russell simmons faces no charges.people have very few heros to spare. not many of us get to the level of success of a russell simmons, which is why i was so proud of him. ♪ >> as cofounder of deaf jam recordings. russell simmons is considered a pillar of hip-hop culture, which he helped define from the earliest days through music and fashion. >> i have known russell for many years. you know, i met him in my early 20s. >> alexia knew russell before he was famous and said he raped her on their first and only date in 1991. >> this was a very swift attack. what was going through my mind more than anything was why. it was just why. because i liked russell. you know, i would have just kissed him. i would have made out with him. i would have -- he didn't have to attack me! >> what did he do? >> he raped me right up against the [ expletive ] wall. >> a number of women have alleged similar experiences with russell simmons for a documentary set to premier at the sun dance film festival at the end of the month. >> i hope that bl

i cannot be silenced by a russell simmons >> oprah says she believes the women featured in the film "on the record." >> i stand in support of these women >> reporter: but she also worries about inconsistencies in the stories and told the film makers she wanted changes and did want want to rush to premiere at the sun dance film festival. >> i thought some things were not right. i wanted more women brought into the story. >> reporter: that's correct shows oprah left the project after showing the project toava who gave a harsh critique >> fame and fortune are catalysts for untrue accusations >> reporter: in an open letter to oprah, he said "i have never been violent or forced myself on anyone." >> he has millions of followers. i have like a thousand and he is using all of that muscle to try to drown out our voices >> reporter: drew dixon is an accuser at the center of the new film after oprah's withdrawal, she told "the new york times" i am being silenced the most powerful black woman in the world is being intimidated. >> i do hope people will see the film >> make your own decisions abou

plus, she explains stepping away from a controversial russell simmons documentary.een, this is the "cbs morning news." tremfya® helps adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis uncover clearer skin that can last. in fact, tremfya® was proven superior to humira® in providing significantly clearer skin. tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a vaccine or plan to. serious allergic reactions may occur. tremfya®. uncover clearer skin that can last. janssen can help you explore cost support options. liz, you nerd, cough if you're in here! shhhh. i took mucinex dm for my phlegmy cough. what about rob's dry cough? works on that too. and last 12 hours. 12 hours? who studies that long?! mucinex dm relieves wet and dry coughs >>> our top stories this morning, president trump's impeachment trial in the senate kicks off today. before opening statements, there will be a debate over rules and possible new witnesses. meanwhile, mr. trump arrived in davos, switzerlan

stories of women with sexual harassment and in some cases assault allegations against hip-hop mogul russell simmons. the documentary titled "on the record," slated as one of winfrey's debut projects for apple tv plus, centered around drew dixon who told the new york times in 2017 that def jam co-founder simmons assaulted her in his apartment in 1995, while dixon was an executive assistant for the company. now, according to a source close to winfrey's team, oprah does believe the women, but the ultimate goal is to, quote, get it right with no rush to release the documentary. winfrey tells "the new york times" that simmons attempted to pressure her to abandon the project multiple times but that it was her own concerns, including possible inconsistencies with dixon's story, not simmons' protest, that led her to ultimately back out. initially in december simmons, who has not been charged with any crime and has denied any allegations of nonconsensual sex, took to instagram addressing winfrey in a letter quote it's so troubling you choose me to single out in your recent documentary. i have already admitt

i cannot be silenced by a russell simmons after all i've been through.rying to protect the girls at my school who had accused a dorm parent of sexual assault. three years on trial, and nobody believed them. >> it struck me as odd that some would accuse you of not standing f accused of you not sticking up for women, black women in particular. >> to me that is ridiculous. and also ridiculous to think i could be intimidated by russell simmons. yeah. >> or anyone. >> i don't think anyone. not at this point. i am about to turn 66, okay? >> that's the one thing you get when you turn 66. you know, people are saying that i was silenced. i am not silenced. i'm sitting on "cbs this morning," which is exactly the opposite of being silenced. i stand with the women. i hope people see the film even though -- and make their own decisions about it. >> can you stay around so we can unveil the book club? >> this is why i was here. n't wait. time ago. we rely on the internet more than ever. so why not get the most out of it? introducing faster download speeds on xfinity in

controversy comes after another for oprah earlier this month when she pulled out of a documentary with russell simmons with concerns it was being rushed to premiere at sundance >> i unequivocally say i did not pull out because of russell. >> reporter: now oprah says she plan to get people together from all sides to talk about the book on apple tv in march. >> i think it's going to allow us to open up the conversation i unexpected and i really hope meaningful ways. >> reporter: still, the backlash has not appeared to hurt sales. the book number one on amazon this week gabe gutierrez, nbc news, new york. >>> federal prosecutors overseeing the college admissions cheating scandal proposed today a series of trials for actress lori loughlin and her husband and other defendants loughlin would be in the first trial in october. >>> up next for us tonight, the crackdown on a popular hand sanitizer. i am running to defeat donald trump. in 2016 i warned that donald trump was a dangerous demagogue, and when the republican congress wouldn't hold him accountable, i went to work helping run winning campaigns in twent

documentary, "on the record," which focuses on sexual misconduct allegations against hip-hop mogul russell simmonsg to claims that she was pressured by simmons, but oprah says no one intimidated her. she thinks more work needs to be done to shine light on what the victims went through, and that is why she stepped aside. her team reiterating that the goal is to get right when it comes to these allegations. >> reporter: oprah winfrey bowing out as executive producer chronicling the of women with sexual harassment allegati allegations and in some cases assault allegations against hip-hop mogul russell simmons. titled "on the record" for apple tv plus, centered around drew dickson who told "the times" in 2017 a woman was assaulted while dickson was an executive. oprah believes the women, but she wants to get it right with no rush to release the documentary. it was reported that simmons pressured her, but it was her own concerns, including inconsistency with allegations and not simmons' protest that led her to ultimately back out. initially in december, simmons who has not been charged with any crime a

another for oprah earlier this month when she pulled out of a documentary about allegations agains russell simmons over concerns it was being rushed to premiere at sundance >> i unequivocally say i did not pull out because of russell. >> reporter: now oprah says she plans to ge people together from all sides to talk about the book on apple tv in march. >> i think it's going to allow us to open up the conversation i unexpected and i really hope meaningful ways. >> reporter: still, the backlash has not appeared to hurt sales. the book number one on amazon this week gabe gutierrez, nbc news, new york. >>> ra the college admissions cheating scandal proposed today a series of trials fortress lori and her husband and other defendants loughlin would be in the first trial in october. >>> up next for us tonight, the crackdown on a popular hand sanitizer. my gums are irritated. i don't have to worry about that, do i? harmful bacteria lurk just below the gum line. crest gum detoxify, voted product of the year. it works below the gum line to neutralize harmful plaque bacteria and help reverse early gum damage

tonight oprah winfrey is defending her decision to pull out of a documentary about hip-hop icon russell simmons. the film center as round rape allegations against simmons. winfrey says she believes the women in the film but told filmmakers she was worried about inconsistencies in their stories and didn't want to rush the project to premiere at sundance. "the new york times" reports winfrey left the project after showing the film to her friend, famed director ava duvernay, who gave it a harsh critique. one accuser said after winfr pulled out of the project, she felt silenced. the film is still making its debut at sundance this weekend. >>> if you dread getting in your car, it is no wonder. your drive home is officially one of the worst in the united states. a new study by wallet hub on the best states to drive in has california coming in close to last. it is 47th out of 50 states. traffic isn't the only thing making the drive bad. poor road conditions, gas prices, car thefts, all of that contributed to california's place on that list. >> we saw an average of 97 hours of an individual's time ever

. >>> accusing russell simmons, first on cbs this morning. three women explain in a tv interview assaulted them and wh they're suffering for

>> on the record, the documentary about the rape accusations about your brother, music mogul russell simmonsnything you want to say about it? >> no. i'm here talking about my lovely marriage. i don't want to focus on any of that. [ applause ] >> have you spoken to him about it? >> i speak to him, but i don't talk about that stuff. i'm doing the grammys and doing my thing. i can't focus on negativity at all. i'm a positive guy and i don't want to get into it. [ applause ] >> well, so you really clutch your pearls when he sees you naked? >> i, like, cover up. >> keeping it fresh. >> you know, that makes him want to see. i see him sometimes kind of looking because i don't just h tts -- >> it's not right out there. >> exactly. >> okay. >> you get used to it. >> it's the alley-oop for the night, you know? keep going. give me the alley-oop. uh-huh. >> he took me to victoria's secret the other day. >> i did. >> he was picking out things on the hanger. >> just seeing the beauty of it is he'll be developing cataracts soon so he won't be able to see anything. it will be a beautiful thing. >> we talk a

i cannot be silenced by a russell simmons. >> why attack sanders? >> why, why, why?>> it is. american dirt bike. >> what was it like the moment you got a phone call from oprah? >> i think i said this is not oprah winfrey right now. she said, yes it is. ♪ it's oprah >> it's time for wonder why. >> 15-year-old coco gauff with a victory. >> the oldest woman in the draw. >> i'm also 39. threw my back out changing a diaper. >> i ask all of my british friends what do you think about harry and meghan? >> we've made them an offer to appear on "star trek." >> harry and meghan? >> you're not kidding. >> oh, come on. >> wow. >> in our road to the grammy series we're hanging out with some of this year's nominees. what's your name? >> what's my name? >> what's your name? >> here i am with a freaking grammy nomination. >> took a dna test. turns out --iz lzope hapned in middle school. we'd put "o" on the end of our names. you'd be gayle-o. >> just add an "o" to everything. >> what a man got to do. ♪ >> a lot of people very happy you're back on stage. >> we are the most happy to see