Russell Simmons doesn’t want his friends dragged into his mess.
Daymond John, 48, appeared on Tuesday’s episode of “The Wendy Williams Show” and revealed that Simmons suggested his advice portion of John’s new self-help book, “Rise and Grind,” be edited out.
“I had a conversation with him and he said, ‘With all of the things that are going on in my life, I don’t want to take away from this book motivating and changing people’s lives,’” the “Shark Tank” star recalled of their conversation. “‘And just like I’m taking my name off a lot of my companies, you should also take me out of the book. Let’s not blur the intent of the book.’”
John said advance galley copies had already been sent out when he decided to act.
Simmons’ name has become synonymous with scandal over the last several months. In November, Simmons told Terry Crews to give his alleged groper “a pass.” Then he was accused of raping several women including a former model, Lena Horne’s granddaughter, Kelly Cutrone, and four other women who also accused the mogul of “violent sexual behavior.”
In January, the NYPD launched an investigation into two other rape accusations.
“Russell is somebody that I’ve admired for years,” John said. “It was a hard decision to take him out of the book because he’s like a father figure.”