Woman accusing Russell Simmons, A.J. Calloway of sexual assault says NBC killed her story

Sil Lai Abrams, author and author of Domestic Violence, says she believes that NBC tried to silence her when she accused Russell Simmons of rape and "Extra" AJ host Calloway of sexual assault. Abrams approached MSNBC's Joy Reid to report the story, but in private text conversations, Reid told Abrams that the network was "slowly walking" the story and backing it with "stupid" requests.

Abrams spoke to the Hollywood Reporter about how his story was "silenced" when NBC killed the report. She said that after filming an interview with Reid in January, followed by months of follow-up questions from the network, Reid told him in April that the network was no longer answering his questions about when the segment would be broadcast. They finally passed on the story. Reid told THR: "I shared this frustration with Sil Lai inappropriately and I fully respect the standards and practices of MSNBC, but careful research to get it right was the only option, especially considering the seriousness of the allegations. "

A MSNBC spokesperson told THR that Abrams' story did not meet their expectations:" When MSNBC is pursuing an investigation, our mission is still d & # 39; To be as thorough as possible, to scrutinize the sources and corroborate the information before reporting them to our journalistic standards. "

Abrams said that she felt emboldened by the #MeToo motion to present her story about the time in 1994 when she said that Simmons had raped her. She went to Reid, a professional acquaintance, in November

"I needed to tell my story, to say her name aloud, to let people know what it was like." had done, "said Abrams. She said that she tried to commit suicide the day after the alleged assault; she said that she swallowed a bottle of pills with wine, called Simmons and said, "I hope you know for the rest of your life that you've made me kill myself." " She said that in 1998, Simmons apologized to her and said, "I'm sorry about what I've done, I'm a different person now." Simmons has completely denied history, including raping Abrams, receiving the threat of suicide and apologizing. Four sources told THR that Abrams had told them about the alleged rape immediately after that happened. One of these sources, Abrams's friend, Carol Ingram, said she worried for Abrams the day after the alleged rape and that her ex-husband was watching her. . He told THR that he had found Abrams crying and almost "catatonic" and had taken her to the hospital.

Abrams provided MSNBC with a copy of its 1994 hospital bill from the suicide attempt in addition to answering further questions about the alleged rape.

And Simmons was not the only celebrity Abrams accused of aggression. Abrams, who was a role model, said that "Extra" host AJ Calloway grabbed her hand and masturbated her in 2006. Calloway was arrested and charged with forced contact and attempted sexual misconduct, but the case was dismissed for procedural reasons, according to court orders Abrams showed THR.

Calloway's representative told THR, "These ten-year allegations are false, they were false when they were made and are false now." Mr Calloway has fully cooperated with law enforcement from the beginning, refuted the allegations. completely rejected in November 2007. After the rejection of the case, the court records were sealed as a matter of law and are no longer available. "

Abrams told THR that she had written about the two assaults in her 2007 book" No More Drama "using pseudonyms for Simmons and Calloway.

Her accusation that NBC and MSNBC l & # "Silenced" comes after critics against the network for forwarding Ronan Farrow's report on Harvey Weinstein – which was published by The New Yorker and won a Pulitzer Prize . also been the subject of close examination about the treatment of charges against the former anchor "Today" Matt Lauer .