3 women accuse hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons of rape

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Three women have told the New York Times that music mogul Russell Simmons raped them.

Simmons released a statement in response to what he described as "these horrific accusations," insisting that all his relations have been consensual.

"I am blessed to have shared extraordinary relationships, whether through work or love, with many great women; and I have enormous respect for the women's movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power," the statement added. "I am devastated by any reason I may have given to anyone to say or think of me in the ways that are currently being described."

The accusations, published in an article by the Times on Wednesday, stem from the 1980s and 1990s. Drew Dixon claimed Simmons raped her in his New York apartment in 1995. Another woman, Tina Baker, accused the Def Jam co-founder of raping her when he was her manager in the early '90s. Music journalist Toni Salle said Simmons raped her in his apartment in 1988.

Late last month, Simmons said he was stepping away from his companies following what at the time was a second allegation of sexual misconduct.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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