New York City Police Department
is investigating allegations made by several women who have accused hip-hop mogul
Russell Simmons of rape and sexual abuse, officials have said.
"The New York City Police Department has received information regarding allegations involving Russell Simmons in the NYC area and our detectives are in the process of reviewing that information," police spokesman Sergeant Brendan Ryan said.
On Wednesday, media company published the accounts of three women who all said they were raped by the 60-year-old hip-hop legend, an influential figure and co-founder of an American record label.
The 60-year-old hip-hop legend denied the rape accusations -- which date back to 1988 -- and voiced support for the growing movement of women speaking out against abusive men. He has also denied two other accusations which emerged in November.
Jenny Lumet, daughter of director
Sidney Lumet, alleged that Simmons raped her in 1991, while former model
Claussen Khalighi
said he sexually assaulted her during the same year.
Despite protesting his innocence, Simmons stepped down from his business empire at the end of November.
Simmons and fellow producer
Rick Rubin
helped bring hip- hop to wide US audiences in the 1980s when they founded the label that signed major acts such as the
Beastie Boys
, LL Cool J and later Public Enemy.
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