A personal stylist who worked with Hollywood and fashion elite is at the centre of a major scandal, accused of illegally occupying high-end apartments and misusing client funds in two of America's most glamorous cities.
Explosive Allegations from Former Associates
Bryant Simmons, 36, who until recently worked for prestigious retailers dressing celebrities including Katie Holmes and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, is facing a barrage of claims detailed in a Vanity Fair investigation. Former colleagues, friends, and roommates allege he engaged in a pattern of deceptive behaviour, squatting in luxury rentals and funding a lavish lifestyle through questionable means.
The controversy became public around Thanksgiving when an Instagram account titled @bryantsimmonsisascammer appeared, sending shockwaves through the social circles of New York and Los Angeles that Simmons frequented. The account is run by his former roommate, Arya Toufanian, who claims Simmons rented a room in his SoHo flat in February 2025 but repeatedly failed to pay rent on time.
A Trail of Unpaid Rent and Client Card Misuse
The allegations extend far beyond one flat. Another former associate, who sublet a Gramercy apartment to Simmons, claims he stopped paying rent after just two months and was later discovered to be living in Los Angeles. "I would look at his Instagram, and he would be at the nicest restaurants LA has to offer... And meanwhile, he will not pay rent," she told Vanity Fair.
During his time in LA, Simmons is alleged to have moved between three luxury apartments in a single year, each time facing accusations of squatting. More seriously, Toufanian alleges Simmons once paid his rent using a client's credit card, with the transaction appearing as 'Khaite clothing'. Another partial payment was allegedly sent under the descriptor 'Jacket'. The client in question reportedly informed Khaite's management of suspected fraudulent activity.
These claims followed Simmons' sudden departure from his role at the fashion label Khaite in October. He described his dismissal as a "typical HR ambush meeting" due to lateness, despite claiming he was constantly available for clients.
Legal Battles and Vehement Denials
The situation has escalated into a bitter legal dispute. Toufanian filed a complaint for aggravated harassment, leading Simmons to seek an order of protection in family court, alleging they had an "intimate relationship" and that Toufanian had stalked and threatened him. Toufanian strongly denies the relationship claim, and a judge has reportedly dismissed Simmons' petition.
Simmons has pleaded not guilty to harassment charges and flatly denies all allegations of financial misconduct. "They all want to be famous," he said of his accusers, adding, "Every New Yorker is running some kind of scam." He insists he has not taken anything from anybody.
The court battle between Simmons and Toufanian is set to continue, with a hearing scheduled for January 20. The wider allegations of fraud and squatting remain unresolved, casting a shadow over the glamorous world the stylist once inhabited.
