Russell Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, expressed his love for his daughter, Aoki Lee Simmons, in a heartfelt message following the publication of photos showing her kissing 65-year-old restaurateur Vittorio Assaf. Fans were surprised by Russell’s support of his daughter’s relationship with someone almost his age. Russell was previously married to Aoki’s mother, Kimora Lee Simmons, for eleven years and they share an 18-year age gap.
While Russell appeared to be trying to be supportive, Kimora Lee Simmons seemed to have a more combative reaction to her daughter’s relationship with Assaf. She shared a cryptic post on Instagram suggesting that she is not cool with the May-December romance between Aoki and Assaf. Russell has had tension with his children over the years, which may explain why he is attempting to avoid creating conflict with his daughters.
In June 2023, Aoki’s older sister, Ming Lee Simmons, paid tribute to her mother on Father’s Day instead of her father, which led Russell to make a comment on his Instagram Story about fathers fighting to see their children. Aoki also got involved, posting messages accusing her father of being awful to her for years. She shared a muted video of Russell yelling at her, but he later apologized for his behavior.
Despite the public reactions from her parents, Aoki has not commented on her relationship with Assaf. The couple debuted their romance during a vacation in St. Bart’s, where they were seen passionately kissing, swimming together, and posing for photos. Aoki usually keeps her dating life private, and the end of Assaf’s marriage to model Charlotte Bonstrom in 2021 was a scandal. After the split, Assaf began dating 24-year-old model Nya Gatbel.
Although there has been no public comment from Aoki about her relationship, her parents have made their feelings known. Russell’s message of love for his daughter and Kimora’s cryptic post suggest conflicting perspectives on the May-December relationship between Aoki and Assaf. Despite their past tensions, Russell and Kimora both seem to want the best for their daughter, even if they disagree on what that may be. Aoki has kept her dating life private in the past and has not commented on her relationship with Assaf publicly.
