Russell Simmons has been sharing photos of his 21-year-old daughter, Aoki Lee Simmons, following her recent public display of affection with 65-year-old restaurateur Vittorio Assaf. The co-founder of Def Jam Recordings took to his Instagram Story to post throwback pictures of Aoki and her 24-year-old sister, Ming Lee Simmons, over the weekend.
In one black-and-white photo captioned 'Happy Sunday,' the siblings are seen as children. Russell also shared a recent picture of the two girls along with an inspirational quote encouraging positivity in every situation.
Aoki's trip to the Caribbean with Assaf has sparked controversy due to their significant age difference. Russell previously expressed his support for Aoki through social media, reminiscing about past moments with his daughters and expressing his love for them.
The relationship between Russell and his daughters has had its ups and downs. Last summer, Ming Lee paid tribute to her mother on Father's Day, prompting a response from Russell questioning the challenges he faced in seeing his children.
Aoki later criticized her father publicly, alleging mistreatment over the years. Russell apologized for his actions, acknowledging his past behavior.
Aoki, a Harvard University graduate and emerging model, has largely kept her personal life private. Assaf, who was previously married to Charlotte Bonstrom, has not publicly addressed his new relationship with Aoki.
In an Instagram Live video, Aoki referred to Assaf as her 'boyfriend,' a term that has raised eyebrows among fans who have described the situation as 'creepy' and 'disturbing.'
