Credit: Roger Wong/INSTARimages
Kimora Lee Simmons has made her reality TV comeback with Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane. Now, the beloved fashion designer is opening up about being approached for Real Housewives, not having a relationship with the fathers of her kids, and responding to her ex, Russell Simmons.
Kimora, 50, has a long history in entertainment. She started as a model, and she later launched her fashion line, Baby Phat. Additionally, she starred in the reality series Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane. She married Russell, 68, in 1998, but the couple divorced in 2009. She later married Tim Leissner, 54, but they divorced in 2022.
The mother of five was recently on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, where she was asked whether she would ever consider joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She said, “They ask a lot. That’s why we’re here, probably.”
@notskinnybutnotfat Kimora Lee Simmons on RHOBH?! #kimoraleesimmons #enews #nsbnf #podcastclips #rhobh
Kimora then said, “Another reason why I’ve chosen to go this way. There’s a lot of information saying like ‘come back to TV, or the fabulous family, or bring back the fabulocity,’ so I know it’s a thing.”
The host then mentioned the drama that comes from Housewives. Kimora responded, “I do know all of that, which is another reason that we got here to Life in the Fab Lane, because I didn’t wanna go do the Housewives, and people wanted me to go on there on TV like that, and I didn’t wanna, like, fight these girls.”
She also stated that she didn’t want to have “manufactured drama,” before admitting that the drama isn’t always staged on Housewives shows.
In other Kimora news, she recently said in an interview that she doesn’t have a relationship with the fathers of her children. Notably, she has two daughters with Russell, a son with actor Djimon Hounsou, another son with Tim, and a bonus son from Jamaica.
Russell didn’t take too kindly to what Kimora had to say. He said on Threads, “I gave u 50,000 a month for 20 years. I was ur best /only friend. I’m the godfather to your other 3 kids, until one day you stole my stock. I have been fighting for my kids love and my bread ever since. You threatened that if I sued you, I would never speak to my kids again. There are two sides to every story.”
Russell Simmons responds to Kimora | Threads
This led Kimora to respond on her social media. She said, “My ‘girls’ are GROWN WOMEN! You know these are lies. Why are you typing from thousands of miles away in a non-extradition country? Go negotiate and Answer Your Accusers.”
Kimora responds to Russell on her Instagram Stories | Screenshot
Regarding Russell’s claim that Kimora stole his stock, he has accused her of doing so to pay Tim’s legal and bail fees stemming from a prior money laundering case. He claims they transferred four million of his shares of the energy drink company Celsius. According to PEOPLE, he sued the couple in 2021.
It’s also important to note that Russell has been living in Bali since 2017, after he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. As Kimora stated, Bali is a non-extradition country, meaning he can avoid U.S.-based lawsuits by living there. Reports from January 2025 say he owes his accusers around $8 million.
Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane airs on Tuesday nights on E!.