Oprah defends quitting Russell Simmons sexual abuse documentary after accuser said she felt ‘abandoned’ by her exit – The Sun

OPRAH Winfrey is defending herself against critics upset she’s pulling out of a documentary about rape allegations against Russell Simmons — and says it’s no win for the media mogul.

Winfrey, 65, said today that pressure from Simmons, 62, did not cause her to stop working as an executive producer on the project, titled “On the Record.”

"This is not a victory for Russell," she told "CBS This Morning.” "I unequivocally say that I did not pull out because of Russell.”

“This is not a victory lap for him. I cannot be silenced by a Russell Simmons after all I've been through."

On Friday, Winfrey said Simmons tried to pressure her about her involvement in the documentary project, but that it wasn’t the reason she withdrew.

“He did reach out multiple times and attempted to pressure me,” she said, noting she did not cave into apparent pressure from Simmons.

Winfrey said there have been inconsistencies from one of Simmons’ accusers, Drew Dixon, that she felt needed to be addressed.

She said she believes Dixon and the other female accusers in the film and says they “deserve to be heard” — but said more reporting is needed.

Simmons has denied any wrongdoing.

“On the Record” directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering have said they have plenty of evidence against Simmons, a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings.

"I had said to them, 'Houston, I think we have a problem here' because new information had come forward," Winfrey told CBS earlier today.

The doc is scheduled to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25.

“On the Record” had been part of her partnership with Apple, which abandoned plans to distribute the documentary.

She announced she was pulling her participation on January 10, saying the filmmakers were “not aligned” in their “creative vision.”

Winfrey believes the filmmakers should pull the doc from premiering and if they don’t, she wanted her name removed from the film.

"I don't care about awards — I just care about getting it right, and I think there's some inconsistencies in the stories that we need to look at," Winfrey said.

"I wanted the context of the story to be broadened, I wanted more women brought into the story."

Winfrey said she told the directors, Dick and Ziering, her concerns about the film last month.

She said she told them of gaps she “thought needed to be filled” and that it was better to “take a rest.”

But, according to Winfrey, the directors said they “would go on with or without” her.

Impact Partners, which has produced the film, said in a statement last week the movie was ready to premiere at Sundance.

“We have always championed the voices of those who have been wrongly silenced,” they said.

“The women in this film have made a great sacrifice by coming forward to tell their stories in their own words. We are honored to support them.”

“We stand firmly behind the work of the intrepid filmmakers who continue to break new ground by advancing important stories in the public interest.”

Winfrey has openly spoken about her experience with sexual abuse.

"I have lived MeToo since I was 9 years old, and was raped at 9, sexually assaulted from 9 to 14, and then raped again at 14," she told CBS.

"And nothing is harder than standing up for yourself when you're 14 and not being believed, and I was not believed by my own family.”

“So I stand in support of these women. I believe them."

On Friday, a rep for the mogul said: “If defending himself against terrible accusations is considered intimidation then there would be no justice.”

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