Aoki Lee Simmons’ exiled and estranged hip-hop mogul father Russell Simmons is being firmly “blamed” for her “insane” romance with a person 43 years her senior.
In photographs that shocked the world, Aoki, 21, and restaurateur Vittorio Assaf, 65, have been seen packing on the PDA throughout a visit to St. Barts.
The pair was noticed on Tuesday, April 2, kissing on an attractive seaside within the Caribbean, in keeping with images obtained by Web page Six. The Serafina co-owner then took images of the mannequin as she posed within the sand earlier than they took a dip within the ocean collectively.
A supply confirmed their relationship to Individuals on Friday, April 5, saying they’re “having fun with every others’ firm.”
Aoki is the youngest daughter of music legend Russell, 66, and mannequin and mogul, Kimora Lee Simmons, 48. Assaf, for his half, hails from Milan, Italy, and has been a staple within the New York restaurant world since confounding Serafina Restaurant Group.
After photographs of their PDA emerged, there was flurry of concern from followers and even her mother Kimora seemingly confirmed her disapproval of the union by reposting a since-deleted video of a mom panda furiously pulling away her child cub together with her tooth and wrote: “On my final nerve proper now!”
Aoki Lee, Vittorio Assaf and Russell Simmons Unfold Footage/MEGA / Bennett Raglin/WireImage
Nonetheless, Kimora’s embattled ex-husband, Russell, whom she was married to from 1998 to 2009, had a decidedly completely different response sharing a throwback snap of Aoki from June 2022 together with a heartfelt message about his “unconditional love” for her.
He recalled that that they had an “all-around wonderful day” final Father’s Day, the day earlier than a now notorious viral video exhibiting him berating his daughter and bringing her to tears throughout a FaceTime name.
However whereas the music legend threw assist behind his baby, and has continued to take action with extra Instagram posts over the weekend, it has solely served to place him below fireplace.
Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, ‘cherished up’ with Vittorio Assaf, 65, Unfold Footage/MEGA
The entrepreneur, who has been in self-imposed exile in Bali for the previous few years following a barrage of historic sexual assault allegations made in opposition to him, has boasted about courting a string of girls his daughter’s age as an older man and in keeping with ex Kimora Lee began dated her when she was a teen within the trade.
His gushing posts about Aoki have consequently been met with condemnation from followers who’ve branded him an “enabler” and a “deadbeat dad” who brought about Aoki Lee’s “daddy points”.
“That is your fault Russell. You shouldn’t be enabling this. The person is your age and also you see nothing flawed!” stated one follower in his feedback part. One other wrote: “You’re accountable for this insane s-t.
“You ran away to Bali after being accused of misconduct and left your daughter at an important age when she wants steerage and now are posting pics of her. You and Aoki don’t even converse.”
A 3rd wrote: “These are textbook daddy points for Aoki. I keep in mind you made that poor lady cry and you then doubled down after it was made public. She’s acquired one other daddy now. Stand again!”
Whereas a fourth added: “You ought to be outraged about this. Not posting candy pics such as you approve. She’s a grown girl sure, however that is blatantly a cry for assist and her on the lookout for an older man to information her since you aren’t in her life.”
Aoki’s household made headlines in June, 2023 when her older sister, Ming Lee Simmons, Russell and Kimora’s different daughter, shared a Father’s Day tribute to Kimora, with out addressing Russell.
Russell subsequently took to Instagram, seemingly alleging that Kimora interfered in his relationship along with his children. “Cease telling fathers they need to have fought tougher to see their kids and begin asking moms why he needed to struggle in any respect,” learn a quote he shared on the time.
Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee with Ming (L) and Aoki (R) in 2005 Shane Gritzinger/FilmMagic
Aoki later chimed in, publicly refuting Russell’s claims. “My father shouldn’t be properly, for years, he wants assist and gained’t settle for that he refuses to acknowledge he isn’t himself,” she wrote in a since-deleted Instagram word, posting screenshots of their previous texts.
“He has threatened and bullied my sister, my grandma… He lashes out at ANYONE who doesn’t say, ‘Ooh Russell all the things is ok.’ Nicely it’s not tremendous.”
Aoki even accused her father of verbal abuse, which Russell has denied. Kimora, for her half, fervently supported her daughter talking out through her Instagram Story. Final September Aoki stated she felt pleased with how she dealt with her notorious public drama together with her father earlier that 12 months.
“I don’t remorse it,” she informed Teen Vogue on the time referring to her determination to name out her dad on-line. “A part of it was already on the market. There have been causes I assumed it was affordable to publish as a result of it was taking part in out in, like, a silent bubble.”
Russell issued a public apology to each Aoki and Ming, 23, later that month. “God is testing you just a little bit, it’s OK, be robust,” he wrote through Instagram. “They’re referred to as rising pains … as you understand, we develop by adversity and wrestle … you learn my books and heard me preach your complete childhood … attain again to previous classes and keep in mind to recollect ‘smile and breathe’ ❤️ ‘smile and breathe’ … you’re the watchers of this world … so let go … be comfy…”
Aoki additionally informed Teen Vogue that she has discovered to deal with not being near her dad. “[A celebrity I recently met was] like, ‘Oh, I noticed your factor. I did the identical factor after I was, like, 20, and it was tremendous.’”
She insisted hers is a “regular household” regardless of their public drama, however declined to touch upon the a number of sexual misconduct claims made in opposition to her father, which he has additionally denied. Russell was accused of assault by 18 girls in 2018.
