Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has been subpoenaed to testify in the defamation lawsuit filed by Drew Dixon, a former music executive who accused Russell Simmons of sexual assault.
Dixon’s legal team is demanding that Winfrey produce documents and evidence related to the case, including materials from her previous involvement with the documentary On the Record, which explored sexual misconduct claims against Simmons.
Dixon first came forward with her allegations in a 2017 New York Times exposé, stating that the hip-hop mogul raped her in her apartment in 1995.
Simmons has repeatedly denied the allegations, maintaining that his relationships have been “consensual.”
The defamation lawsuit, filed by Dixon, stems from Simmons’ 2023 interview with Graham Bensinger, where he publicly questioned Dixon’s credibility and suggested that she and others were seeking “notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame.”
Oprah’s Involvement in the Case
Dixon’s legal team believes that Winfrey possesses key evidence that could impact the lawsuit.
The subpoena, filed by the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, orders her to turn over relevant records and appear for a videotaped deposition before March 18, 2025.
The move to subpoena Winfrey follows Simmons’ own statements in his interview, where he claimed that she stepped away from producing On the Record after discovering “inconsistencies” in the accusers’ accounts.
However, Winfrey later clarified to The New York Times that while she believed the women’s allegations, she felt the film failed to address some inconsistencies adequately.
The documentary’s filmmakers have countered that they have extensive research corroborating the women’s testimonies.
The subpoena commands Winfrey to provide:
Dixon’s legal team appears to be seeking any recordings, notes, or communications that could either support or challenge Simmons’ claims regarding Winfrey’s reasoning for stepping away from On the Record.
The Road Ahead
Winfrey’s potential testimony could play a pivotal role in Dixon’s defamation case against Simmons.
If she complies with the subpoena, it could provide insight into behind-the-scenes discussions about the documentary and possibly strengthen Dixon’s claims.
Neither Winfrey nor Simmons have publicly commented on the subpoena at this time.
