Kimora Lee Simmons has launched a fierce public rebuttal against her former husband, Russell Simmons, after he claimed he was 'fighting' for their children's affection. The ongoing online drama saw the 50-year-old TV personality and fashion designer take to her Instagram stories on Monday to denounce what she called his 'lies'.
A Blistering Instagram Retort
The record executive, who was married to the model from 1998 until their separation in 2006 (with divorce finalised in 2009), had made a series of claims online. Russell Simmons stated he had been 'fighting for my kids love and my bread ever since' and alleged that Kimora had 'threatened' he would 'never speak to [their] kids again' if he sued her.
Kimora's response was swift and pointed. She penned a short message directly addressing her ex, highlighting that their children are now adults. 'My "girls" are GROWN WOMEN!' she wrote. 'You know these are lies. Why are you typing from thousands of miles away in a non extradition country? Go negotiate and Answer your Accusers.'
This was a clear reference to Russell's relocation to Bali in 2017, following multiple sexual assault allegations made against him, which he has consistently denied.
Co-Parenting Dynamics and 'Single Mom' Life
The former couple share two daughters: Ming Lee, 25, and Aoki Lee, 23. In a recent interview with People magazine, Kimora Lee Simmons opened up about her parenting situation, revealing she does not 'have a relationship really' with the fathers of her children.
'Usually I would say that I co-parent okay, but the kids are with me full-time. I'm pretty much the primary parent. It's difficult, but I don't know sometimes what other people are thinking. Guys are weird,' she stated.
She emphasised her role as the cornerstone of her family, saying, 'I'm always "the mom." I mother people all around me.' Simmons also described herself as a 'single mom', noting that her 'life doesn't ever revolve around a guy, ever' and expressing pride in her self-reliance.
Her family extends beyond her daughters with Russell. She is also mother to:
- Kenzo, 16, whose father is actor Djimon Hounsou.
- Wolfe, 10, from her marriage to ex-husband Tim Leissner.
- An adopted son, Gary, 16.
- A 'bonus son' named Jayden, 19.
A History of Tension and Broader Maternal Role
This is not the first public disagreement between the ex-spouses. In 2023, Kimora accused Russell of abuse and shared a clip of him berating their daughter Aoki, to which he apologised for being 'frustrated and yelling'. She later asserted that Russell had 'overstated' his role in their daughters' lives.
Further illustrating her expansive definition of motherhood, Simmons recently revealed she also acts as a 'surrogate mom' to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' 18-year-old twin daughters, D'Lila and Jessie. Their mother, the late Kim Porter, was a close friend. 'I have all of her kids,' Simmons said. 'I'm a lot of people's mom.'
The public airing of this family dispute underscores the enduring complexities of their post-marital relationship, with both parties presenting starkly different narratives about their roles as parents to their now-adult children.
