the industry

Russell Simmons Encouraged Terry Crews to Give His Sexual Assaulter ‘a Pass’

Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Bentonville Fil

In the midst of the #MeToo movement last month, Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews shared his experience of being sexually assaulted by a “high-powered” male Hollywood executive at a party, who was later revealed to be WME agent Adam Venit. As a consequence of his actions, Venit is currently taking a leave of absence from the agency, much to the satisfaction of Crews, although someone else in their orbit isn’t too pleased at how these events are negatively affecting the sexual assaulter. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Crews revealed an email screenshot that showed Russell Simmons encouraging him to get Venit his job back. “Did he ever apologize. Give the agent a pass,” Simmons wrote, per the tweet. “Ask that he be reinstated. With great love, all things are possible.” Crews, unsurprisingly, isn’t too keen on the idea and only needs five words to shut it down: “NO ONE GETS A PASS.”

Last week, Crews went on Good Morning America to further speak out about his disturbing groping experience with Venit, saying that he suffered PTSD in its aftermath. “I’ve never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified,” he explained. “I will not be shamed. I did nothing wrong … It was foul to the core and it still shocks me.” He likely posted the tweet because of the new sexual-assault allegations brought forth against Simmons.

Russell Simmons to Terry Crews: Give Your Assaulter a Pass