 1307 00:38:00,458 --> 00:38:02,958 The words are on your mouth. 1308 00:38:03,042 --> 00:38:05,750 You're the one that has 1309 00:38:03,042 --> 00:38:05,750 to disgust the world 1310 00:38:05,833 --> 00:38:07,333 by telling them 1311 00:38:05,833 --> 00:38:07,333 what happened to you, 1312 00:38:07,417 --> 00:38:12,500 so you then become associated 1313 00:38:07,417 --> 00:38:12,500 with this vile, 1314 00:38:12,583 --> 00:38:14,542 vile act. 1315 00:38:14,625 --> 00:38:17,958 You are defiled again because 1316 00:38:14,625 --> 00:38:17,958 you have to tell people, 1317 00:38:18,042 --> 00:38:19,458 and they see it on your lips. 1318 00:38:19,542 --> 00:38:23,208 - Unequivocally, 1319 00:38:19,542 --> 00:38:23,208 uncategorically, 1320 00:38:23,292 --> 00:38:26,958 that I deny each 1321 00:38:23,292 --> 00:38:26,958 and every single allegation 1322 00:38:27,042 --> 00:38:31,375 against me today 1323 00:38:27,042 --> 00:38:31,375 that suggested in any way 1324 00:38:31,458 --> 00:38:36,250 that I had conversations 1325 00:38:31,458 --> 00:38:36,250 of a sexual nature... 1326 00:38:36,333 --> 00:38:40,125 - And then the person who did it 1327 00:38:36,333 --> 00:38:40,125 is shocked to the core, 1328 00:38:40,208 --> 00:38:41,542 as is society, 1329 00:38:41,625 --> 00:38:43,625 so then they're aligned 1330 00:38:41,625 --> 00:38:43,625 with society like... 1331 00:38:43,708 --> 00:38:46,750 [gasps] 1332 00:38:43,708 --> 00:38:46,750 Clutching their pearls. 1333 00:38:46,833 --> 00:38:50,917 - It is a high-tech lynching 1334 00:38:46,833 --> 00:38:50,917 for uppity blacks 1335 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:54,375 who in any way deign 1336 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:54,375 to think for themselves. 1337 00:38:54,458 --> 00:38:58,667 - And you have this tawdry, 1338 00:38:54,458 --> 00:38:58,667 sordid 1339 00:38:58,750 --> 00:39:03,167 nastiness on your lips, 1340 00:38:58,750 --> 00:39:03,167 so you seem gross. 1341 00:39:03,250 --> 00:39:04,625 - There are a lot of people-- 1342 00:39:04,708 --> 00:39:06,875 and you know it, Desiree-- 1343 00:39:04,708 --> 00:39:06,875 who say 1344 00:39:06,958 --> 00:39:11,292 2:00 in the morning 1345 00:39:06,958 --> 00:39:11,292 in a man's room with beds, 1346 00:39:11,375 --> 00:39:14,750 what--what were you doing there 1347 00:39:11,375 --> 00:39:14,750 at 2:00 in the morning? 1348 00:39:14,833 --> 00:39:16,625 - I just wasn't thinking. 1349 00:39:16,708 --> 00:39:18,917 It--there's--you know, 1350 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:20,708 there's no other explanation. 1351 00:39:20,792 --> 00:39:22,583 - And then I remember 1352 00:39:20,792 --> 00:39:22,583 Desiree Washington, 1353 00:39:22,667 --> 00:39:26,583 who was the pageant winner 1354 00:39:22,667 --> 00:39:26,583 who was raped by Mike Tyson, 1355 00:39:26,667 --> 00:39:29,458 and, like, the black community 1356 00:39:26,667 --> 00:39:29,458 was not kind to her. 1357 00:39:29,542 --> 00:39:30,958 - "The Washington Post" 1358 00:39:31,042 --> 00:39:33,417 conducted interviews 1359 00:39:31,042 --> 00:39:33,417 with young women 1360 00:39:33,500 --> 00:39:36,417 in college of your age, 1361 00:39:33,500 --> 00:39:36,417 black women, 1362 00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:38,958 and they didn't seem to show 1363 00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:38,958 a lot of sympathy. 1364 00:39:39,042 --> 00:39:42,958 One said, "18-year-olds are not 1365 00:39:39,042 --> 00:39:42,958 naive in this day and age. 1366 00:39:43,042 --> 00:39:45,500 What did she think a guy wanted 1367 00:39:43,042 --> 00:39:45,500 at 2:00 in the morning?" 1368 00:39:45,583 --> 00:39:48,958 Another said, "She asked for it. 1369 00:39:45,583 --> 00:39:48,958 She got it. 1370 00:39:49,042 --> 00:39:51,292 It's not fair to cry rape." 1371 00:39:51,375 --> 00:39:53,125 - It's sad. 1372 00:39:53,208 --> 00:39:57,542 It's sad that women 1373 00:39:53,208 --> 00:39:57,542 in 1992 feel that way. 1374 00:39:57,625 --> 00:39:59,417 - It's like, 1375 00:39:57,625 --> 00:39:59,417 "Oh, no. 1376 00:39:59,500 --> 00:40:01,500 "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. 1377 00:40:01,583 --> 00:40:03,792 "I'm never, ever 1378 00:40:01,583 --> 00:40:03,792 gonna be that person. 1379 00:40:03,875 --> 00:40:06,292 "He's Russell Simmons. 1380 00:40:06,375 --> 00:40:08,542 He's the king of hip-hop." 1381 00:40:10,125 --> 00:40:14,125 "No, I'm never gonna be 1382 00:40:10,125 --> 00:40:14,125 that person. 1383 00:40:14,208 --> 00:40:18,375 "The black community 1384 00:40:14,208 --> 00:40:18,375 will hate my guts. 1385 00:40:18,458 --> 00:40:21,375 No." 1386 00:40:21,458 --> 00:40:25,667 - Black women's need, um, 1387 00:40:21,458 --> 00:40:25,667 and really duty that we feel 1388 00:40:25,750 --> 00:40:27,583 to protect black men 1389 00:40:25,750 --> 00:40:27,583 is definitely 1390 00:40:27,667 --> 00:40:29,167 a hindrance 1391 00:40:27,667 --> 00:40:29,167 to protecting ourselves. 1392 00:40:29,250 --> 00:40:31,417 There's this added layer 1393 00:40:29,250 --> 00:40:31,417 in the black community 1394 00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:34,000 that we have to contend with 1395 00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:34,000 of, like, 1396 00:40:34,083 --> 00:40:37,125 "Oh, you're gonna put this 1397 00:40:34,083 --> 00:40:37,125 before the race?" 1398 00:40:37,208 --> 00:40:38,917 Right, "You're gonna put this-- 1399 00:40:37,208 --> 00:40:38,917 because this-- 1400 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:40,792 "you let this thing happen 1401 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:40,792 to you, 1402 00:40:40,875 --> 00:40:43,042 now we have to pay for it 1403 00:40:40,875 --> 00:40:43,042 as a race?" 1404 00:40:43,125 --> 00:40:45,458 And--and then we're silenced 1405 00:40:43,125 --> 00:40:45,458 even more. 1406 00:40:45,542 --> 00:40:46,750 - On the one hand, 1407 00:40:46,833 --> 00:40:48,750 they are in an incredible amount 1408 00:40:46,833 --> 00:40:48,750 of pain 1409 00:40:48,833 --> 00:40:52,125 and want their perpetrator 1410 00:40:48,833 --> 00:40:52,125 to be punished, 1411 00:40:52,208 --> 00:40:55,500 but they're also fearful 1412 00:40:52,208 --> 00:40:55,500 of being cast as the person 1413 00:40:55,583 --> 00:40:58,333 who is putting a black man 1414 00:40:55,583 --> 00:40:58,333 in the line of fire. 1415 00:40:58,417 --> 00:41:02,208 - Many black women will allow 1416 00:40:58,417 --> 00:41:02,208 race loyalty to buy them 1417 00:41:02,292 --> 00:41:06,708 an early tombstone because 1418 00:41:02,292 --> 00:41:06,708 they cannot reconcile 1419 00:41:06,792 --> 00:41:08,875 the idea of engaging in 1420 00:41:08,958 --> 00:41:10,625 American criminal 1421 00:41:08,958 --> 00:41:10,625 justice system 1422 00:41:10,708 --> 00:41:13,542 that has been so brutal 1423 00:41:10,708 --> 00:41:13,542 to black men. 1424 00:41:13,625 --> 00:41:15,000 - This whole 1425 00:41:13,625 --> 00:41:15,000 ride-or-die mentality 1426 00:41:15,083 --> 00:41:16,583 is killing black women. 1427 00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:18,458 There's part of us that, um, 1428 00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:18,458 we're innately designed 1429 00:41:18,542 --> 00:41:21,375 to protect them because America 1430 00:41:18,542 --> 00:41:21,375 destroys our men, right? 1431 00:41:21,458 --> 00:41:22,917 So we're designed 1432 00:41:21,458 --> 00:41:22,917 to protect them 1433 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:26,500 from what America 1434 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:26,500 has historically done to them. 1435 00:41:26,583 --> 00:41:28,875 From slavery to beyond, like, 1436 00:41:26,583 --> 00:41:28,875 to Jim Crow, 1437 00:41:28,958 --> 00:41:31,000 like, we're designed 1438 00:41:28,958 --> 00:41:31,000 to innately protect them 1439 00:41:31,083 --> 00:41:33,250 'cause we know the struggle. 1440 00:41:33,333 --> 00:41:34,792 - If we go back historically, 1441 00:41:34,875 --> 00:41:38,167 we know that one 1442 00:41:34,875 --> 00:41:38,167 of the allegations 1443 00:41:38,250 --> 00:41:40,958 that led to the lynching 1444 00:41:38,250 --> 00:41:40,958 of black men 1445 00:41:41,042 --> 00:41:42,833 has been sexual assault. 1446 00:41:42,917 --> 00:41:47,667 So there has developed over 1447 00:41:42,917 --> 00:41:47,667 time in the black community 1448 00:41:47,750 --> 00:41:50,625 an awareness that lynching 1449 00:41:47,750 --> 00:41:50,625 is an expression 1450 00:41:50,708 --> 00:41:52,417 of white supremacy. 1451 00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:57,375 It's a particular expression, 1452 00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:57,375 the sexual projection 1453 00:41:57,458 --> 00:42:01,083 of black men 1454 00:41:57,458 --> 00:42:01,083 as being dangerous. 1455 00:42:01,167 --> 00:42:05,000 - You're worried 1456 00:42:01,167 --> 00:42:05,000 as a black woman 1457 00:42:05,083 --> 00:42:08,000 that you'll say something 1458 00:42:05,083 --> 00:42:08,000 that will have 1459 00:42:08,083 --> 00:42:11,208 consequences that you 1460 00:42:08,083 --> 00:42:11,208 hadn't anticipated. 1461 00:42:11,292 --> 00:42:13,458 Even down to just calling 1462 00:42:11,292 --> 00:42:13,458 the police. 1463 00:42:13,542 --> 00:42:17,042 - Your responsibility 1464 00:42:13,542 --> 00:42:17,042 to muffle, you know, 1465 00:42:17,125 --> 00:42:19,750 your screams is greater 1466 00:42:17,125 --> 00:42:19,750 than his responsibility 1467 00:42:19,833 --> 00:42:21,583 not to do it in the first place. 1468 00:42:21,667 --> 00:42:25,083 - It's a very, very terrible 1469 00:42:21,667 --> 00:42:25,083 burden to bear 1470 00:42:25,167 --> 00:42:28,875 to know that you might still 1471 00:42:25,167 --> 00:42:28,875 be judged as somehow 1472 00:42:28,958 --> 00:42:32,250 being a traitor. 1473 00:42:32,333 --> 00:42:35,583 - Are we gonna pile on? 1474 00:42:35,667 --> 00:42:39,125 We're gonna add fuel 1475 00:42:35,667 --> 00:42:39,125 to the fire of the myth 1476 00:42:39,208 --> 00:42:43,375 of the sexually aggressive 1477 00:42:39,208 --> 00:42:43,375 black man? 1478 00:42:43,458 --> 00:42:46,333 I don't wanna do that. 1479 00:42:48,375 --> 00:42:51,333 I wanted Russell 1480 00:42:48,375 --> 00:42:51,333 to be a hero too. 1481 00:42:52,667 --> 00:42:55,792 I mean, for 22 years, 1482 00:42:52,667 --> 00:42:55,792 I took it for the team. 1483 00:42:55,875 --> 00:42:57,583 Russell Simmons is the king 1484 00:42:55,875 --> 00:42:57,583 of hip-hop, 1485 00:42:57,667 --> 00:43:00,500 and I was proud of him 1486 00:42:57,667 --> 00:43:00,500 for that. 1487 00:43:01,542 --> 00:43:03,458 So I took it for the team. 1488 00:43:06,792 --> 00:43:09,083 I didn't wanna let 1489 00:43:06,792 --> 00:43:09,083 the culture down. 1490 00:43:11,958 --> 00:43:14,000 I love the culture. 1491 00:43:15,750 --> 00:43:18,167 I loved Russell too. 1492 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:24,167 [water rushing] 1493 00:43:26,750 --> 00:43:29,250 - Turn your head 1494 00:43:26,750 --> 00:43:29,250 to the left for me. 1495 00:43:32,667 --> 00:43:34,292 Turn to the right. 1496 00:43:37,708 --> 00:43:40,917 [hair dryer whirring] 1497 00:43:48,042 --> 00:43:51,167 I think it's important 1498 00:43:48,042 --> 00:43:51,167 that you do tell your story 1499 00:43:51,250 --> 00:43:55,375 because people, like-- 1500 00:43:51,250 --> 00:43:55,375 little girls need it. 1501 00:43:55,458 --> 00:43:58,000 Even grown women with little 1502 00:43:55,458 --> 00:43:58,000 girls inside of them 1503 00:43:58,083 --> 00:44:00,792 need it--to hear, 1504 00:43:58,083 --> 00:44:00,792 like, "It wasn't just me. 1505 00:44:00,875 --> 00:44:03,000 Oh, my God, somebody else 1506 00:44:00,875 --> 00:44:03,000 went through the same thing." 1507 00:44:03,083 --> 00:44:04,208 Like... 1508 00:44:05,250 --> 00:44:08,375 And you're showing, like, 1509 00:44:05,250 --> 00:44:08,375 your daughter, like, 1510 00:44:08,458 --> 00:44:12,542 "Look, no matter what happens, 1511 00:44:08,458 --> 00:44:12,542 you can overcome it." 1512 00:44:15,458 --> 00:44:18,292 And really, more people 1513 00:44:15,458 --> 00:44:18,292 are abused than they talk about. 1514 00:44:18,375 --> 00:44:19,958 You know? 1515 00:44:18,375 --> 00:44:19,958 - Mm-hmm. 1516 00:44:22,458 --> 00:44:24,042 Yeah. 1517 00:44:26,583 --> 00:44:29,500 [hip-hop music] 1518 00:44:29,583 --> 00:44:33,417 ♪ ♪ 1519 00:44:33,500 --> 00:44:36,583 - I grew up in a certain part 1520 00:44:33,500 --> 00:44:36,583 of the Bronx. 1521 00:44:36,667 --> 00:44:39,750 When you used to go outside, 1522 00:44:36,667 --> 00:44:39,750 on every corner, 1523 00:44:39,833 --> 00:44:41,375 somebody was playing or rapping. 1524 00:44:41,458 --> 00:44:44,000 You have Grandmaster Flash 1525 00:44:41,458 --> 00:44:44,000 playing on one corner 1526 00:44:44,083 --> 00:44:47,125 and you could have Kool Herc 1527 00:44:44,083 --> 00:44:47,125 playing on the other. 1528 00:44:47,208 --> 00:44:50,500 It was empowering, like, 1529 00:44:47,208 --> 00:44:50,500 to hear somebody's talking 1530 00:44:50,583 --> 00:44:53,750 about where you're coming from 1531 00:44:50,583 --> 00:44:53,750 and--and actually making 1532 00:44:53,833 --> 00:44:56,583 our neighborhood 1533 00:44:53,833 --> 00:44:56,583 look fabulous, you know? 1534 00:44:56,667 --> 00:44:58,042 And me, 1535 00:44:56,667 --> 00:44:58,042 I felt important. 1536 00:44:58,125 --> 00:45:00,292 You know, when we discovered 1537 00:44:58,125 --> 00:45:00,292 hip-hop and rap, 1538 00:45:00,375 --> 00:45:02,958 that's--we went for it. 1539 00:45:03,042 --> 00:45:08,917 ♪ ♪ 1540 00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:14,292 Mercedes Ladies is the first 1541 00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:14,292 all-female DJ and rap group 1542 00:45:14,375 --> 00:45:17,167 in hip-hop history. 1543 00:45:17,250 --> 00:45:19,583 We had to be tough because 1544 00:45:17,250 --> 00:45:19,583 we was going against 1545 00:45:19,667 --> 00:45:21,833 an all-male arena, 1546 00:45:21,917 --> 00:45:24,292 and that's how we met Russell, 1547 00:45:24,375 --> 00:45:26,917 and so I told him 1548 00:45:24,375 --> 00:45:26,917 Mercedes Ladies is looking 1549 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:28,625 for some serious management, 1550 00:45:28,708 --> 00:45:31,458 so he's like, 1551 00:45:28,708 --> 00:45:31,458 "Oh, yeah, I heard of y'all, 1552 00:45:31,542 --> 00:45:33,417 and I wanna get you 1553 00:45:31,542 --> 00:45:33,417 in the studio." 1554 00:45:33,500 --> 00:45:35,708 So for three, 1555 00:45:33,500 --> 00:45:35,708 four months straight, 1556 00:45:35,792 --> 00:45:38,125 we was just rehearsing 1557 00:45:35,792 --> 00:45:38,125 every single day. 1558 00:45:38,208 --> 00:45:40,958 He had us in there for hours, 1559 00:45:38,208 --> 00:45:40,958 and we was like, 1560 00:45:41,042 --> 00:45:43,000 "We're finally gonna get 1561 00:45:41,042 --> 00:45:43,000 our chance, you know? 1562 00:45:43,083 --> 00:45:46,625 After the hard work, 1563 00:45:43,083 --> 00:45:46,625 it's finally paying off." 1564 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:51,792 And then one night, he says, 1565 00:45:51,875 --> 00:45:53,667 "You wanna come see 1566 00:45:51,875 --> 00:45:53,667 my new office?" 1567 00:45:53,750 --> 00:45:57,000 It was a little, small office, 1568 00:45:53,750 --> 00:45:57,000 and then he's like, 1569 00:45:57,083 --> 00:45:58,458 "Sit down, sit down." 1570 00:45:58,542 --> 00:46:00,500 So then he sat down 1571 00:45:58,542 --> 00:46:00,500 next to me, 1572 00:46:00,583 --> 00:46:03,708 so I thought we was 1573 00:46:00,583 --> 00:46:03,708 gonna talk business, 1574 00:46:03,792 --> 00:46:05,833 and the next thing you know, 1575 00:46:05,917 --> 00:46:10,917 I'm pinned down to the, um-- 1576 00:46:05,917 --> 00:46:10,917 the couch that he had, 1577 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:13,542 and I could remember 1578 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:13,542 I kept saying, 1579 00:46:13,625 --> 00:46:15,083 "What are you doing? 1580 00:46:13,625 --> 00:46:15,083 Like, get off of me. 1581 00:46:15,167 --> 00:46:16,458 What are you doing?" 1582 00:46:16,542 --> 00:46:21,000 So I'm trying 1583 00:46:16,542 --> 00:46:21,000 to force him off of me. 1584 00:46:21,083 --> 00:46:22,458 It happened so fast. 1585 00:46:22,542 --> 00:46:24,625 He had his pants down, 1586 00:46:22,542 --> 00:46:24,625 and it just-- 1587 00:46:24,708 --> 00:46:29,583 he just took, took, 1588 00:46:24,708 --> 00:46:29,583 took what he wanted. 1589 00:46:29,667 --> 00:46:32,500 [dramatic music] 1590 00:46:32,583 --> 00:46:34,500 ♪ ♪ 1591 00:46:34,583 --> 00:46:37,083 When you're raised in that 1592 00:46:34,583 --> 00:46:37,083 environment in the hood, 1593 00:46:37,167 --> 00:46:41,083 everybody was taught 1594 00:46:37,167 --> 00:46:41,083 that things happened. 1595 00:46:41,167 --> 00:46:44,125 You just didn't talk about it, 1596 00:46:44,208 --> 00:46:47,583 and so I just always 1597 00:46:44,208 --> 00:46:47,583 put on this front. 1598 00:46:47,667 --> 00:46:50,375 Like, everybody always say, 1599 00:46:50,458 --> 00:46:51,917 um, "Sheri, how you doing?" 1600 00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:53,750 And this is me, 1601 00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:53,750 always with a smile. 1602 00:46:53,833 --> 00:46:55,208 "Oh, I'm okay. 1603 00:46:53,833 --> 00:46:55,208 I'm okay," 1604 00:46:55,292 --> 00:46:57,875 and then I, um, 1605 00:46:55,292 --> 00:46:57,875 finally realized, 1606 00:46:57,958 --> 00:47:00,833 all these years, 1607 00:46:57,958 --> 00:47:00,833 I wasn't okay. 1608 00:47:00,917 --> 00:47:02,917 I wasn't okay, 1609 00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:09,750 but I'm taking more control 1610 00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:09,750 of myself now 1611 00:47:09,833 --> 00:47:12,417 and forgiving myself 1612 00:47:12,500 --> 00:47:15,833 and--and starting to know 1613 00:47:12,500 --> 00:47:15,833 who my--my worth is 1614 00:47:15,917 --> 00:47:19,542 and not--my worth is not based 1615 00:47:15,917 --> 00:47:19,542 on things I've been in life 1616 00:47:19,625 --> 00:47:22,125 and all the unfairness 1617 00:47:19,625 --> 00:47:22,125 that was done to me in life. 1618 00:47:22,208 --> 00:47:25,875 My--my worth is based on that 1619 00:47:22,208 --> 00:47:25,875 I got through these things 1620 00:47:25,958 --> 00:47:28,708 and I'm still standing. 1621 00:47:28,792 --> 00:47:35,958 ♪ ♪ 1622 00:47:43,167 --> 00:47:45,250 - It was in '94. 1623 00:47:45,333 --> 00:47:50,083 I was modeling. 1624 00:47:45,333 --> 00:47:50,083 I was living in Europe. 1625 00:47:50,167 --> 00:47:53,750 I was in Italy working, 1626 00:47:53,833 --> 00:47:59,167 and I came back because I-- 1627 00:47:53,833 --> 00:47:59,167 there was some personal drama 1628 00:47:59,250 --> 00:48:02,750 that I was going through, 1629 00:47:59,250 --> 00:48:02,750 and I reached out to Russell 1630 00:48:02,833 --> 00:48:04,583 'cause we had stayed friendly. 1631 00:48:04,667 --> 00:48:08,125 We hadn't had any type of 1632 00:48:04,667 --> 00:48:08,125 physical sexual relationship 1633 00:48:08,208 --> 00:48:10,500 in close to two years, 1634 00:48:10,583 --> 00:48:12,042 and it was really odd. 1635 00:48:12,125 --> 00:48:15,000 I remember he was 1636 00:48:12,125 --> 00:48:15,000 drinking Pellegrino, 1637 00:48:15,083 --> 00:48:17,292 and I was like, 1638 00:48:15,083 --> 00:48:17,292 "You're not gonna have a drink?" 1639 00:48:17,375 --> 00:48:20,000 'Cause we used 1640 00:48:17,375 --> 00:48:20,000 to party hard together. 1641 00:48:20,083 --> 00:48:22,583 And he said--he said, 1642 00:48:20,083 --> 00:48:22,583 "No, I'm not drinking. 1643 00:48:22,667 --> 00:48:25,458 I quit drinking." 1644 00:48:22,667 --> 00:48:25,458 I said, "Okay." 1645 00:48:25,542 --> 00:48:27,750 You know, he was-- 1646 00:48:25,542 --> 00:48:27,750 he was coming on to me. 1647 00:48:27,833 --> 00:48:30,750 He said something, 1648 00:48:27,833 --> 00:48:30,750 and I told him, I said, 1649 00:48:30,833 --> 00:48:32,708 "Russell, I've got 1650 00:48:30,833 --> 00:48:32,708 a boyfriend, 1651 00:48:32,792 --> 00:48:39,208 and I'm really happy, 1652 00:48:32,792 --> 00:48:39,208 and that's not happening." 1653 00:48:40,583 --> 00:48:45,625 And--and he grabbed my hands 1654 00:48:40,583 --> 00:48:45,625 and he said, "Sil Lai, 1655 00:48:45,708 --> 00:48:47,500 we are friends." 1656 00:48:47,583 --> 00:48:49,333 He said, "That's your pussy, 1657 00:48:49,417 --> 00:48:53,250 "and I would never 1658 00:48:49,417 --> 00:48:53,250 take anything from you 1659 00:48:53,333 --> 00:48:56,500 that you didn't give me." 1660 00:48:56,583 --> 00:49:00,042 And at a certain point, 1661 00:48:56,583 --> 00:49:00,042 I said to him, 1662 00:49:00,125 --> 00:49:01,500 "I wanna go home," 1663 00:49:01,583 --> 00:49:03,250 but instead of taking me 1664 00:49:03,333 --> 00:49:05,292 to my girlfriend's place, 1665 00:49:05,375 --> 00:49:07,500 he took me to his place. 1666 00:49:07,583 --> 00:49:11,500 I figured I would just crash 1667 00:49:07,583 --> 00:49:11,500 like I'd crashed 1668 00:49:11,583 --> 00:49:14,917 at other friends' houses. 1669 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:17,167 I remember I came upstairs 1670 00:49:17,250 --> 00:49:20,000 and I passed out 1671 00:49:17,250 --> 00:49:20,000 on--on his bed 1672 00:49:20,083 --> 00:49:21,292 and I heard some noise. 1673 00:49:21,375 --> 00:49:23,500 I think he had gone 1674 00:49:21,375 --> 00:49:23,500 to take a shower, 1675 00:49:23,583 --> 00:49:29,708 and he--and I opened my eyes 1676 00:49:23,583 --> 00:49:29,708 and he is walking towards me 1677 00:49:29,792 --> 00:49:33,875 and he's naked except 1678 00:49:29,792 --> 00:49:33,875 he's wearing a condom. 1679 00:49:35,958 --> 00:49:39,583 I kept on saying, 1680 00:49:35,958 --> 00:49:39,583 "No, no, no," 1681 00:49:39,667 --> 00:49:41,208 and--and I remember thinking, 1682 00:49:41,292 --> 00:49:43,917 "My boyfriend, my boyfriend, 1683 00:49:41,292 --> 00:49:43,917 my boyfriend." 1684 00:49:47,125 --> 00:49:50,333 And then he raped me, 1685 00:49:50,417 --> 00:49:52,750 and I couldn't fight. 1686 00:49:52,833 --> 00:49:56,250 I couldn't do anything. 1687 00:49:52,833 --> 00:49:56,250 I just lay there. 1688 00:49:59,500 --> 00:50:01,417 And then when it was over, 1689 00:50:01,500 --> 00:50:02,750 I remember he just said, 1690 00:50:02,833 --> 00:50:05,042 "Okay, well, 1691 00:50:02,833 --> 00:50:05,042 you know, 1692 00:50:05,125 --> 00:50:08,208 I'm gonna have Kenny 1693 00:50:05,125 --> 00:50:08,208 take you home," 1694 00:50:08,292 --> 00:50:12,875 and I get dropped off 1695 00:50:08,292 --> 00:50:12,875 and I go upstairs 1696 00:50:12,958 --> 00:50:17,417 and I--I freaked. 1697 00:50:17,500 --> 00:50:21,583 I freaked out. 1698 00:50:17,500 --> 00:50:21,583 I... 1699 00:50:24,917 --> 00:50:28,375 I--I mean, I just-- 1700 00:50:24,917 --> 00:50:28,375 I was so angry 1701 00:50:28,458 --> 00:50:30,833 and I was so filled 1702 00:50:28,458 --> 00:50:30,833 with self-loathing 1703 00:50:30,917 --> 00:50:33,417 and I was so filled 1704 00:50:30,917 --> 00:50:33,417 with guilt... 1705 00:50:35,667 --> 00:50:41,250 And rage, just rage 1706 00:50:35,667 --> 00:50:41,250 over what he had done, 1707 00:50:41,333 --> 00:50:46,458 and so I swallowed-- 1708 00:50:41,333 --> 00:50:46,458 I believe it was 18 1709 00:50:46,542 --> 00:50:47,792 prescription sleeping pills. 1710 00:50:47,875 --> 00:50:49,583 These things were lethal, 1711 00:50:49,667 --> 00:50:52,083 and I kissed my son good-bye. 1712 00:50:53,875 --> 00:50:57,542 I just remember looking at him 1713 00:50:53,875 --> 00:50:57,542 and seeing how-- 1714 00:50:57,625 --> 00:51:01,208 how beautiful 1715 00:50:57,625 --> 00:51:01,208 and how pure he was. 1716 00:51:02,333 --> 00:51:05,750 I mean, he really was 1717 00:51:02,333 --> 00:51:05,750 such a beautiful child, 1718 00:51:05,833 --> 00:51:07,167 and, um... 1719 00:51:09,083 --> 00:51:11,625 I was like, 1720 00:51:09,083 --> 00:51:11,625 "Your mother's a failure." 1721 00:51:13,125 --> 00:51:15,458 "She can't do anything right, 1722 00:51:15,542 --> 00:51:18,042 and nobody treats her 1723 00:51:15,542 --> 00:51:18,042 like a human being." 1724 00:51:20,208 --> 00:51:21,625 "You're just a fuck toy. 1725 00:51:21,708 --> 00:51:24,667 You're a chew toy 1726 00:51:21,708 --> 00:51:24,667 for men of power." 1727 00:51:26,083 --> 00:51:27,542 "This is your life." 1728 00:51:28,792 --> 00:51:32,417 "How are you going to be able 1729 00:51:28,792 --> 00:51:32,417 to give him anything? 1730 00:51:32,500 --> 00:51:34,917 How are you gonna be able 1731 00:51:32,500 --> 00:51:34,917 to be there?" 1732 00:51:38,208 --> 00:51:39,500 And I said-- 1733 00:51:38,208 --> 00:51:39,500 you know, 1734 00:51:39,583 --> 00:51:41,375 my girlfriend 1735 00:51:39,583 --> 00:51:41,375 that I was staying with, 1736 00:51:41,458 --> 00:51:43,583 she was older-- 1737 00:51:41,458 --> 00:51:43,583 20 years older than me. 1738 00:51:43,667 --> 00:51:46,958 She was very responsible, 1739 00:51:43,667 --> 00:51:46,958 and I said, 1740 00:51:47,042 --> 00:51:49,500 "Carol's gonna be 1741 00:51:47,042 --> 00:51:49,500 your mommy now." 1742 00:51:49,583 --> 00:51:52,333 [siren wailing] 1743 00:51:52,417 --> 00:51:55,875 Eventually I get taken 1744 00:51:52,417 --> 00:51:55,875 to the hospital. 1745 00:51:55,958 --> 00:51:57,458 It's too late to pump 1746 00:51:55,958 --> 00:51:57,458 my stomach. 1747 00:51:57,542 --> 00:51:59,833 They give me 1748 00:51:57,542 --> 00:51:59,833 activated charcoal, 1749 00:51:59,917 --> 00:52:01,792 and it was touch-and-go. 1750 00:52:03,000 --> 00:52:05,708 The doctors said that 1751 00:52:03,000 --> 00:52:05,708 had I gotten there 20, 1752 00:52:05,792 --> 00:52:08,583 25 minutes later, 1753 00:52:05,792 --> 00:52:08,583 I would have been dead. 1754 00:52:10,333 --> 00:52:14,292 It's definitely the low point 1755 00:52:10,333 --> 00:52:14,292 of my life, 1756 00:52:14,375 --> 00:52:20,125 and it caverned me, 1757 00:52:20,208 --> 00:52:21,917 and I left fashion. 1758 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:27,542 I didn't wanna do anything 1759 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:27,542 where I would see people 1760 00:52:27,625 --> 00:52:31,208 who were adjacent to this man. 1761 00:52:31,292 --> 00:52:34,625 Russell was everywhere 1762 00:52:31,292 --> 00:52:34,625 I looked. 1763 00:52:34,708 --> 00:52:37,042 - ♪ Now you tell me 1764 00:52:34,708 --> 00:52:37,042 who the fuck is winning ♪ 1765 00:52:37,125 --> 00:52:40,042 ♪ I'm on my Russell Simmons, 1766 00:52:37,125 --> 00:52:40,042 Nicki denim, Nicki linen ♪ 1767 00:52:40,125 --> 00:52:41,917 - Our special guest 1768 00:52:40,125 --> 00:52:41,917 Russell Simmons, 1769 00:52:42,000 --> 00:52:43,667 a man who needs no introduction. 1770 00:52:43,750 --> 00:52:46,750 - He was named one of the top 25 1771 00:52:43,750 --> 00:52:46,750 most influential people. 1772 00:52:46,833 --> 00:52:49,042 - The one and only, 1773 00:52:46,833 --> 00:52:49,042 the godfather of hip-hop, 1774 00:52:49,125 --> 00:52:51,917 Russell Simmons is in the house. 1775 00:52:49,125 --> 00:52:51,917 - Oh, man. 1776 00:52:52,000 --> 00:52:54,458 - Russell Simmons went on 1777 00:52:52,000 --> 00:52:54,458 to create clothing lines, 1778 00:52:54,542 --> 00:52:55,917 "Def Comedy Jam" on HBO, 1779 00:52:56,000 --> 00:52:57,958 and "Def Poetry Jam" 1780 00:52:56,000 --> 00:52:57,958 on Broadway. 1781 00:52:58,042 --> 00:52:59,625 - Russell Simmons 1782 00:52:58,042 --> 00:52:59,625 is one of the wealthiest 1783 00:52:59,708 --> 00:53:01,000 entrepreneurs in the world. 1784 00:53:01,083 --> 00:53:02,167 - He later sold his stake 1785 00:53:02,250 --> 00:53:04,417 in Def Jam for $100 million. 1786 00:53:04,500 --> 00:53:06,417 - ♪ Who's the animal 1787 00:53:04,500 --> 00:53:06,417 invented lower living ♪ 1788 00:53:06,500 --> 00:53:09,000 ♪ The projects thank God 1789 00:53:06,500 --> 00:53:09,000 for Russell Simmons ♪ 1790 00:53:09,083 --> 00:53:10,750 - A pioneering philanthropist 1791 00:53:10,833 --> 00:53:12,417 who's also a "New York Times" 1792 00:53:10,833 --> 00:53:12,417 best-selling author. 1793 00:53:12,500 --> 00:53:13,625 - He describes the journey 1794 00:53:13,708 --> 00:53:15,458 in his new book, "Super Rich." 1795 00:53:15,542 --> 00:53:17,833 - He's out with a new book, 1796 00:53:15,542 --> 00:53:17,833 "Success Through Stillness." 1797 00:53:17,917 --> 00:53:19,542 - This whole idea 1798 00:53:17,917 --> 00:53:19,542 of being selfless 1799 00:53:19,625 --> 00:53:21,250 and giving all this effort 1800 00:53:19,625 --> 00:53:21,250 to the world 1801 00:53:21,333 --> 00:53:22,792 but not taking care of yourself, 1802 00:53:22,875 --> 00:53:24,292 you're not as good a servant, 1803 00:53:24,375 --> 00:53:25,958 so you have to take care 1804 00:53:24,375 --> 00:53:25,958 of yourself. 1805 00:53:26,042 --> 00:53:28,542 - You know him 1806 00:53:26,042 --> 00:53:28,542 as the godfather of hip-hop. 1807 00:53:28,625 --> 00:53:30,917 - Russell Simmons! 1808 00:53:31,000 --> 00:53:32,458 - Thank you so much. 1809 00:53:31,000 --> 00:53:32,458 Thank you. 1810 00:53:32,542 --> 00:53:33,917 I love you. 1811 00:53:36,167 --> 00:53:41,333 - I told a few friends about 1812 00:53:36,167 --> 00:53:41,333 what happened with Russell, 1813 00:53:41,417 --> 00:53:44,042 but I didn't tell 1814 00:53:41,417 --> 00:53:44,042 that many people. 1815 00:53:45,708 --> 00:53:47,458 I just wanted 1816 00:53:45,708 --> 00:53:47,458 to put it behind me. 1817 00:53:49,292 --> 00:53:52,333 Even in that dark shame, 1818 00:53:52,417 --> 00:53:54,250 I just wanted to make records. 1819 00:53:54,333 --> 00:53:57,583 Once I decided, okay, 1820 00:53:54,333 --> 00:53:57,583 I have something to offer, 1821 00:53:57,667 --> 00:54:00,625 well, let me try again. 1822 00:54:02,250 --> 00:54:06,292 And then finally I met Clive, 1823 00:54:02,250 --> 00:54:06,292 and I loved Clive. 1824 00:54:06,375 --> 00:54:08,958 He was a music man. 1825 00:54:09,042 --> 00:54:11,208 So I started working 1826 00:54:09,042 --> 00:54:11,208 for Clive Davis 1827 00:54:11,292 --> 00:54:15,833 at Arista Records 1828 00:54:11,292 --> 00:54:15,833 in May of 1996, 1829 00:54:15,917 --> 00:54:17,625 and I was back. 1830 00:54:17,708 --> 00:54:19,750 I had a run of phenomenal hits. 1831 00:54:19,833 --> 00:54:22,708 - ♪ A rose is still a rose ♪ 1832 00:54:22,792 --> 00:54:24,917 - Lauryn Hill gave me 1833 00:54:22,792 --> 00:54:24,917 "A Rose Is Still a Rose" 1834 00:54:25,000 --> 00:54:26,083 for Aretha. 1835 00:54:26,167 --> 00:54:28,542 - ♪ Your love is my love ♪ 1836 00:54:28,625 --> 00:54:31,292 - Wyclef gave me "My Love 1837 00:54:28,625 --> 00:54:31,292 is Your Love" for Whitney. 1838 00:54:31,375 --> 00:54:32,792 So I worked closely 1839 00:54:31,375 --> 00:54:32,792 with the artists 1840 00:54:32,875 --> 00:54:34,500 who made the Album of the Year 1841 00:54:34,583 --> 00:54:35,667 two years in a row. 1842 00:54:35,750 --> 00:54:36,917 Lauryn one year... 1843 00:54:37,000 --> 00:54:38,833 - "The Miseducation 1844 00:54:37,000 --> 00:54:38,833 of Lauryn Hill," 1845 00:54:38,917 --> 00:54:41,375 Lauryn Hill. 1846 00:54:41,458 --> 00:54:43,833 - Carlos Santana 1847 00:54:41,458 --> 00:54:43,833 the next year. 1848 00:54:43,917 --> 00:54:46,833 ["Smooth" playing] 1849 00:54:46,917 --> 00:54:48,917 ♪ ♪ 1850 00:54:49,000 --> 00:54:50,292 - And I was good. 1851 00:54:50,375 --> 00:54:51,917 I had a hot hand, 1852 00:54:50,375 --> 00:54:51,917 and I was back. 1853 00:54:52,000 --> 00:54:55,333 [dramatic music] 1854 00:54:55,417 --> 00:54:57,917 ♪ ♪ 1855 00:54:58,000 --> 00:54:59,792 And then in 2000, 1856 00:54:59,875 --> 00:55:05,125 L.A. Reid replaced Clive Davis 1857 00:54:59,875 --> 00:55:05,125 as my boss at Arista Records. 1858 00:55:07,667 --> 00:55:09,375 L.A. Reid is one 1859 00:55:07,667 --> 00:55:09,375 of the most important 1860 00:55:09,458 --> 00:55:11,208 black music producers 1861 00:55:11,292 --> 00:55:15,833 and black record executives 1862 00:55:11,292 --> 00:55:15,833 really of the past 20 years. 1863 00:55:15,917 --> 00:55:18,750 He discovered TLC, 1864 00:55:15,917 --> 00:55:18,750 Toni Braxton, 1865 00:55:18,833 --> 00:55:21,042 Usher, 1866 00:55:18,833 --> 00:55:21,042 Outkast, 1867 00:55:21,125 --> 00:55:23,292 and I really admired him. 1868 00:55:24,500 --> 00:55:25,792 And then when I worked 1869 00:55:24,500 --> 00:55:25,792 with him, 1870 00:55:25,875 --> 00:55:27,375 all of a sudden, 1871 00:55:25,875 --> 00:55:27,375 it just changed. 1872 00:55:27,458 --> 00:55:30,042 It became, 1873 00:55:27,458 --> 00:55:30,042 "Meet me at the Four Seasons 1874 00:55:30,125 --> 00:55:32,417 when you leave the studio." 1875 00:55:34,333 --> 00:55:36,708 And so I felt like, 1876 00:55:34,333 --> 00:55:36,708 "Okay, 1877 00:55:36,792 --> 00:55:39,333 "maybe I can just 1878 00:55:36,792 --> 00:55:39,333 sort of be flirtatious 1879 00:55:39,417 --> 00:55:42,208 "and play along and, 1880 00:55:39,417 --> 00:55:42,208 you know, 1881 00:55:42,292 --> 00:55:44,667 he can play with my hair 1882 00:55:42,292 --> 00:55:44,667 in the back of the car," 1883 00:55:44,750 --> 00:55:50,875 and--and then you realize 1884 00:55:44,750 --> 00:55:50,875 this is gonna end one way. 1885 00:55:50,958 --> 00:55:54,792 He wants me to come to the hotel 1886 00:55:50,958 --> 00:55:54,792 with him and listen to music 1887 00:55:54,875 --> 00:55:56,250 and I just keep not going, 1888 00:55:56,333 --> 00:55:59,167 and he gets meaner and meaner 1889 00:55:56,333 --> 00:55:59,167 and meaner, 1890 00:55:59,250 --> 00:56:03,167 and there are more and more 1891 00:55:59,250 --> 00:56:03,167 professional consequences. 1892 00:56:04,250 --> 00:56:06,000 I auditioned Kanye West, 1893 00:56:06,083 --> 00:56:08,417 and not only did 1894 00:56:06,083 --> 00:56:08,417 he pass on Kanye. 1895 00:56:08,500 --> 00:56:10,875 L.A. Reid dressed me down 1896 00:56:08,500 --> 00:56:10,875 in front 1897 00:56:10,958 --> 00:56:12,792 of the entire A&R department. 1898 00:56:12,875 --> 00:56:14,042 "Drew, this was not only 1899 00:56:12,875 --> 00:56:14,042 a pass. 1900 00:56:14,125 --> 00:56:15,875 This was a waste of my time." 1901 00:56:17,333 --> 00:56:18,583 And I remember after, like, 1902 00:56:18,667 --> 00:56:20,917 a 45-minute 1903 00:56:18,667 --> 00:56:20,917 dressing down, saying, 1904 00:56:21,000 --> 00:56:22,417 "Kanye's still 1905 00:56:21,000 --> 00:56:22,417 in the waiting area. 1906 00:56:22,500 --> 00:56:24,167 "Can I just go tell him? 1907 00:56:24,250 --> 00:56:26,250 'Cause he's waiting." 1908 00:56:26,333 --> 00:56:28,292 And I remember I brought Kanye 1909 00:56:26,333 --> 00:56:28,292 into my office. 1910 00:56:28,375 --> 00:56:30,125 He had tears in his eyes. 1911 00:56:30,208 --> 00:56:31,875 I was like, 1912 00:56:30,208 --> 00:56:31,875 "Let me tell you something. 1913 00:56:31,958 --> 00:56:35,083 "You're gonna get a deal 1914 00:56:31,958 --> 00:56:35,083 You're gonna win Grammys. 1915 00:56:35,167 --> 00:56:36,625 "You're gonna look back 1916 00:56:35,167 --> 00:56:36,625 on this. 1917 00:56:36,708 --> 00:56:38,167 "You're gonna laugh. 1918 00:56:38,250 --> 00:56:40,167 Promise you." 1919 00:56:40,250 --> 00:56:43,042 John Legend was the last 1920 00:56:40,250 --> 00:56:43,042 artist I tried to sign 1921 00:56:43,125 --> 00:56:45,000 back when he was 1922 00:56:43,125 --> 00:56:45,000 John Stephens. 1923 00:56:45,083 --> 00:56:47,625 I scheduled an audition 1924 00:56:45,083 --> 00:56:47,625 for him with L.A., 1925 00:56:47,708 --> 00:56:50,167 and he was really excited. 1926 00:56:50,250 --> 00:56:53,250 We even booked a concert space 1927 00:56:50,250 --> 00:56:53,250 two days before 1928 00:56:53,333 --> 00:56:56,708 so that he could rehearse 1929 00:56:53,333 --> 00:56:56,708 with his band, 1930 00:56:56,792 --> 00:56:59,958 and then L.A. told me 1931 00:56:56,792 --> 00:56:59,958 he didn't wanna go, 1932 00:57:00,042 --> 00:57:02,917 and he told his senior staff 1933 00:57:00,042 --> 00:57:02,917 not to go. 1934 00:57:03,000 --> 00:57:04,458 He passed on him. 1935 00:57:04,542 --> 00:57:05,958 He just passed. 1936 00:57:06,042 --> 00:57:08,583 So I walked in all alone 1937 00:57:06,042 --> 00:57:08,583 and watched John perform 1938 00:57:08,667 --> 00:57:11,167 with his band 1939 00:57:08,667 --> 00:57:11,167 in the folding chairs. 1940 00:57:11,250 --> 00:57:14,167 I was the only one there. 1941 00:57:14,250 --> 00:57:16,500 I had to tell John, 1942 00:57:14,250 --> 00:57:16,500 "I can't sign you. 1943 00:57:16,583 --> 00:57:18,333 I'm so sorry." 1944 00:57:18,417 --> 00:57:22,167 [crowd clamoring] 1945 00:57:22,250 --> 00:57:26,083 Unless I sleep with L.A. Reid 1946 00:57:22,250 --> 00:57:26,083 as a quid pro quo, 1947 00:57:26,167 --> 00:57:30,750 not because I like him but 1948 00:57:26,167 --> 00:57:30,750 literally as a quid pro quo, 1949 00:57:30,833 --> 00:57:32,667 I am doomed. 1950 00:57:32,750 --> 00:57:34,667 I mean, I can't get 1951 00:57:32,750 --> 00:57:34,667 John Legend 1952 00:57:34,750 --> 00:57:36,000 or Kanye West signed? 1953 00:57:36,083 --> 00:57:38,542 I mean, I'm dead 1954 00:57:36,083 --> 00:57:38,542 in the water now. 1955 00:57:38,625 --> 00:57:41,292 [crowd clamoring] 1956 00:57:41,375 --> 00:57:44,167 So I give up. 1957 00:57:44,250 --> 00:57:47,500 I give up. 1958 00:57:44,250 --> 00:57:47,500 I give up. 1959 00:57:49,958 --> 00:57:52,917 After a decade of working 1960 00:57:49,958 --> 00:57:52,917 my way up from the bottom 1961 00:57:53,000 --> 00:57:56,583 of my industry, 1962 00:57:53,000 --> 00:57:56,583 I just quit. 1963 00:57:59,458 --> 00:58:03,375 I also completely and utterly 1964 00:58:03,458 --> 00:58:07,958 cut myself off from the parts 1965 00:58:08,042 --> 00:58:10,917 of myself that I love the most: 1966 00:58:11,000 --> 00:58:14,583 my creativity, 1967 00:58:14,667 --> 00:58:16,375 music. 1968 00:58:16,458 --> 00:58:20,208 I mean, I don't listen to any 1969 00:58:16,458 --> 00:58:20,208 of the songs that I made. 1970 00:58:20,292 --> 00:58:22,625 I don't listen to them. 1971 00:58:22,708 --> 00:58:24,750 I just-- 1972 00:58:24,833 --> 00:58:30,792 I tried to bury that part 1973 00:58:24,833 --> 00:58:30,792 of myself in, like, a manhole. 1974 00:58:32,500 --> 00:58:36,208 And I just tried 1975 00:58:32,500 --> 00:58:36,208 to become cerebral 1976 00:58:36,292 --> 00:58:38,792 and steady. 1977 00:58:39,833 --> 00:58:41,250 So I thought, 1978 00:58:41,333 --> 00:58:44,667 "I'm going to Harvard 1979 00:58:41,333 --> 00:58:44,667 Business School." 1980 00:58:44,750 --> 00:58:49,000 I ran away from anything that 1981 00:58:44,750 --> 00:58:49,000 might even get anywhere near 1982 00:58:49,083 --> 00:58:50,583 that pain 1983 00:58:49,083 --> 00:58:50,583 and I turned around 1984 00:58:50,667 --> 00:58:53,292 and I scorched the earth 1985 00:58:50,667 --> 00:58:53,292 so I would never, 1986 00:58:53,375 --> 00:58:55,625 ever have the option 1987 00:58:53,375 --> 00:58:55,625 of going back. 1988 00:58:55,708 --> 00:59:01,625 ♪ ♪ 1989 00:59:01,708 --> 00:59:07,792 What I'm grateful for is that 1990 00:59:01,708 --> 00:59:07,792 I met my husband there 1991 00:59:07,875 --> 00:59:10,167 and we got married and had the 1992 00:59:07,875 --> 00:59:10,167 two most wonderful children 1993 00:59:10,250 --> 00:59:13,792 on the Earth, 1994 00:59:13,875 --> 00:59:17,292 and I really did wanna be able 1995 00:59:13,875 --> 00:59:17,292 to be the person 1996 00:59:17,375 --> 00:59:22,542 that absolutely covered them 1997 00:59:17,375 --> 00:59:22,542 365 days a year, 1998 00:59:22,625 --> 00:59:27,083 but there was a part of me 1999 00:59:22,625 --> 00:59:27,083 that was sleepwalking. 2000 00:59:27,167 --> 00:59:30,333 You know, I just ran away 2001 00:59:27,167 --> 00:59:30,333 from my dream, 2002 00:59:30,417 --> 00:59:31,958 from my passion. 2003 00:59:32,042 --> 00:59:34,792 ♪ ♪ 2004 00:59:34,875 --> 00:59:38,083 [distant train clattering] 2005 00:59:41,375 --> 00:59:43,958 - Let's get started 2006 00:59:41,375 --> 00:59:43,958 with breaking news. 2007 00:59:44,042 --> 00:59:45,917 Allegations 2008 00:59:44,042 --> 00:59:45,917 of sexual harassment 2009 00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:48,333 are rocking 2010 00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:48,333 another media mogul. 2011 00:59:48,417 --> 00:59:50,292 This time, 2012 00:59:48,417 --> 00:59:50,292 it's Russell Simmons. 2013 00:59:50,375 --> 00:59:52,125 In a scathing letter 2014 00:59:50,375 --> 00:59:52,125 to Simmons 2015 00:59:52,208 --> 00:59:54,208 published today 2016 00:59:52,208 --> 00:59:54,208 by "The Hollywood Reporter," 2017 00:59:54,292 --> 00:59:57,833 screenwriter Jenny Lumet 2018 00:59:54,292 --> 00:59:57,833 alleges Simmons forced her 2019 00:59:57,917 --> 01:00:00,375 to have sex with him 2020 00:59:57,917 --> 01:00:00,375 back in 1991. 2021 01:00:00,458 --> 01:00:03,333 She writes in very graphic 2022 01:00:00,458 --> 01:00:03,333 and disturbing detail... 2023 01:00:03,417 --> 01:00:06,500 - There were three things 2024 01:00:03,417 --> 01:00:06,500 that pushed me over the edge: 2025 01:00:06,583 --> 01:00:09,375 Jenny Lumet's piece-- 2026 01:00:09,458 --> 01:00:11,167 first of all, 2027 01:00:09,458 --> 01:00:11,167 she's a black woman 2028 01:00:11,250 --> 01:00:13,333 putting herself out there. 2029 01:00:13,417 --> 01:00:14,708 She specifically said, 2030 01:00:14,792 --> 01:00:18,708 "When I read 2031 01:00:14,792 --> 01:00:18,708 Keri Claussen's account 2032 01:00:18,792 --> 01:00:21,000 "and he called her a liar, 2033 01:00:18,792 --> 01:00:21,000 I couldn't let her twist 2034 01:00:21,083 --> 01:00:23,750 in the wind knowing 2035 01:00:21,083 --> 01:00:23,750 what I know," 2036 01:00:23,833 --> 01:00:25,917 and I remember thinking, 2037 01:00:23,833 --> 01:00:25,917 "Well, 2038 01:00:26,000 --> 01:00:27,792 "I can't let Jenny twist 2039 01:00:26,000 --> 01:00:27,792 in the wind. 2040 01:00:27,875 --> 01:00:29,250 "I mean, 2041 01:00:27,875 --> 01:00:29,250 I don't know her, 2042 01:00:29,333 --> 01:00:32,958 but I can't let her twist 2043 01:00:29,333 --> 01:00:32,958 in the wind." 2044 01:00:33,917 --> 01:00:36,000 The other thing 2045 01:00:33,917 --> 01:00:36,000 was Beverly Young. 2046 01:00:36,083 --> 01:00:38,083 She was one 2047 01:00:36,083 --> 01:00:38,083 of the Roy Moore accusers, 2048 01:00:38,167 --> 01:00:40,542 and she was crying on TV 2049 01:00:38,167 --> 01:00:40,542 about him assaulting her 2050 01:00:40,625 --> 01:00:43,250 when she was 2051 01:00:40,625 --> 01:00:43,250 a 16-year-old waitress. 2052 01:00:43,333 --> 01:00:47,542 - Mr. Moore reached over 2053 01:00:43,333 --> 01:00:47,542 and began groping me 2054 01:00:47,625 --> 01:00:50,292 and putting his hands 2055 01:00:47,625 --> 01:00:50,292 on my breasts. 2056 01:00:50,375 --> 01:00:51,833 Instead of stopping, 2057 01:00:51,917 --> 01:00:53,708 he began squeezing my neck, 2058 01:00:53,792 --> 01:00:58,042 attempting to force my head 2059 01:00:53,792 --> 01:00:58,042 onto his crotch. 2060 01:00:58,125 --> 01:01:00,042 - I saw her on TV crying, 2061 01:00:58,125 --> 01:01:00,042 and I thought, 2062 01:01:00,125 --> 01:01:01,833 this is her hometown. 2063 01:01:00,125 --> 01:01:01,833 She's in her 60s. 2064 01:01:01,917 --> 01:01:03,208 These are the--these are 2065 01:01:01,917 --> 01:01:03,208 the only people 2066 01:01:03,292 --> 01:01:04,958 she's ever known, 2067 01:01:03,292 --> 01:01:04,958 and she's standing 2068 01:01:05,042 --> 01:01:07,583 in her hometown where she will 2069 01:01:05,042 --> 01:01:07,583 spend the rest of her life, 2070 01:01:07,667 --> 01:01:12,208 in all likelihood, 2071 01:01:07,667 --> 01:01:12,208 putting it all on the line 2072 01:01:12,292 --> 01:01:15,625 and being called a liar. 2073 01:01:12,292 --> 01:01:15,625 That's brave. 2074 01:01:17,667 --> 01:01:19,208 And then the other thing 2075 01:01:17,667 --> 01:01:19,208 that did it, 2076 01:01:19,292 --> 01:01:21,583 I read Harold Perrineau's 2077 01:01:19,292 --> 01:01:21,583 statement 2078 01:01:21,667 --> 01:01:24,167 about his daughter Aurora, 2079 01:01:24,250 --> 01:01:25,917 and he said he was terrified 2080 01:01:26,000 --> 01:01:27,750 when she decided 2081 01:01:26,000 --> 01:01:27,750 to come forward, 2082 01:01:27,833 --> 01:01:30,167 but he said he looked at her 2083 01:01:27,833 --> 01:01:30,167 the other day and realized, 2084 01:01:30,250 --> 01:01:31,750 "My daughter's not 2085 01:01:30,250 --> 01:01:31,750 a victim anymore. 2086 01:01:31,833 --> 01:01:34,750 She's a warrior." 2087 01:01:34,833 --> 01:01:38,125 And I thought, 2088 01:01:34,833 --> 01:01:38,125 "I'd like to be a warrior. 2089 01:01:38,208 --> 01:01:40,667 "I'm tired of being a victim. 2090 01:01:40,750 --> 01:01:44,958 "I've been a victim 2091 01:01:40,750 --> 01:01:44,958 for 22 years. 2092 01:01:45,042 --> 01:01:47,333 "Let me see what 2093 01:01:45,042 --> 01:01:47,333 the other thing feels like. 2094 01:01:47,417 --> 01:01:50,167 Can't be worse." 2095 01:01:50,250 --> 01:01:52,417 And that's when I said, 2096 01:01:50,250 --> 01:01:52,417 "Okay, 2097 01:01:52,500 --> 01:01:55,208 I will go on the record." 2098 01:01:55,292 --> 01:01:58,208 [train brakes squealing] 2099 01:01:58,292 --> 01:02:01,500 [camera shutter clicking] 2100 01:02:08,792 --> 01:02:10,708 - Hey, Joe, 2101 01:02:08,792 --> 01:02:10,708 it's Drew. 2102 01:02:10,792 --> 01:02:13,667 Just out of curiosity, 2103 01:02:10,792 --> 01:02:13,667 in any of the other cases, 2104 01:02:13,750 --> 01:02:17,000 have the sources 2105 01:02:13,750 --> 01:02:17,000 been contacted? 2106 01:02:17,083 --> 01:02:18,625 So I can literally say, 2107 01:02:18,708 --> 01:02:21,167 "If you wanna talk to somebody, 2108 01:02:18,708 --> 01:02:21,167 if you wanna comment, 2109 01:02:21,250 --> 01:02:23,000 you can speak 2110 01:02:21,250 --> 01:02:23,000 to the reporters"? 2111 01:02:23,083 --> 01:02:25,708 You're saying that to say that 2112 01:02:23,083 --> 01:02:25,708 his lawyers would tell him 2113 01:02:25,792 --> 01:02:28,833 not to call me? 2114 01:02:25,792 --> 01:02:28,833 Right? 2115 01:02:28,917 --> 01:02:30,958 Okay, are you only reaching out 2116 01:02:28,917 --> 01:02:30,958 to Russell, 2117 01:02:31,042 --> 01:02:33,250 or are you also reaching out 2118 01:02:31,042 --> 01:02:33,250 to L.A.? 2119 01:02:34,875 --> 01:02:36,500 So he isn't-- 2120 01:02:39,625 --> 01:02:41,625 So they're both in the story? 2121 01:02:43,500 --> 01:02:44,875 Okay. 2122 01:02:48,833 --> 01:02:53,042 They are both going to find out 2123 01:02:48,833 --> 01:02:53,042 that they're in the story 2124 01:02:53,125 --> 01:02:57,375 either tonight 2125 01:02:53,125 --> 01:02:57,375 or tomorrow morning, 2126 01:02:57,458 --> 01:03:00,042 and they will know that they 2127 01:02:57,458 --> 01:03:00,042 are in the story 2128 01:03:00,125 --> 01:03:03,500 and that I named them. 2129 01:03:03,583 --> 01:03:05,042 - From recent searches, 2130 01:03:05,125 --> 01:03:08,542 and this is a search 2131 01:03:05,125 --> 01:03:08,542 of information about, 2132 01:03:08,625 --> 01:03:10,167 uh, the United States 2133 01:03:08,625 --> 01:03:10,167 proceeding? 2134 01:03:10,250 --> 01:03:12,167 - Well, it's, uh-- 2135 01:03:10,250 --> 01:03:12,167 it's a query. 2136 01:03:12,250 --> 01:03:14,042 - The White House 2137 01:03:12,250 --> 01:03:14,042 and President Trump's 2138 01:03:14,125 --> 01:03:16,042 private attorneys 2139 01:03:14,125 --> 01:03:16,042 will go over the part... 2140 01:03:16,125 --> 01:03:20,792 ♪ ♪ 2141 01:03:20,875 --> 01:03:23,208 [elevator beeps] 2142 01:03:23,292 --> 01:03:25,167 - Joe texted me. 2143 01:03:25,250 --> 01:03:28,083 They have Russell's 2144 01:03:25,250 --> 01:03:28,083 lawyer's response. 2145 01:03:28,167 --> 01:03:32,583 He admits harassing me. 2146 01:03:28,167 --> 01:03:32,583 He denies sex. 2147 01:03:32,667 --> 01:03:35,208 He says we made out a few times, 2148 01:03:35,292 --> 01:03:40,125 and he, uh--the "Times" 2149 01:03:35,292 --> 01:03:40,125 will call me once they talk 2150 01:03:40,208 --> 01:03:42,125 to their lawyer. 2151 01:03:42,208 --> 01:03:45,625 ♪ ♪ 2152 01:03:48,750 --> 01:03:50,417 [scoffs] 2153 01:03:50,500 --> 01:03:52,125 Wow. 2154 01:03:57,167 --> 01:04:00,250 If locking someone 2155 01:03:57,167 --> 01:04:00,250 in their office 2156 01:04:00,333 --> 01:04:03,208 and pulling your penis out 2157 01:04:03,292 --> 01:04:06,042 and making out with them 2158 01:04:03,292 --> 01:04:06,042 in a tiny space 2159 01:04:06,125 --> 01:04:08,167 where they can't escape 2160 01:04:06,125 --> 01:04:08,167 is making out a few times, 2161 01:04:08,250 --> 01:04:13,542 then that's an interesting way 2162 01:04:08,250 --> 01:04:13,542 to describe it. 2163 01:04:24,833 --> 01:04:28,083 [cell phone rings] 2164 01:04:24,833 --> 01:04:28,083 Can't do that right now. 2165 01:04:40,875 --> 01:04:42,417 I don't think 2166 01:04:40,875 --> 01:04:42,417 I should call anybody. 2167 01:04:42,500 --> 01:04:45,125 I don't wanna, like, 2168 01:04:42,500 --> 01:04:45,125 rope anybody into my, like, 2169 01:04:45,208 --> 01:04:47,625 mania right now. 2170 01:04:47,708 --> 01:04:50,417 I'll just wait for them 2171 01:04:47,708 --> 01:04:50,417 to call me back. 2172 01:04:50,500 --> 01:04:57,667 ♪ ♪ 2173 01:05:21,500 --> 01:05:24,417 [birds chirping] 2174 01:05:24,500 --> 01:05:27,875 ♪ ♪ 2175 01:05:27,958 --> 01:05:29,250 Hi. 2176 01:05:27,958 --> 01:05:29,250 Just the paper. 2177 01:05:29,333 --> 01:05:31,417 - Do you need a bag? 2178 01:05:29,333 --> 01:05:31,417 - Uh, no, thanks. 2179 01:05:31,500 --> 01:05:35,125 $2.50. 2180 01:05:31,500 --> 01:05:35,125 I'll just do the $20. 2181 01:05:35,208 --> 01:05:42,375 ♪ ♪ 2182 01:06:34,958 --> 01:06:37,333 [sniffles] 2183 01:06:37,417 --> 01:06:44,583 ♪ ♪ 2184 01:06:58,833 --> 01:07:01,583 - Russell Simmons is strongly 2185 01:06:58,833 --> 01:07:01,583 denying new accusations 2186 01:07:01,667 --> 01:07:03,792 that he raped three women 2187 01:07:01,667 --> 01:07:03,792 decades ago. 2188 01:07:03,875 --> 01:07:06,500 All three women say 2189 01:07:03,875 --> 01:07:06,500 their music industry careers 2190 01:07:06,583 --> 01:07:08,208 were derailed or ruined. 2191 01:07:08,292 --> 01:07:11,667 Simmons says he categorically 2192 01:07:08,292 --> 01:07:11,667 rejects the allegations. 2193 01:07:11,750 --> 01:07:13,750 - In extensive reports 2194 01:07:11,750 --> 01:07:13,750 in the "LA Times" 2195 01:07:13,833 --> 01:07:14,917 and "New York Times," 2196 01:07:15,000 --> 01:07:16,750 nine more women accuse Simmons 2197 01:07:16,833 --> 01:07:20,208 of a wide range of misconduct. 2198 01:07:20,292 --> 01:07:21,917 - Russell invited me out. 2199 01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:25,000 Um, he wanted me 2200 01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:25,000 to see his new apartment. 2201 01:07:25,083 --> 01:07:26,292 - I felt really safe with him, 2202 01:07:26,375 --> 01:07:28,625 and I don't think 2203 01:07:26,375 --> 01:07:28,625 we were comrades, 2204 01:07:28,708 --> 01:07:31,458 but I felt like we were, 2205 01:07:28,708 --> 01:07:31,458 I mean, peer-- 2206 01:07:31,542 --> 01:07:32,750 like, hangout peers. 2207 01:07:32,833 --> 01:07:34,750 - And we talked a lot 2208 01:07:32,833 --> 01:07:34,750 about yoga. 2209 01:07:34,833 --> 01:07:37,250 We talked a lot 2210 01:07:34,833 --> 01:07:37,250 about spirituality. 2211 01:07:37,333 --> 01:07:39,250 - And he said, "Well, why don't 2212 01:07:37,333 --> 01:07:39,250 we go back to my apartment 2213 01:07:39,333 --> 01:07:40,667 and we can talk there?" 2214 01:07:40,750 --> 01:07:46,583 - And suddenly here I am 2215 01:07:40,750 --> 01:07:46,583 and he has pinned me. 2216 01:07:46,667 --> 01:07:50,542 - It was just so out 2217 01:07:46,667 --> 01:07:50,542 of left field. 2218 01:07:50,625 --> 01:07:52,833 I remember being really shocked 2219 01:07:50,625 --> 01:07:52,833 to the point where I-- 2220 01:07:52,917 --> 01:07:54,333 I thought it was a joke. 2221 01:07:54,417 --> 01:07:58,958 - And I was absolutely shocked 2222 01:07:54,417 --> 01:07:58,958 and taken aback 2223 01:07:59,042 --> 01:08:00,375 and I froze. 2224 01:08:00,458 --> 01:08:03,708 - He pushed me into the door-- 2225 01:08:03,792 --> 01:08:04,958 in through the door 2226 01:08:05,042 --> 01:08:06,875 and pushed me down 2227 01:08:05,042 --> 01:08:06,875 on the ground. 2228 01:08:06,958 --> 01:08:09,250 - I remember fighting it, 2229 01:08:06,958 --> 01:08:09,250 fighting on the bed, 2230 01:08:09,333 --> 01:08:11,750 because I didn't want 2231 01:08:09,333 --> 01:08:11,750 his penis in me. 2232 01:08:11,833 --> 01:08:17,083 - He puts his knees on my legs 2233 01:08:11,833 --> 01:08:17,083 and pins my hands down. 2234 01:08:17,167 --> 01:08:19,000 - I think of it akin 2235 01:08:17,167 --> 01:08:19,000 to that feeling 2236 01:08:19,083 --> 01:08:23,000 that must happen when you think 2237 01:08:19,083 --> 01:08:23,000 that you're on a plane 2238 01:08:23,083 --> 01:08:24,500 and it starts to go down. 2239 01:08:24,583 --> 01:08:26,375 That, "No, no, no, 2240 01:08:24,583 --> 01:08:26,375 this isn't happening." 2241 01:08:26,458 --> 01:08:31,375 - That anybody could so swiftly 2242 01:08:31,458 --> 01:08:36,208 and forcibly penetrate me... 2243 01:08:37,583 --> 01:08:38,792 Um... 2244 01:08:39,875 --> 01:08:42,833 While--actually while 2245 01:08:39,875 --> 01:08:42,833 I'm saying no. 2246 01:08:42,917 --> 01:08:45,708 - He wanted 2247 01:08:42,917 --> 01:08:45,708 to physically dominate me 2248 01:08:45,792 --> 01:08:47,208 and rape me. 2249 01:08:47,292 --> 01:08:49,375 - I pushed him off of me 2250 01:08:47,292 --> 01:08:49,375 and I was like, 2251 01:08:49,458 --> 01:08:50,792 "What the fuck are you doing? 2252 01:08:50,875 --> 01:08:52,208 What the fuck 2253 01:08:50,875 --> 01:08:52,208 is wrong with you?" 2254 01:08:52,292 --> 01:08:53,625 - I kicked really, really hard 2255 01:08:53,708 --> 01:08:54,917 and I fucking screamed, 2256 01:08:55,000 --> 01:08:56,208 and I--and I just ran 2257 01:08:55,000 --> 01:08:56,208 to the door 2258 01:08:56,292 --> 01:08:57,750 and he, like, 2259 01:08:56,292 --> 01:08:57,750 let me go. 2260 01:08:57,833 --> 01:09:00,958 - I had to really do some 2261 01:08:57,833 --> 01:09:00,958 dark nights of the soul 2262 01:09:01,042 --> 01:09:02,875 to work through this layer 2263 01:09:01,042 --> 01:09:02,875 of shame. 2264 01:09:02,958 --> 01:09:08,833 - He took a piece of me with him 2265 01:09:02,958 --> 01:09:08,833 when he did this, 2266 01:09:08,917 --> 01:09:12,708 and then--then he carried it 2267 01:09:08,917 --> 01:09:12,708 with him, 2268 01:09:12,792 --> 01:09:17,167 and he carried it with him 2269 01:09:12,792 --> 01:09:17,167 for three fucking decades. 2270 01:09:17,250 --> 01:09:23,458 ♪ ♪ 2271 01:09:23,542 --> 01:09:24,917 - On Instagram, 2272 01:09:25,000 --> 01:09:27,042 Russell Simmons was defiant, 2273 01:09:25,000 --> 01:09:27,042 writing, 2274 01:09:27,125 --> 01:09:30,208 "Today, I begin 2275 01:09:27,125 --> 01:09:30,208 to properly defend myself." 2276 01:09:30,292 --> 01:09:33,500 - Simmons again denied 2277 01:09:30,292 --> 01:09:33,500 all the allegations of rape 2278 01:09:33,583 --> 01:09:35,167 and other misconduct, 2279 01:09:35,250 --> 01:09:36,542 and then he posted 2280 01:09:35,250 --> 01:09:36,542 the hashtag, 2281 01:09:36,625 --> 01:09:39,792 and he used "NotMe. 2282 01:09:39,875 --> 01:09:45,625 ♪ ♪ 2283 01:09:45,708 --> 01:09:48,917 - You think you'll be vindicated 2284 01:09:45,708 --> 01:09:48,917 at the end of all this, man? 2285 01:09:49,000 --> 01:09:50,417 Honestly, I mean, 2286 01:09:49,000 --> 01:09:50,417 I wouldn't-- 2287 01:09:50,500 --> 01:09:52,417 - I don't have a stitch 2288 01:09:50,500 --> 01:09:52,417 of violence in me. 2289 01:09:52,500 --> 01:09:53,958 I would never hurt anybody. 2290 01:09:54,042 --> 01:09:56,417 And I never had 2291 01:09:54,042 --> 01:09:56,417 any violence in me, 2292 01:09:56,500 --> 01:09:58,667 but, you know... 2293 01:09:56,500 --> 01:09:58,667 - Yeah, yeah, yeah, no-- 2294 01:09:58,750 --> 01:10:00,042 - It's a difficult time 2295 01:09:58,750 --> 01:10:00,042 for everybody. 2296 01:10:00,125 --> 01:10:01,583 - Absolutely, absolutely. 2297 01:10:00,125 --> 01:10:01,583 - All right. 2298 01:10:01,667 --> 01:10:02,792 Thanks, guys. 2299 01:10:01,667 --> 01:10:02,792 - All right, man. 2300 01:10:02,875 --> 01:10:04,125 We'll be watching for you, 2301 01:10:02,875 --> 01:10:04,125 Rus. 2302 01:10:04,208 --> 01:10:05,750 Have a good one, man. 2303 01:10:04,208 --> 01:10:05,750 - Take care. 2304 01:10:05,833 --> 01:10:07,167 - Have a good night, you guys. 2305 01:10:05,833 --> 01:10:07,167 - Thank you guys. 2306 01:10:07,250 --> 01:10:09,750 ♪ ♪ 2307 01:10:09,833 --> 01:10:15,000 - You pinned me down 2308 01:10:09,833 --> 01:10:15,000 with your entire might. 2309 01:10:15,083 --> 01:10:17,958 I was screaming. 2310 01:10:15,083 --> 01:10:17,958 I was crying. 2311 01:10:18,042 --> 01:10:19,292 I was begging. 2312 01:10:19,375 --> 01:10:21,708 [laughter] 2313 01:10:19,375 --> 01:10:21,708 - Have a good night, Rus! 2314 01:10:21,792 --> 01:10:24,958 - That's violent. 2315 01:10:25,042 --> 01:10:28,917 That's violent. 2316 01:10:25,042 --> 01:10:28,917 You're violent. 2317 01:10:29,000 --> 01:10:36,167 ♪ ♪ 2318 01:10:40,917 --> 01:10:44,625 - There is a discourse 2319 01:10:40,917 --> 01:10:44,625 that says that it's still, 2320 01:10:44,708 --> 01:10:49,083 like, a cultural impossibility 2321 01:10:44,708 --> 01:10:49,083 for black women to be raped. 2322 01:10:49,167 --> 01:10:52,792 - They, um, use their sexuality 2323 01:10:49,167 --> 01:10:52,792 as gold diggers. 2324 01:10:52,875 --> 01:10:55,542 They use their sexuality 2325 01:10:52,875 --> 01:10:55,542 as means of control. 2326 01:10:55,625 --> 01:10:58,625 Um, you really can't 2327 01:10:55,625 --> 01:10:58,625 sexually abuse 2328 01:10:58,708 --> 01:11:00,333 or rape a black woman 2329 01:10:58,708 --> 01:11:00,333 because there's nothing 2330 01:11:00,417 --> 01:11:01,833 that they wouldn't do. 2331 01:11:01,917 --> 01:11:03,750 - White women are always-- 2332 01:11:01,917 --> 01:11:03,750 there's a stereotype 2333 01:11:03,833 --> 01:11:06,042 of being, like, 2334 01:11:03,833 --> 01:11:06,042 docile and sweet 2335 01:11:06,125 --> 01:11:07,542 and innocent and pure, 2336 01:11:07,625 --> 01:11:10,292 and if this docile and sweet 2337 01:11:07,625 --> 01:11:10,292 and innocent, pure 2338 01:11:10,375 --> 01:11:14,167 can still get questioned 2339 01:11:10,375 --> 01:11:14,167 and not believed and discounted, 2340 01:11:14,250 --> 01:11:16,083 what do you think is happening 2341 01:11:14,250 --> 01:11:16,083 to black women in America 2342 01:11:16,167 --> 01:11:18,750 when we come forward with 2343 01:11:16,167 --> 01:11:18,750 stories about sexual violence? 2344 01:11:18,833 --> 01:11:20,083 - It's enraging. 2345 01:11:20,167 --> 01:11:21,667 It's enraging to know that 2346 01:11:21,750 --> 01:11:23,875 you are more likely to be harmed 2347 01:11:23,958 --> 01:11:26,875 and yet fewer people 2348 01:11:23,958 --> 01:11:26,875 are going to believe you. 2349 01:11:26,958 --> 01:11:28,542 Fewer people are going 2350 01:11:26,958 --> 01:11:28,542 to help you. 2351 01:11:28,625 --> 01:11:30,875 The system doesn't appear set up 2352 01:11:28,625 --> 01:11:30,875 in any way to help you. 2353 01:11:30,958 --> 01:11:35,375 - We're not entering 2354 01:11:30,958 --> 01:11:35,375 into America's history 2355 01:11:35,458 --> 01:11:37,542 with any kind of protection, 2356 01:11:37,625 --> 01:11:40,500 and that has a lot 2357 01:11:37,625 --> 01:11:40,500 to do with our history 2358 01:11:40,583 --> 01:11:43,542 from the transatlantic 2359 01:11:40,583 --> 01:11:43,542 slave trade. 2360 01:11:43,625 --> 01:11:50,792 ♪ ♪ 2361 01:11:52,292 --> 01:11:54,417 - When I was 26 years old, 2362 01:11:54,500 --> 01:11:57,875 my dad invited me to go 2363 01:11:54,500 --> 01:11:57,875 on this trip with him 2364 01:11:57,958 --> 01:11:59,833 to West Africa, 2365 01:11:59,917 --> 01:12:06,375 and we went to 2366 01:11:59,917 --> 01:12:06,375 St. George's Castle in Ghana. 2367 01:12:06,458 --> 01:12:09,750 So it's this big fort, really, 2368 01:12:09,833 --> 01:12:11,833 and in the middle 2369 01:12:09,833 --> 01:12:11,833 of it is a church, 2370 01:12:11,917 --> 01:12:15,167 and then on either side, 2371 01:12:11,917 --> 01:12:15,167 there were two chambers-- 2372 01:12:15,250 --> 01:12:16,917 one for women, 2373 01:12:15,250 --> 01:12:16,917 one for men-- 2374 01:12:17,000 --> 01:12:19,375 where the slaves were held, 2375 01:12:19,458 --> 01:12:21,083 and in the courtyard, 2376 01:12:21,167 --> 01:12:25,583 the women were chained 2377 01:12:21,167 --> 01:12:25,583 to a cannonball by the ankle, 2378 01:12:25,667 --> 01:12:29,042 and they were selected 2379 01:12:25,667 --> 01:12:29,042 to be raped by the governor 2380 01:12:29,125 --> 01:12:31,958 or they were raped 2381 01:12:29,125 --> 01:12:31,958 by the guards. 2382 01:12:32,042 --> 01:12:35,125 These women had no right 2383 01:12:32,042 --> 01:12:35,125 to say no 2384 01:12:35,208 --> 01:12:38,292 for the rest of their lives, 2385 01:12:38,375 --> 01:12:42,417 and so I think more than half 2386 01:12:38,375 --> 01:12:42,417 of the women were pregnant 2387 01:12:42,500 --> 01:12:46,292 by the time they got on the boat 2388 01:12:42,500 --> 01:12:46,292 for the middle passage. 2389 01:12:46,375 --> 01:12:48,583 The other thing that 2390 01:12:46,375 --> 01:12:48,583 was really striking to me, 2391 01:12:48,667 --> 01:12:52,958 there's this little room 2392 01:12:48,667 --> 01:12:52,958 and there's scratch marks 2393 01:12:53,042 --> 01:12:56,375 and this is where the men 2394 01:12:53,042 --> 01:12:56,375 who attempted to defend 2395 01:12:56,458 --> 01:12:58,833 the women were taken to die. 2396 01:13:00,833 --> 01:13:06,583 So just the intentional 2397 01:13:00,833 --> 01:13:06,583 cruel breakdown 2398 01:13:06,667 --> 01:13:11,833 of the black 2399 01:13:06,667 --> 01:13:11,833 male-female dynamic 2400 01:13:11,917 --> 01:13:13,875 from the beginning. 2401 01:13:16,542 --> 01:13:17,875 And... 2402 01:13:19,917 --> 01:13:22,333 I understand the plunder 2403 01:13:19,917 --> 01:13:22,333 of black men 2404 01:13:22,417 --> 01:13:24,583 and I understand... 2405 01:13:26,625 --> 01:13:30,333 The burden of black men, 2406 01:13:30,417 --> 01:13:33,292 but I also think it's time 2407 01:13:30,417 --> 01:13:33,292 for somebody to acknowledge 2408 01:13:33,375 --> 01:13:35,958 the burden and the plunder 2409 01:13:33,375 --> 01:13:35,958 of black women. 2410 01:13:39,542 --> 01:13:40,917 What did you think 2411 01:13:39,542 --> 01:13:40,917 of the article? 2412 01:13:41,000 --> 01:13:43,167 How are the millennials 2413 01:13:41,000 --> 01:13:43,167 taking it? 2414 01:13:43,250 --> 01:13:45,583 - I was really happy with how 2415 01:13:43,250 --> 01:13:45,583 the article was written 2416 01:13:45,667 --> 01:13:52,167 and that they didn't hesitate 2417 01:13:45,667 --> 01:13:52,167 to be very clear, like, 2418 01:13:52,250 --> 01:13:56,833 this is--not only is this these 2419 01:13:52,250 --> 01:13:56,833 particular women's experiences 2420 01:13:56,917 --> 01:13:58,292 but because they are black 2421 01:13:58,375 --> 01:13:59,583 and because they're 2422 01:13:58,375 --> 01:13:59,583 in this industry, 2423 01:13:59,667 --> 01:14:01,875 this is what 2424 01:13:59,667 --> 01:14:01,875 it is like for them. 2425 01:14:01,958 --> 01:14:04,417 - All right, I'm gonna play 2426 01:14:01,958 --> 01:14:04,417 this, um, clip 2427 01:14:04,500 --> 01:14:06,292 from Hot 97 this morning, 2428 01:14:06,375 --> 01:14:09,458 which I'm actually kind of 2429 01:14:06,375 --> 01:14:09,458 scared to listen to 2430 01:14:09,542 --> 01:14:11,667 'cause Hot 97 2431 01:14:09,542 --> 01:14:11,667 is where hip-hop lives. 2432 01:14:11,750 --> 01:14:13,167 - Mm. 2433 01:14:13,250 --> 01:14:16,042 - So that would be, like, 2434 01:14:13,250 --> 01:14:16,042 a very pro-Russell platform. 2435 01:14:16,125 --> 01:14:17,500 - Let's hear it. 2436 01:14:17,583 --> 01:14:19,583 - On Hot 97. 2437 01:14:19,667 --> 01:14:20,875 - So "The New York Times" 2438 01:14:20,958 --> 01:14:22,667 posted a report 2439 01:14:20,958 --> 01:14:22,667 that four women 2440 01:14:22,750 --> 01:14:26,375 are detailing their experiences 2441 01:14:22,750 --> 01:14:26,375 of sexual misconduct 2442 01:14:26,458 --> 01:14:28,917 and rape from Russell Simmons 2443 01:14:26,458 --> 01:14:28,917 between the years 2444 01:14:29,000 --> 01:14:32,042 of 1988 to 2014. 2445 01:14:32,125 --> 01:14:33,583 - Hold my hand for this. 2446 01:14:33,667 --> 01:14:36,208 - He said, "I absolutely 2447 01:14:33,667 --> 01:14:36,208 have not raped anyone. 2448 01:14:36,292 --> 01:14:39,250 Absolutely not." 2449 01:14:39,333 --> 01:14:42,333 Russell's somebody I consider 2450 01:14:39,333 --> 01:14:42,333 a friend in this business. 2451 01:14:42,417 --> 01:14:43,667 At times like this, 2452 01:14:43,750 --> 01:14:46,833 it is about having 2453 01:14:43,750 --> 01:14:46,833 open conversation. 2454 01:14:46,917 --> 01:14:48,083 Doesn't mean 2455 01:14:46,917 --> 01:14:48,083 I don't like Russell. 2456 01:14:48,167 --> 01:14:49,417 Doesn't mean I don't like what 2457 01:14:49,500 --> 01:14:51,042 he's contributed to hip-hop, 2458 01:14:51,125 --> 01:14:52,542 but it does mean that 2459 01:14:51,125 --> 01:14:52,542 the way you go about... 2460 01:14:52,625 --> 01:14:54,208 - I disagree. 2461 01:14:52,625 --> 01:14:54,208 - Sexualizing women 2462 01:14:54,292 --> 01:14:56,167 and your behavior has been 2463 01:14:54,292 --> 01:14:56,167 out of line for a long time, 2464 01:14:56,250 --> 01:14:57,833 and it needs 2465 01:14:56,250 --> 01:14:57,833 to be addressed now. 2466 01:14:57,917 --> 01:14:59,542 - Can I ask the tough question 2467 01:14:57,917 --> 01:14:59,542 in the room, though? 2468 01:14:59,625 --> 01:15:01,875 Does it sound like 2469 01:14:59,625 --> 01:15:01,875 we're being nicer to, 2470 01:15:01,958 --> 01:15:03,667 easier on, 2471 01:15:01,958 --> 01:15:03,667 and more open-minded 2472 01:15:03,750 --> 01:15:07,083 about Russell than anyone else 2473 01:15:03,750 --> 01:15:07,083 who's caught an accusation? 2474 01:15:07,167 --> 01:15:10,917 I could at the very least say 2475 01:15:07,167 --> 01:15:10,917 I thought he seemed coarse 2476 01:15:11,000 --> 01:15:12,875 and inappropriate probably 2477 01:15:11,000 --> 01:15:12,875 around women, 2478 01:15:12,958 --> 01:15:16,250 and now he has several 2479 01:15:12,958 --> 01:15:16,250 rape allegations, 2480 01:15:16,333 --> 01:15:19,583 some of which are from women 2481 01:15:16,333 --> 01:15:19,583 who are very credible, 2482 01:15:19,667 --> 01:15:21,708 worked in the industry 2483 01:15:19,667 --> 01:15:21,708 at executive levels, not-- 2484 01:15:21,792 --> 01:15:23,958 - And who's saying 2485 01:15:21,792 --> 01:15:23,958 they don't believe them? 2486 01:15:24,042 --> 01:15:26,500 - I'm saying the tone 2487 01:15:24,042 --> 01:15:26,500 we're having to me is one 2488 01:15:26,583 --> 01:15:29,167 that's much more like, 2489 01:15:26,583 --> 01:15:29,167 "Well, open. 2490 01:15:29,250 --> 01:15:30,625 Let's have dialogue." 2491 01:15:30,708 --> 01:15:32,083 We didn't do that 2492 01:15:30,708 --> 01:15:32,083 for other people. 2493 01:15:32,167 --> 01:15:33,708 - Mm-hmm. 2494 01:15:32,167 --> 01:15:33,708 - Even though we have evidence 2495 01:15:33,792 --> 01:15:36,458 to that he was-- 2496 01:15:33,792 --> 01:15:36,458 has been a--a dirtbag, 2497 01:15:36,542 --> 01:15:39,292 we're all kinda keeping our lips 2498 01:15:36,542 --> 01:15:39,292 a little bit pursed 2499 01:15:39,375 --> 01:15:40,583 and not going the next step. 2500 01:15:40,667 --> 01:15:42,208 - He's real. 2501 01:15:42,292 --> 01:15:44,750 - Russell's like, 2502 01:15:42,292 --> 01:15:44,750 "That's not how I remember it. 2503 01:15:44,833 --> 01:15:45,917 I'm stepping down." 2504 01:15:46,000 --> 01:15:47,458 Then the rape allegations 2505 01:15:46,000 --> 01:15:47,458 come out. 2506 01:15:47,542 --> 01:15:48,792 He's like, "I absolutely"-- 2507 01:15:48,875 --> 01:15:50,167 - But is that why 2508 01:15:48,875 --> 01:15:50,167 he stepped down? 2509 01:15:50,250 --> 01:15:51,458 Why'd he really step down? 2510 01:15:51,542 --> 01:15:52,792 - Mm-hmm. 2511 01:15:51,542 --> 01:15:52,792 - Because--I don't know. 2512 01:15:52,875 --> 01:15:54,375 Why? 2513 01:15:52,875 --> 01:15:54,375 What are you saying? 2514 01:15:54,458 --> 01:15:56,625 - Because he knew more 2515 01:15:54,458 --> 01:15:56,625 were coming, guys. 2516 01:15:56,708 --> 01:15:58,375 And guess who else did. 2517 01:15:56,708 --> 01:15:58,375 We did. 2518 01:15:58,458 --> 01:15:59,917 - Word. 2519 01:15:58,458 --> 01:15:59,917 Word. 2520 01:16:00,000 --> 01:16:01,375 - There's these--all these 2521 01:16:00,000 --> 01:16:01,375 women who were trying 2522 01:16:01,458 --> 01:16:02,417 to make it in the industry. 2523 01:16:02,500 --> 01:16:03,667 One had to--what-- 2524 01:16:03,750 --> 01:16:05,083 she just ran away, 2525 01:16:03,750 --> 01:16:05,083 and guess what. 2526 01:16:05,167 --> 01:16:06,875 Then she ended up working 2527 01:16:05,167 --> 01:16:06,875 for L.A. Reid. 2528 01:16:06,958 --> 01:16:07,958 - And then he did 2529 01:16:06,958 --> 01:16:07,958 something to her. 2530 01:16:08,042 --> 01:16:09,083 - And then he did it! 2531 01:16:09,167 --> 01:16:10,875 - Yeah. 2532 01:16:10,958 --> 01:16:12,625 - Sorry, that's not where 2533 01:16:10,958 --> 01:16:12,625 my prayers went. 2534 01:16:12,708 --> 01:16:14,292 My prayers were, like, 2535 01:16:12,708 --> 01:16:14,292 to any woman who's had 2536 01:16:14,375 --> 01:16:15,542 to be in this industry 2537 01:16:14,375 --> 01:16:15,542 the last 30 years. 2538 01:16:15,625 --> 01:16:18,083 - [chuckles] 2539 01:16:15,625 --> 01:16:18,083 Wow. 2540 01:16:19,458 --> 01:16:23,125 - Uh, when--when 2541 01:16:19,458 --> 01:16:23,125 Drew disappeared, 2542 01:16:23,208 --> 01:16:26,875 it didn't strike me per se, 2543 01:16:23,208 --> 01:16:26,875 because a lot of women 2544 01:16:26,958 --> 01:16:28,833 had started to disappear. 2545 01:16:28,917 --> 01:16:32,000 - So when did you find out 2546 01:16:28,917 --> 01:16:32,000 why she'd left? 2547 01:16:32,083 --> 01:16:34,625 - Um, when I read 2548 01:16:32,083 --> 01:16:34,625 "The New York Times." 2549 01:16:36,750 --> 01:16:41,458 And it was devastating to me. 2550 01:16:41,542 --> 01:16:45,667 Devastating. 2551 01:16:41,542 --> 01:16:45,667 I was shaking for days. 2552 01:16:45,750 --> 01:16:52,417 Every story--every Russell story 2553 01:16:45,750 --> 01:16:52,417 is personal and... 2554 01:16:54,417 --> 01:16:57,583 Hard, 2555 01:16:54,417 --> 01:16:57,583 really, really hard, 2556 01:16:57,667 --> 01:16:59,917 and so when I read that 2557 01:16:57,667 --> 01:16:59,917 about Drew, 2558 01:17:00,000 --> 01:17:01,208 I was in bed. 2559 01:17:01,292 --> 01:17:03,000 I stayed in bed 2560 01:17:01,292 --> 01:17:03,000 because I was like, 2561 01:17:03,083 --> 01:17:04,833 "This is my Drew." 2562 01:17:04,917 --> 01:17:07,125 I immediately went 2563 01:17:04,917 --> 01:17:07,125 right back there 2564 01:17:07,208 --> 01:17:09,792 to my 23-year-old self. 2565 01:17:09,875 --> 01:17:13,625 I know her! So well. 2566 01:17:13,708 --> 01:17:15,708 Even now, like, this has 2567 01:17:13,708 --> 01:17:15,708 just unpacked so much, 2568 01:17:15,792 --> 01:17:17,542 it's just forced me to think 2569 01:17:15,792 --> 01:17:17,542 about all the things 2570 01:17:17,625 --> 01:17:20,042 that I've endured 2571 01:17:17,625 --> 01:17:20,042 and experienced 2572 01:17:20,125 --> 01:17:23,917 and seen, 2573 01:17:20,125 --> 01:17:23,917 and particularly with Russell, 2574 01:17:24,000 --> 01:17:26,042 because I was 2575 01:17:24,000 --> 01:17:26,042 a 22-year-old woman 2576 01:17:26,125 --> 01:17:30,125 alone with Russell 2577 01:17:26,125 --> 01:17:30,125 in the early '90s, 2578 01:17:30,208 --> 01:17:36,708 and so I know exactly 2579 01:17:30,208 --> 01:17:36,708 what is possible, 2580 01:17:36,792 --> 01:17:38,708 and even though I-- 2581 01:17:38,792 --> 01:17:43,542 you know, I have fear 2582 01:17:38,792 --> 01:17:43,542 around speaking, um, publicly 2583 01:17:43,625 --> 01:17:45,417 for all the wrong reasons, like, 2584 01:17:45,500 --> 01:17:49,208 I'm smart enough to know 2585 01:17:45,500 --> 01:17:49,208 that shame has no place 2586 01:17:49,292 --> 01:17:52,667 and, you know, all the things 2587 01:17:49,292 --> 01:17:52,667 that I would say 2588 01:17:52,750 --> 01:17:55,458 to any younger woman 2589 01:17:52,750 --> 01:17:55,458 who needed my counsel, 2590 01:17:55,542 --> 01:17:58,042 I have all 2591 01:17:55,542 --> 01:17:58,042 the right things to say. 2592 01:17:58,125 --> 01:18:00,292 Um, but I'm also 2593 01:17:58,125 --> 01:18:00,292 a very private person. 2594 01:18:00,375 --> 01:18:01,583 I'm also a journalist. 2595 01:18:01,667 --> 01:18:03,917 I'm not used 2596 01:18:01,667 --> 01:18:03,917 to being the subject. 2597 01:18:04,000 --> 01:18:05,167 And this isn't a rape story. 2598 01:18:05,250 --> 01:18:06,583 That's another reason why I-- 2599 01:18:06,667 --> 01:18:11,125 I think I don't want 2600 01:18:06,667 --> 01:18:11,125 to conflate 2601 01:18:11,208 --> 01:18:14,333 my story with other stories. 2602 01:18:15,667 --> 01:18:18,750 But the fact remains that you 2603 01:18:15,667 --> 01:18:18,750 can keep something inside 2604 01:18:18,833 --> 01:18:21,417 for 25 years 2605 01:18:21,500 --> 01:18:23,917 and keep on keeping on, 2606 01:18:24,000 --> 01:18:27,500 and then a thing can happen 2607 01:18:24,000 --> 01:18:27,500 like the bravery 2608 01:18:27,583 --> 01:18:29,583 of someone like Drew 2609 01:18:29,667 --> 01:18:32,625 or Sil Lai 2610 01:18:29,667 --> 01:18:32,625 or Jenny 2611 01:18:32,708 --> 01:18:35,792 or any of these women 2612 01:18:32,708 --> 01:18:35,792 who have dared 2613 01:18:35,875 --> 01:18:40,333 to say a name and speak 2614 01:18:35,875 --> 01:18:40,333 to a specific time 2615 01:18:40,417 --> 01:18:43,125 and you didn't have 2616 01:18:40,417 --> 01:18:43,125 to reconcile. 2617 01:18:43,208 --> 01:18:44,125 You've gotta deal, 2618 01:18:44,208 --> 01:18:45,125 and that's really why 2619 01:18:45,208 --> 01:18:46,250 I showed up today. 2620 01:18:46,333 --> 01:18:50,125 I'm here really to bear witness 2621 01:18:50,208 --> 01:18:54,167 and to say I'm really sorry 2622 01:18:50,208 --> 01:18:54,167 to all of these women 2623 01:18:54,250 --> 01:18:56,458 who have suffered, 2624 01:18:56,542 --> 01:18:58,917 and to those who 2625 01:18:56,542 --> 01:18:58,917 will never tell their story, 2626 01:18:59,000 --> 01:19:00,792 that's okay too. 2627 01:19:00,875 --> 01:19:02,792 I believe you too, 2628 01:19:02,875 --> 01:19:06,500 and there's so many of us 2629 01:19:02,875 --> 01:19:06,500 who believe you too. 2630 01:19:06,583 --> 01:19:10,167 So, um, you know... 2631 01:19:13,500 --> 01:19:14,750 You know. 2632 01:19:26,958 --> 01:19:32,167 - I am looking forward 2633 01:19:26,958 --> 01:19:32,167 to meeting Sil Lai. 2634 01:19:32,250 --> 01:19:37,125 Her story just came out 2635 01:19:32,250 --> 01:19:37,125 in "The Hollywood Reporter." 2636 01:19:37,208 --> 01:19:40,667 And I'm always happy 2637 01:19:37,208 --> 01:19:40,667 to see Jenny. 2638 01:19:40,750 --> 01:19:43,333 I've met her twice now, 2639 01:19:40,750 --> 01:19:43,333 and we've gotten to know 2640 01:19:43,417 --> 01:19:46,333 each other over text as well, 2641 01:19:46,417 --> 01:19:50,917 and I consider her 2642 01:19:46,417 --> 01:19:50,917 a sister already. 2643 01:19:51,000 --> 01:19:54,208 It's this bond that's hard 2644 01:19:51,000 --> 01:19:54,208 to describe. 2645 01:19:57,792 --> 01:20:00,167 - Come in, come in, come in! 2646 01:20:00,250 --> 01:20:05,333 Wow, I'm seeing you in person 2647 01:20:00,250 --> 01:20:05,333 after all this time! 2648 01:20:05,417 --> 01:20:07,167 - [whimpering] 2649 01:20:07,250 --> 01:20:08,708 - Jenny? 2650 01:20:08,792 --> 01:20:10,875 - Hello. 2651 01:20:08,792 --> 01:20:10,875 - Here, have a seat here. 2652 01:20:10,958 --> 01:20:13,917 - I--I was, like, in mom mode. 2653 01:20:10,958 --> 01:20:13,917 - Me too. 2654 01:20:14,000 --> 01:20:15,375 - Well... 2655 01:20:14,000 --> 01:20:15,375 - I was making pancakes. 2656 01:20:15,458 --> 01:20:17,458 - This is good. 2657 01:20:15,458 --> 01:20:17,458 I can have a Beyoncé, like-- 2658 01:20:17,542 --> 01:20:18,542 - Right in the wind. 2659 01:20:18,625 --> 01:20:21,292 [laughter] 2660 01:20:21,375 --> 01:20:25,667 - I'm doing this mental 2661 01:20:21,375 --> 01:20:25,667 checklist with everybody. 2662 01:20:25,750 --> 01:20:27,833 - Oh, yeah. 2663 01:20:25,750 --> 01:20:27,833 - 'Cause I wanna know 2664 01:20:27,917 --> 01:20:34,000 who I know is still supporting 2665 01:20:27,917 --> 01:20:34,000 this man 19 allegations in. 2666 01:20:34,083 --> 01:20:35,458 - Oh, yeah. 2667 01:20:34,083 --> 01:20:35,458 - Are you an ally? 2668 01:20:35,542 --> 01:20:38,542 Are you a real ally? 2669 01:20:35,542 --> 01:20:38,542 Are you down with him? 2670 01:20:38,625 --> 01:20:39,792 Do you support me? 2671 01:20:39,875 --> 01:20:42,125 Why do you not 2672 01:20:39,875 --> 01:20:42,125 say anything to me? 2673 01:20:42,208 --> 01:20:43,750 Why do you stay silent? 2674 01:20:43,833 --> 01:20:46,292 - It was kind of 2675 01:20:43,833 --> 01:20:46,292 like I did not... 2676 01:20:48,125 --> 01:20:50,708 Expect, uh... 2677 01:20:52,833 --> 01:20:56,250 Anyone to be in it 2678 01:20:52,833 --> 01:20:56,250 for the long haul with me, 2679 01:20:56,333 --> 01:20:59,458 and I was okay. 2680 01:20:56,333 --> 01:20:59,458 - Mm. 2681 01:20:59,542 --> 01:21:02,375 - Um, it'd be lovely, 2682 01:21:02,458 --> 01:21:03,833 but I'm glad I met you guys, 2683 01:21:03,917 --> 01:21:05,875 'cause we're in it 2684 01:21:03,917 --> 01:21:05,875 for the long haul. 2685 01:21:05,958 --> 01:21:08,625 - Like, I don't--I've been 2686 01:21:05,958 --> 01:21:08,625 in bed for four days. 2687 01:21:08,708 --> 01:21:11,125 Like, I don't know 2688 01:21:08,708 --> 01:21:11,125 how to do this. 2689 01:21:11,208 --> 01:21:14,417 I don't know--how do you tell 2690 01:21:11,208 --> 01:21:14,417 your story in front 2691 01:21:14,500 --> 01:21:17,875 of a national-- 2692 01:21:14,500 --> 01:21:17,875 in a national forum? 2693 01:21:17,958 --> 01:21:20,500 But at the same time 2694 01:21:17,958 --> 01:21:20,500 realizing the privilege. 2695 01:21:20,583 --> 01:21:22,625 Like, looking at us, 2696 01:21:20,583 --> 01:21:22,625 we're all light-skinned. 2697 01:21:22,708 --> 01:21:25,625 We're all 2698 01:21:22,708 --> 01:21:25,625 "conventionally attractive." 2699 01:21:25,708 --> 01:21:28,667 The fact that our story 2700 01:21:25,708 --> 01:21:28,667 has been told 2701 01:21:28,750 --> 01:21:30,542 is a privilege. 2702 01:21:28,750 --> 01:21:30,542 - Mm-hmm. 2703 01:21:30,625 --> 01:21:32,917 - It shouldn't be a privilege. 2704 01:21:33,000 --> 01:21:36,750 Every woman's story 2705 01:21:33,000 --> 01:21:36,750 deserves to be heard. 2706 01:21:36,833 --> 01:21:38,792 - Part of the reason 2707 01:21:36,833 --> 01:21:38,792 I did speak out 2708 01:21:38,875 --> 01:21:41,875 is because I do have 2709 01:21:38,875 --> 01:21:41,875 light privilege, 2710 01:21:41,958 --> 01:21:44,625 so I have to go ahead 2711 01:21:44,708 --> 01:21:48,750 and stick my neck out 2712 01:21:44,708 --> 01:21:48,750 and say, "Me too," 2713 01:21:48,833 --> 01:21:53,250 for other black women 2714 01:21:48,833 --> 01:21:53,250 who are not safe. 2715 01:21:53,333 --> 01:21:54,958 ♪ ♪ 2716 01:21:55,042 --> 01:22:01,167 - I wasn't prepared 2717 01:21:55,042 --> 01:22:01,167 in whatever way 2718 01:22:01,250 --> 01:22:06,167 to speak at all until 2017, 2719 01:22:06,250 --> 01:22:09,833 which is the first time 2720 01:22:06,250 --> 01:22:09,833 I said anything to anybody. 2721 01:22:11,500 --> 01:22:13,000 And I thought... 2722 01:22:16,042 --> 01:22:19,583 "I wish I could have gotten 2723 01:22:16,042 --> 01:22:19,583 my shit together earlier..." 2724 01:22:23,083 --> 01:22:25,292 "So he would have left 2725 01:22:23,083 --> 01:22:25,292 everybody alone." 2726 01:22:25,375 --> 01:22:30,167 ♪ ♪ 2727 01:22:30,250 --> 01:22:34,167 - The aftermath 2728 01:22:30,250 --> 01:22:34,167 of coming forward is just-- 2729 01:22:34,250 --> 01:22:38,417 you can't even begin 2730 01:22:34,250 --> 01:22:38,417 to describe what it's like, 2731 01:22:38,500 --> 01:22:43,750 but someone else out there 2732 01:22:38,500 --> 01:22:43,750 knows exactly what it is, 2733 01:22:43,833 --> 01:22:48,417 you know, and to go through 2734 01:22:43,833 --> 01:22:48,417 the first, 2735 01:22:48,500 --> 01:22:49,750 the assault, 2736 01:22:49,833 --> 01:22:53,583 and then the coming forward... 2737 01:22:56,625 --> 01:22:59,167 And there's a bond. 2738 01:22:59,250 --> 01:23:01,375 You know, there's a bond there. 2739 01:23:01,458 --> 01:23:04,500 [rain pattering] 2740 01:23:04,583 --> 01:23:07,458 [thunder rumbling] 2741 01:23:07,542 --> 01:23:09,375 ♪ ♪ 2742 01:23:09,458 --> 01:23:12,208 - I don't know 2743 01:23:09,458 --> 01:23:12,208 that there's any comp-- 2744 01:23:12,292 --> 01:23:13,333 like, any comparable... 2745 01:23:13,417 --> 01:23:14,792 - No, there isn't 2746 01:23:13,417 --> 01:23:14,792 any comparable-- 2747 01:23:14,875 --> 01:23:17,708 - Experience to coming forward, 2748 01:23:14,875 --> 01:23:17,708 being believed, 2749 01:23:17,792 --> 01:23:19,833 finding other victims... 2750 01:23:19,917 --> 01:23:21,292 - The trauma, 2751 01:23:19,917 --> 01:23:21,292 the coming forward... 2752 01:23:21,375 --> 01:23:22,875 - Of the same trauma 2753 01:23:22,958 --> 01:23:26,167 by the same person 2754 01:23:22,958 --> 01:23:26,167 and suddenly we're together. 2755 01:23:26,250 --> 01:23:28,333 I mean, I'd been alone 2756 01:23:26,250 --> 01:23:28,333 for 22 years. 2757 01:23:28,417 --> 01:23:30,083 I thought it was just me. 2758 01:23:30,167 --> 01:23:32,792 - Meeting you was, 2759 01:23:30,167 --> 01:23:32,792 "I'm not alone." 2760 01:23:32,875 --> 01:23:34,000 - Yeah. 2761 01:23:34,083 --> 01:23:36,917 - Meeting you now is, 2762 01:23:34,083 --> 01:23:36,917 "I'm not alone." 2763 01:23:37,000 --> 01:23:40,625 Um, it's a big deal. 2764 01:23:40,708 --> 01:23:42,125 - It's a big deal. 2765 01:23:42,208 --> 01:23:49,375 ♪ ♪ 2766 01:24:05,167 --> 01:24:06,917 After the article came out, 2767 01:24:07,042 --> 01:24:09,458 I asked my husband 2768 01:24:07,042 --> 01:24:09,458 for a divorce, 2769 01:24:09,542 --> 01:24:12,125 not because it was, like, 2770 01:24:09,542 --> 01:24:12,125 toxic or terrible 2771 01:24:12,208 --> 01:24:16,125 but because suddenly 2772 01:24:12,208 --> 01:24:16,125 I had to deal with this thing 2773 01:24:16,208 --> 01:24:17,458 that had happened to me 2774 01:24:17,542 --> 01:24:20,792 in, like, 2775 01:24:17,542 --> 01:24:20,792 a three-dimensional way, 2776 01:24:20,875 --> 01:24:24,125 and I found myself 2777 01:24:20,875 --> 01:24:24,125 in a very dark place 2778 01:24:24,208 --> 01:24:27,167 and ultimately had 2779 01:24:24,208 --> 01:24:27,167 to summon the strength 2780 01:24:27,250 --> 01:24:31,125 to leave 2781 01:24:27,250 --> 01:24:31,125 and get to know myself 2782 01:24:31,208 --> 01:24:34,458 and find out 2783 01:24:31,208 --> 01:24:34,458 who that person is. 2784 01:24:41,500 --> 01:24:43,167 I thought the only thing 2785 01:24:41,500 --> 01:24:43,167 that would be different 2786 01:24:43,250 --> 01:24:45,958 after "The New York Times" 2787 01:24:43,250 --> 01:24:45,958 published my story 2788 01:24:46,042 --> 01:24:47,292 is that the rest of the world 2789 01:24:47,375 --> 01:24:48,792 would have the information 2790 01:24:47,375 --> 01:24:48,792 I had. 2791 01:24:48,875 --> 01:24:52,625 What I did not anticipate 2792 01:24:48,875 --> 01:24:52,625 is that I would have 2793 01:24:52,708 --> 01:24:55,917 a new relationship 2794 01:24:52,708 --> 01:24:55,917 with this information, 2795 01:24:56,000 --> 01:24:57,208 which was essentially I had 2796 01:24:57,292 --> 01:24:58,667 to process it 2797 01:24:57,292 --> 01:24:58,667 for the first time. 2798 01:24:58,750 --> 01:25:00,875 It was, like, 2799 01:24:58,750 --> 01:25:00,875 unmetabolized information. 2800 01:25:00,958 --> 01:25:05,542 Like, it's like 2801 01:25:00,958 --> 01:25:05,542 I'd swallowed it whole in 1995 2802 01:25:05,625 --> 01:25:09,083 and I had never actually 2803 01:25:05,625 --> 01:25:09,083 digested it. 2804 01:25:09,167 --> 01:25:13,458 You know, it was literally like 2805 01:25:09,167 --> 01:25:13,458 pressing play 2806 01:25:13,542 --> 01:25:16,708 on a movie that 2807 01:25:13,542 --> 01:25:16,708 I paused 22 years ago 2808 01:25:16,792 --> 01:25:18,833 in, like, the middle 2809 01:25:16,792 --> 01:25:18,833 of the scariest scene. 2810 01:25:18,917 --> 01:25:20,917 I'm just like, play. 2811 01:25:21,000 --> 01:25:25,333 ♪ ♪ 2812 01:25:25,417 --> 01:25:26,708 I didn't even realize until 2813 01:25:26,792 --> 01:25:29,458 I read the "New York Times" 2814 01:25:26,792 --> 01:25:29,458 article 2815 01:25:29,542 --> 01:25:32,042 that there was never even a CD. 2816 01:25:32,125 --> 01:25:34,792 I literally for 22 years 2817 01:25:32,125 --> 01:25:34,792 have wondered 2818 01:25:34,875 --> 01:25:37,458 what it was 2819 01:25:34,875 --> 01:25:37,458 and was it good 2820 01:25:37,542 --> 01:25:40,542 until I read the article 2821 01:25:37,542 --> 01:25:40,542 and realized-- 2822 01:25:40,625 --> 01:25:42,042 I mean, 2823 01:25:40,625 --> 01:25:42,042 read the article, 2824 01:25:42,125 --> 01:25:44,500 met other survivors of his, 2825 01:25:42,125 --> 01:25:44,500 talked to-- 2826 01:25:44,583 --> 01:25:46,750 talked to them about 2827 01:25:44,583 --> 01:25:46,750 the traps he set. 2828 01:25:46,833 --> 01:25:49,042 It's like, "Oh, my God. 2829 01:25:46,833 --> 01:25:49,042 There was no CD." 2830 01:25:49,125 --> 01:25:50,333 [gasps] 2831 01:25:50,417 --> 01:25:53,083 There was never a CD. 2832 01:25:53,167 --> 01:25:56,208 It was all a ruse 2833 01:25:53,167 --> 01:25:56,208 to get me in there 2834 01:25:56,292 --> 01:25:57,875 'cause he knew I would 2835 01:25:56,292 --> 01:25:57,875 wanna hear the demo 2836 01:25:57,958 --> 01:26:00,583 and it was my job, 2837 01:26:00,667 --> 01:26:02,333 and that is why I walked right 2838 01:26:02,417 --> 01:26:06,083 into that trap 2839 01:26:02,417 --> 01:26:06,083 with Russell Simmons at 24. 2840 01:26:06,167 --> 01:26:13,375 ♪ ♪ 2841 01:26:39,208 --> 01:26:43,917 - ♪ You're all I need ♪ 2842 01:26:44,000 --> 01:26:46,542 ♪ To get by ♪ 2843 01:26:46,625 --> 01:26:49,250 ♪ Aye ♪ 2844 01:26:49,333 --> 01:26:54,250 ♪ You're all I need ♪ 2845 01:26:54,333 --> 01:26:56,750 ♪ To get by ♪ 2846 01:26:56,833 --> 01:26:59,667 ♪ Aye ♪ 2847 01:26:59,750 --> 01:27:02,417 - ♪ Shorty, I'm there for you 2848 01:26:59,750 --> 01:27:02,417 anytime you need me ♪ 2849 01:27:02,500 --> 01:27:05,000 ♪ For real, girl, it's me 2850 01:27:02,500 --> 01:27:05,000 in your world, believe me ♪ 2851 01:27:05,083 --> 01:27:07,333 ♪ Nothing make a man 2852 01:27:05,083 --> 01:27:07,333 feel better than a woman ♪ 2853 01:27:07,417 --> 01:27:09,875 ♪ Queen with a crown 2854 01:27:07,417 --> 01:27:09,875 that be down for whatever ♪ 2855 01:27:09,958 --> 01:27:12,542 ♪ There are few things 2856 01:27:09,958 --> 01:27:12,542 that's forever, my lady ♪ 2857 01:27:12,625 --> 01:27:14,125 ♪ We can make war 2858 01:27:12,625 --> 01:27:14,125 or make babies ♪ 2859 01:27:14,208 --> 01:27:15,875 ♪ Back when I was nothing ♪ 2860 01:27:15,958 --> 01:27:17,958 ♪ You made a brother feel 2861 01:27:15,958 --> 01:27:17,958 like he was something ♪ 2862 01:27:18,042 --> 01:27:20,333 ♪ That's why I'm with you to 2863 01:27:18,042 --> 01:27:20,333 this day, boo, no fronting ♪ 2864 01:27:20,417 --> 01:27:22,792 - You have to ask yourself, 2865 01:27:20,417 --> 01:27:22,792 you know, 2866 01:27:22,875 --> 01:27:25,250 where would her career 2867 01:27:22,875 --> 01:27:25,250 have gone in music? 2868 01:27:25,333 --> 01:27:27,083 What music did we lose? 2869 01:27:27,167 --> 01:27:29,458 What are we poorer for 2870 01:27:29,542 --> 01:27:33,583 for Drew not being 2871 01:27:29,542 --> 01:27:33,583 a music executive? 2872 01:27:33,667 --> 01:27:37,208 If this is what her 20s was, 2873 01:27:37,292 --> 01:27:38,833 the magic, 2874 01:27:38,917 --> 01:27:42,458 what would the next 2875 01:27:38,917 --> 01:27:42,458 20 years have been? 2876 01:27:42,542 --> 01:27:43,708 And we'll never know. 2877 01:27:43,792 --> 01:27:46,000 It's like we've been robbed 2878 01:27:43,792 --> 01:27:46,000 of that. 2879 01:27:46,083 --> 01:27:47,833 - When people get out, like, um, 2880 01:27:47,917 --> 01:27:48,917 for those kind of reasons, 2881 01:27:49,000 --> 01:27:50,833 I think that us as the public, 2882 01:27:50,917 --> 01:27:53,333 we suffer because we don't know 2883 01:27:50,917 --> 01:27:53,333 what they could have produced 2884 01:27:53,417 --> 01:27:54,583 or what they could have brought. 2885 01:27:54,667 --> 01:27:55,667 Like, maybe music wouldn't 2886 01:27:55,750 --> 01:27:57,000 have changed the way it did 2887 01:27:57,083 --> 01:27:59,625 if we had more women, 2888 01:27:57,083 --> 01:27:59,625 uh, in music. 2889 01:27:59,708 --> 01:28:02,792 - This is so emblematic 2890 01:27:59,708 --> 01:28:02,792 of what happens 2891 01:28:02,875 --> 01:28:05,333 to women routinely, 2892 01:28:02,875 --> 01:28:05,333 and we lose. 2893 01:28:05,417 --> 01:28:10,542 We all lose when 2894 01:28:05,417 --> 01:28:10,542 brilliant women go away, 2895 01:28:10,625 --> 01:28:13,875 when powerful women go away, 2896 01:28:10,625 --> 01:28:13,875 you know? 2897 01:28:13,958 --> 01:28:16,083 When people lose 2898 01:28:13,958 --> 01:28:16,083 their inner light, 2899 01:28:16,167 --> 01:28:19,833 that thing--when shame keeps you 2900 01:28:16,167 --> 01:28:19,833 from stepping up, 2901 01:28:19,917 --> 01:28:22,125 what--all of that, 2902 01:28:19,917 --> 01:28:22,125 it's a loss for all of us. 2903 01:28:22,208 --> 01:28:23,750 It really, really is. 2904 01:28:25,625 --> 01:28:31,667 - You know, I've had glimpses 2905 01:28:25,625 --> 01:28:31,667 of access to my creativity 2906 01:28:31,750 --> 01:28:34,750 and my joy 2907 01:28:31,750 --> 01:28:34,750 and my fearlessness, 2908 01:28:34,833 --> 01:28:37,958 but it's really been buried. 2909 01:28:38,042 --> 01:28:41,333 The most authentic part 2910 01:28:38,042 --> 01:28:41,333 of myself carried the pain, 2911 01:28:41,417 --> 01:28:45,000 so I couldn't-- 2912 01:28:41,417 --> 01:28:45,000 I couldn't open that box. 2913 01:28:47,792 --> 01:28:51,583 - Would you rather hear a song 2914 01:28:47,792 --> 01:28:51,583 called "Medicine" or "Silver"? 2915 01:28:51,667 --> 01:28:53,167 - "Medicine." 2916 01:28:51,667 --> 01:28:53,167 - Okay. 2917 01:28:53,250 --> 01:28:54,625 - [laughs] 2918 01:28:54,708 --> 01:28:57,708 [soft guitar music playing] 2919 01:28:57,792 --> 01:29:02,833 ♪ ♪ 2920 01:29:02,917 --> 01:29:07,250 - ♪ Let me spell it out, babe, 2921 01:29:02,917 --> 01:29:07,250 I want you to go ♪ 2922 01:29:07,333 --> 01:29:11,042 ♪ ♪ 2923 01:29:11,125 --> 01:29:15,750 ♪ All you do is try to teach me 2924 01:29:11,125 --> 01:29:15,750 things I've already known ♪ 2925 01:29:15,833 --> 01:29:19,333 ♪ ♪ 2926 01:29:19,417 --> 01:29:25,333 ♪ Do you really think it helps 2927 01:29:19,417 --> 01:29:25,333 me having you in control ♪ 2928 01:29:25,417 --> 01:29:28,125 - There's a mom whose daughter 2929 01:29:25,417 --> 01:29:28,125 is in the 11th grade 2930 01:29:28,208 --> 01:29:29,958 at my kids' school 2931 01:29:28,208 --> 01:29:29,958 and she read the article 2932 01:29:30,042 --> 01:29:31,250 and thought 2933 01:29:30,042 --> 01:29:31,250 that I might be able 2934 01:29:31,333 --> 01:29:34,292 to give her daughter advice. 2935 01:29:34,375 --> 01:29:36,250 The last thing I thought 2936 01:29:34,375 --> 01:29:36,250 would come from this article 2937 01:29:36,333 --> 01:29:38,667 was having somebody want me 2938 01:29:36,333 --> 01:29:38,667 to help them with music. 2939 01:29:38,750 --> 01:29:41,458 I thought I was, like, 2940 01:29:38,750 --> 01:29:41,458 officially closing that door 2941 01:29:41,542 --> 01:29:43,000 whether I wanted to or not. 2942 01:29:43,083 --> 01:29:45,792 ♪ ♪ 2943 01:29:45,875 --> 01:29:48,375 It's awesome. 2944 01:29:45,875 --> 01:29:48,375 I love it. 2945 01:29:48,458 --> 01:29:50,000 Like, I love it. 2946 01:29:48,458 --> 01:29:50,000 - You do? 2947 01:29:50,083 --> 01:29:54,125 - Yeah, so those are some 2948 01:29:50,083 --> 01:29:54,125 of my favorite verses of yours. 2949 01:29:54,208 --> 01:29:55,125 Like-- 2950 01:29:54,208 --> 01:29:55,125 - Yeah? 2951 01:29:55,208 --> 01:29:56,583 - Of, like, all. 2952 01:29:55,208 --> 01:29:56,583 - Really? 2953 01:29:56,667 --> 01:29:58,375 - I love those verses. 2954 01:29:58,458 --> 01:30:02,917 They're really haunting and, 2955 01:29:58,458 --> 01:30:02,917 like, I love them. 2956 01:30:03,000 --> 01:30:05,042 - Oh, thanks. 2957 01:30:03,000 --> 01:30:05,042 - Beautiful. 2958 01:30:05,125 --> 01:30:06,125 - Thank you. 2959 01:30:06,208 --> 01:30:13,333 ♪ ♪ 2960 01:30:20,292 --> 01:30:26,333 ♪ And you can't wrap your mind 2961 01:30:20,292 --> 01:30:26,333 around my words ♪ 2962 01:30:26,417 --> 01:30:28,208 ♪ ♪ 2963 01:30:28,292 --> 01:30:35,167 ♪ But your healing efforts 2964 01:30:28,292 --> 01:30:35,167 only make me hurt ♪ 2965 01:30:35,250 --> 01:30:36,958 ♪ Don't you know ♪ 2966 01:30:37,042 --> 01:30:41,000 ♪ You're not a medicine, 2967 01:30:37,042 --> 01:30:41,000 you're not a medicine ♪ 2968 01:30:41,083 --> 01:30:45,333 ♪ You gave me bad news 2969 01:30:41,083 --> 01:30:45,333 and I'm stuck in my bed again ♪ 2970 01:30:45,417 --> 01:30:52,083 ♪ You're not a medicine, 2971 01:30:45,417 --> 01:30:52,083 you're not a medicine ♪ 2972 01:30:52,167 --> 01:30:55,417 ♪ ♪ 2973 01:30:55,500 --> 01:30:57,458 [dramatic music] 2974 01:30:57,542 --> 01:31:00,042 - I am excited 2975 01:30:57,542 --> 01:31:00,042 to be making music again. 2976 01:31:00,125 --> 01:31:04,500 I mean, it's sort of like-- 2977 01:31:00,125 --> 01:31:04,500 it's like breathing. 2978 01:31:04,583 --> 01:31:06,708 I feel like I've been holding 2979 01:31:04,583 --> 01:31:06,708 my breath for 16 years 2980 01:31:06,792 --> 01:31:08,542 and I didn't know it. 2981 01:31:08,625 --> 01:31:15,792 ♪ ♪ 2982 01:31:18,667 --> 01:31:22,042 If you're a rape survivor, 2983 01:31:18,667 --> 01:31:22,042 you are the crime scene. 2984 01:31:22,125 --> 01:31:24,375 My life is the crime scene. 2985 01:31:24,458 --> 01:31:27,292 The crime doesn't end 2986 01:31:24,458 --> 01:31:27,292 the moment the assault ends. 2987 01:31:27,375 --> 01:31:31,167 The crime is perpetrated 2988 01:31:27,375 --> 01:31:31,167 and reperpetrated 2989 01:31:31,250 --> 01:31:33,792 every day that you 2990 01:31:31,250 --> 01:31:33,792 carry it with you, 2991 01:31:33,875 --> 01:31:35,375 and it informs your behavior, 2992 01:31:35,458 --> 01:31:37,833 so, like, 2993 01:31:35,458 --> 01:31:37,833 I'm a living crime scene. 2994 01:31:40,500 --> 01:31:43,375 And I realize now it was a cage. 2995 01:31:43,458 --> 01:31:50,542 I had no idea how much 2996 01:31:43,458 --> 01:31:50,542 this one night of my life 2997 01:31:50,625 --> 01:31:53,500 shattered me, 2998 01:31:53,583 --> 01:31:55,375 and until I said it out loud 2999 01:31:55,458 --> 01:31:58,250 and lived to, like, 3000 01:31:55,458 --> 01:31:58,250 tell the tale-- 3001 01:31:58,333 --> 01:32:01,708 I'm still here-- 3002 01:32:01,792 --> 01:32:05,458 I couldn't fully start to put 3003 01:32:01,792 --> 01:32:05,458 the pieces back together, 3004 01:32:05,542 --> 01:32:07,417 and I would have 3005 01:32:05,542 --> 01:32:07,417 been shattered forever 3006 01:32:07,500 --> 01:32:09,917 if this Me Too moment 3007 01:32:07,500 --> 01:32:09,917 hadn't happened. 3008 01:32:10,000 --> 01:32:14,125 I mean, literally, 3009 01:32:10,000 --> 01:32:14,125 it's like--it saved my life. 3010 01:32:14,208 --> 01:32:16,875 I--it saved my life. 3011 01:32:16,958 --> 01:32:24,125 ♪ ♪ 3012 01:33:17,417 --> 01:33:24,583 ♪ ♪ 3013 01:34:05,708 --> 01:34:08,792 [Ms. Lauryn Hill's 3014 01:34:05,708 --> 01:34:08,792 "Damnable Heresies"] 3015 01:34:08,875 --> 01:34:16,042 ♪ ♪ 3016 01:34:28,833 --> 01:34:33,000 - ♪ These damnable heresies ♪ 3017 01:34:33,083 --> 01:34:36,833 ♪ Sold into slavery ♪ 3018 01:34:36,917 --> 01:34:38,917 ♪ By my insecurities ♪ 3019 01:34:39,000 --> 01:34:44,833 ♪ Oh, they keep 3020 01:34:39,000 --> 01:34:44,833 taking me down ♪ 3021 01:34:44,917 --> 01:34:48,792 ♪ Shaking me down ♪ 3022 01:34:48,875 --> 01:34:51,917 ♪ Taking me down ♪ 3023 01:34:52,000 --> 01:34:54,750 ♪ They keep breaking me down ♪ 3024 01:34:54,833 --> 01:35:00,833 ♪ Shaking me, taking me ♪ 3025 01:35:00,917 --> 01:35:04,792 ♪ Total hypocrisy ♪ 3026 01:35:04,875 --> 01:35:08,708 ♪ Teaching me lies ♪ 3027 01:35:08,792 --> 01:35:12,583 ♪ Spirituality ♪ 3028 01:35:12,667 --> 01:35:16,667 ♪ Through human eyes ♪ 3029 01:35:16,750 --> 01:35:20,708 ♪ Total confusion ♪ 3030 01:35:20,792 --> 01:35:24,583 ♪ No right or wrong ♪ 3031 01:35:24,667 --> 01:35:27,875 ♪ Keeping the people ♪ 3032 01:35:27,958 --> 01:35:32,708 ♪ From where they belong ♪ 3033 01:35:32,792 --> 01:35:36,625 ♪ Refusing to speak ♪ 3034 01:35:36,708 --> 01:35:40,542 ♪ Afraid to upset ♪ 3035 01:35:40,625 --> 01:35:44,042 ♪ Spending the rest 3036 01:35:40,625 --> 01:35:44,042 of your life ♪ 3037 01:35:44,125 --> 01:35:48,208 ♪ Oh, in total regret ♪ 3038 01:35:48,292 --> 01:35:52,083 ♪ This emotional force ♪ 3039 01:35:52,167 --> 01:35:55,833 ♪ Keeps conforming my mind ♪ 3040 01:35:55,917 --> 01:36:00,375 ♪ Keeping me blind, 3041 01:35:55,917 --> 01:36:00,375 keeping me blind ♪ 3042 01:36:00,458 --> 01:36:04,333 ♪ Keeping me blind ♪ 3043 01:36:04,417 --> 01:36:08,250 ♪ From the reality ♪ 3044 01:36:08,333 --> 01:36:11,875 ♪ Of what's being done, yeah ♪ 3045 01:36:11,958 --> 01:36:15,833 ♪ I keep playing the fool ♪ 3046 01:36:15,917 --> 01:36:19,500 ♪ To help everyone ♪ 3047 01:36:19,583 --> 01:36:23,917 ♪ These damnable heresies ♪ 3048 01:36:24,000 --> 01:36:28,167 ♪ Sold into slavery ♪ 3049 01:36:28,250 --> 01:36:30,250 ♪ By my insecurities ♪ 3050 01:36:30,333 --> 01:36:35,417 ♪ Oh, they keep 3051 01:36:30,333 --> 01:36:35,417 taking me down ♪ 3052 01:36:35,500 --> 01:36:40,042 ♪ Shaking me down, 3053 01:36:35,500 --> 01:36:40,042 down, down ♪ 3054 01:36:40,125 --> 01:36:42,708 ♪ Taking me down ♪ 3055 01:36:42,792 --> 01:36:48,292 ♪ They keep taking me, 3056 01:36:42,792 --> 01:36:48,292 breaking me ♪ 3057 01:36:48,375 --> 01:36:51,250 ♪ Making me ♪ 3058 01:36:51,333 --> 01:36:55,417 ♪ These damnable heresies ♪ 3059 01:36:55,500 --> 01:37:00,042 ♪ Sold into slavery ♪ 3060 01:37:00,125 --> 01:37:02,083 ♪ By my insecurities ♪ 3061 01:37:02,167 --> 01:37:05,125 ♪ Oh, they keep taking me ♪