Oprah Winfrey has found herself at the center of a high-profile legal battle, as she’s been subpoenaed in connection to the rape allegations against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.
The billionaire talk-show icon has been dragged into the case by Drew Dixon, one of Simmons’ alleged victims, who is suing him for defamation.
Dixon claims that Simmons made damaging statements about her rape allegations in a 2023 interview, which also involved Winfrey’s involvement in a 2020 documentary about the case.
The Defamation Lawsuit and Allegations
Dixon’s defamation lawsuit stems from Simmons’ remarks during an interview with Graham Besinger in 2023.
In that interview, Simmons denied all accusations of rape, claiming that Dixon and other women were fabricating stories for fame and notoriety.
He also went on to assert that Winfrey had withdrawn from producing the documentary On The Record after allegedly discovering “inconsistencies” in the accusers’ accounts.
In response to these claims, Dixon’s legal team has subpoenaed Winfrey, demanding that she provide documents and evidence related to the case.
They have also ordered her to testify in a deposition, which could be videotaped.
Winfrey was given a deadline of March 18, 2025, to comply with the subpoena.
It is currently unclear whether Winfrey adhered to these demands or whether her legal team fought back against the order.
Simmons’ Claims About Oprah’s Exit from the Documentary
In the interview, Simmons made further allegations, claiming that Winfrey had distanced herself from the project after discovering contradictions in the stories of Dixon and other women who accused him.
He suggested that Winfrey had even found recorded conversations that revealed inconsistencies in their accounts, which led her to reframe the documentary’s direction.
Simmons argued that Winfrey had wanted to shift the documentary’s focus from his own case to a broader discussion about men in the music industry, suggesting that there was insufficient evidence to back the allegations.
However, Winfrey had denied these claims, stressing that her decision to step away was based on professional disagreements with the production team, not on Simmons’ accusations.
Oprah’s Response to Her Departure from the Documentary
When Winfrey left the project in 2020, she explained her departure during an interview with CBS This Morning.
She made it clear that stepping away was not a “victory” for Simmons, and she remained supportive of the women who accused him.
Winfrey emphasized that the decision was based on new information that had emerged, which caused her to believe that there were inconsistencies in the stories that needed to be addressed.
Winfrey also revealed that she wanted to expand the documentary’s focus and include more women’s voices.
She described the experience as a valuable lesson in the importance of creative control, noting that she would never again put her name on a project without having full control over its direction.
The Ongoing Legal Drama
As the legal battle continues, the question remains whether Winfrey will have to testify and provide the requested documents, or if her lawyers will be able to block the subpoena.
The case has garnered significant media attention, given the high-profile nature of the individuals involved.
With the legal proceedings still unfolding, it is likely that more details about the case will emerge in the coming weeks.
The situation continues to add fuel to the ongoing conversation about accountability, the #MeToo movement, and the challenges faced by women who speak out against powerful men in the entertainment industry.