Russell Simmons quits his business empire after being accused by Sidney Lumet's daughter of forcing her into sex and 'locking her in his car' (Details, pics)

Russel Simmons has quit his business and music empire after being accused of sexual misconduct by a second woman.

On Thursday, Sidney Lumet's daughter Jenny accused Simmons of forcing her into having sex with him after allegedly locking her in his car and taking her to his apartment against her will in 1991.

It is the same year in which former model Keri Claussen Khalighi claims she too was assaulted by him in the same apartment as Brett Ratner watched. 

In an open letter to Simmons that was published by, Lumet The Hollywood Reporter, Lumet said she was prompted to share her accusations after reading Simmons' denial of the other woman's claims.

She says she was 24, and he 10 years older, when he forced himself on her after locking the doors of his chauffeur-driven car once she was inside it. 

They had both been at the Manhattan restaurant Inodchine, dining separately, when she says he lured her to the vehicle by offering her a ride home.

Lumet, the daughter of legendary film producer Sidney and Gail Buckley, whose grandmother is the iconic jazz singer Lena Horne, was familiar with Simmons having socialized with him in groups for years beforehand.

On the night of the alleged encounter, she said he switched from the bubbly and friendly person she knew and said 'no' twice after she gave his chauffeur her address. 

Once at his apartment building, she says he led her into an elevator where he 'pressed his body and mouth' on to her as they ascended to his apartment.

It was dark. You closed the door. At that point, I did what I was told. There was penetration.' 
Jenny Lumet in an open letter to Russell Simmons alleging how he attacked her in 1991.

There, she says he led her into his 'dark' bedroom where the alleged attack took place.

'It was dark, but not pitch dark. You closed the door. At that point, I simply did what I was told. There was penetration. At one point you were only semi-erect and appeared frustrated.

'Angry? I remember being afraid that you would deem that my fault and become violent. I did not know if you were angry, but I was afraid that you were,' she said.

She then described how Simmons told her to 'turn on to' her stomach before he ejaculated.

'I desperately wanted to keep the situation from escalating. I wanted you to feel that I was not going to be difficult. I wanted to stay as contained as I could.

'You told me to turn over on my stomach. You said something about a part of my body. You did not ejaculate inside me,' she said.

Afterwards, she claims she got herself a taxi and went home.

In response to her claims on Thursday, Simmons released a statement to say he was stepping down from his business empire.

It reads: 'I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet’s recollection about our night together in 1991. I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described.

'While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real.

'While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize.

'This is a time of great transition.

'The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard.

'As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don’t want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded.'

Simmons said his companies will be taken over and controlled now by 'a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives'.

'I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing.

'As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening.'

RUSSELL SIMMONS STATEMENT 

I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet’s recollection about our night together in 1991. I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described. While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real. While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize.

This is a time of great transition. The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard. As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don’t want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded. The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward. I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing. As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening.

Lumet said the pair had known each other for years and that Simmons gently pursued her before the alleged attack.

She claimed he told her he had a 'thing for a little yellow girl', an apparent reference to her mixed-race.

She also claims that he once sent her 250 balloons with a note which read: 'Please baby, please baby, baby, baby, baby.'