Rosanna Arquette, Rose McGowan Among Activists Pledging Support for Russell Simmons Accusers

Dave McNary

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Rosanna Arquette, Rose McGowan, Alyssa Milano and Idina Menzel are among dozens supporting those accusing Russell Simmons of rape and sexual misconduct in the documentary “On the Record.”

The music mogul has denied the accusations. The film will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 25. The statement of support was organized by Equality Now, UltraViolet and V-Day.

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“It takes great courage for any survivors of sexual assault to come forward, especially publicly,” the statement said. “We admire the bravery of all of the Russell Simmons’ survivors and the #silencebreakers who stepped up to share their story in the @OnTheRecordDoc. We are unequivocally united in supporting the survivors in the film and all survivors of Russell Simmons. We want them to know: We believe you. We hear you. You deserve to be seen. #MeToo”

Other signers include Alysia Reiner, Evan Rachel Wood, Frances Fisher, Gina Belafonte, Gloria Steinem, Marisa Tomei and Thandie Newton. More than three dozen organizations also endorsed the statement.

The documentary by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering has received widespread attention following the public withdrawal of executive producer Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV Plus as distributor.

Among the women in the cast is Drew Dixon, a music industry executive who is chief among Simmons’ accusers. In an initial statement, Winfrey said she unequivocally believed the women involved but felt the film was incomplete. Winfrey told the New York Times that Simmons attempted to pressure her to pull her support from the project, which would have released under her overall content deal with Apple. Winfrey maintains he had nothing to do with her decision.

See the full list of signatories below.

Individuals
Ai-Jen Poo
Alexandra Posen
Alysia Reiner
Alyssa Milano
Aminatou Sow
Amy Carlson
Angela Rose
Anne Ream
Beverly Guy-Sheftall
Bonnie Abaunza
Bridgit Antoinette Evans
Caitlin Dulany
Caroline Heldman
Charlotte Sheedy
Dan Cogan
Evan Rachel Wood
Eve Ensler
Frances Fisher
Geralyn Dreyfous
Gina Belafonte
Gloria Steinem
Hibaaq Osman
Heidi Schreck
Idina Menzel
Isolde Brielmaier
Jamia Wilson
Jenny Raskin
Jerri Moomaw
Jess McIntosh
Jess Morales Rocketto
Judith Bruce
Julia Pacetti
Kamilah Willingham
Katherine Kendall
Kevin Powell
Lara Stein
Larissa Gomes
Liesl Gerntholtz
Lili Bernard
Lisa Shannon
Liz Garbus
Liz Plank
Marisa Tomei
Monica Ramirez
Nelini Stamp
Pamela Guest
Pat Mitchell
Paula J. Giddings
Professor Kimberle Crenshaw
Rachel Lears
Rosanna Arquette
Rose McGowan
Sarah Sophie Flicker
Sheetal Sheth
Simon Kilmurry
Susan Celia Swan
Susan Xenarios
Taina Bien Aime
Tanya Selvaratnam
Teresa C. Younger
Thandie Newton
Yara Travieso
Yasmeen Hassan
Zillah Eisenstein

Organizations

Black Women’s Blueprint
Chicago Media Project
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking
Cohen Law Group
Equality Now
Everywoman Everywhere
Feminist Camp
FUTURES without Violence
Girls for Gender Equity
HEART Women & Girls
HERUNIVERCITY INC.
Impact Partners
InMaat Foundation
Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative
Justice For Migrant Women
Karama
MADRE
Ms. Foundation for Women
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Women’s Law Center
New York Alliance on Sexual Assault
New York Women’s Foundation
One Billion Rising
Oregon Abuse Advocates and Survivors in Service
PAVE
Promundo-US
Protect Our Defenders
Rights4Girls
Sisterhood Is Global Institute
The Voices and Faces Project
Tools & Tiaras
UltraViolet
V-Day
We are the Federation
Witness
Women And Hollywood
Women in Film, Los Angeles
Women’s Equal Justice Project
Women’s March Global
World Without Exploitation

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