Def Jam founder and CEO Russell Simmons has stepped down from the top role at his rap label and its sister company Rush Communications, after a sexual harassment claim was made against him today in the form of an open letter published in the Hollywood Reporter by screenwriter Jenny Lumet (daughter of filmmaker Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of singer Lena Horne).

Lumet wrote a guest column in the entertainment industry publication claiming Simmons forced her to have sex with him in 1991 when she was 24 after the two had been friends and after Simmons had pursued her romantically and she had rebuffed him.

An excerpt from her open letter reads:

"I didn’t recognize you at that moment. It was disorienting. It was disorienting. I say it twice, now, because you said “No” twice, then.

I couldn’t open the doors. I couldn’t open the windows. The car was moving. The driver did not stop. He did not take me to 19th Street. He took me to your apartment.

I didn’t try to kick the windows out. I didn’t punch or kick. I didn’t say “What are you doing?” My voice left me after the second 'No.'"

Lumet eloquently explains the fallout since that fateful day and how telling her story is a risk, but not as much for her as for other women less fortunate:

"I have built a life in the past 25 years, and a reputation in my industry. I need no one to have this visualization of me. I will, like the others, lose work because of this. I realize how privileged I am to be able to risk that. I have children. I’m aware that every mistake, act of thoughtlessness, hypocrisy or cruelty I’ve committed in my 50 years will be excavated, and they’ll see all of it.

There is so much guilt, and so much shame. There is an excruciating internal reckoning. As a woman of color, I cannot express how wrenching it is to write this about a successful man of color. Again, shame about who I was years ago, choices made years ago. In this very moment, I feel a pang to protect your daughters. I don’t think you are inclined to protect mine."

Simmons released a statement Thursday announcing he'd step down from his companies in response to Lumet's claim -- and to another claim made by model Keri Claussen Khalighi reported in the Los Angeles Times on November 19th to which Simmons replied, "I have never committed any acts of aggression or violence in my life. I would never knowingly cause fear or harm to anyone.”

Now, Simmons is singing a different tune, responding to Lumet's claim with this:

"I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet's recollection about our night together in 1991," Simmons said in a statement. "I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described. While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real. While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize.

This is a time of great transition. The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard. As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don't want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded. The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward. I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing. As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening."

We can't imagine the fallout he's dealing with.

Matt Lauer has broken his silence and issued a statement following his firing from the Today show after alleged sexual misconduct, and former co-host Savannah Guthrie read it aloud on-air this morning.

"There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC," he began.

"Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly," he continued.

"Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full time job. The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws. It’s been humbling. I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace," he concluded.

We have so many questions! Who will replace him? Will his wife Annette Roque leave him? What is he going to do next? How many more accusers will come forward? Guess we'll have to wait and see!

He might have been unfaithful, but nobody expected him to be a predator.

Matt Lauer's firing has caught everyone from his co-workers to regular fans by surprise, but slowly details are spilling out that reveal his true character. Specifically, sources say it was a well-known fact the TV anchor was unfaithful to wife Annette Roque throughout their 19 year marriage.

"He regularly cheated on his wife. Everyone knew. His wife lives in the Hamptons and he lives in the city, but we never heard he made unwanted moves," a source told People.

A Today show staffer corroborated those claims, but said that the sexual misconduct allegations are totally out of the blue and very unexpected.

"Everyone on staff knew he cheated regularly on his wife. That wasn’t a secret, but sexual [misconduct] is a shock. He was friendly and approachable with everyone, and was very well-liked," the staffers explained.

It sounds like Lauer used his power to woo the ladies, too, as "there was most definitely more than one affair and "they were never with anyone whom [Lauer] didn’t have significant seniority over," according to insiders.

"He wasn’t a lech and he wasn’t known as someone who would corner you or retaliate against you if you spurned him or someone who would lure you into his dressing room," the source insisted.

Lauer's wife filed for divorce in 2006, but they decided to reconcile.

Celebs have taken to social media to share their feelings on Lauer's scandal, and it sounds like nobody feels very sorry for him.

"HMMMMM INTERESTING…..THIS MIGHT EXPLAIN THE HOSTILE INTERVIEW WHILE I WAS TRYING 2 EXPOSE THE #TRUTH….EH MATT?” Corey Feldman wrote."Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Matt Lauer. "Today Show" #ROSEARMY," Rose McGowan said. "Matt Lauer has been on my list for a while. It’s really too bad more Americans don’t come to my shows. I pretty much recite the list in every show. Haha. I told you, my memory is long, my friends. I’ve been around a long time..." Kathy Griffin bragged.

Even our President is throwing in his two cents, even though he's the worst sexual predator of them all!

"Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack’s past!" he tweeted, referring to the NBC Chairman who ultimately gave Lauer the boot.

If this #MeToo movement isn't teaching men to keep it in their pants, we don't know what is!

He must just be smiling on the inside.

Kanye West hit the studio last night and was gracious enough to sign some autographs for young fans on the way out, and we have a feeling his good mood is the result of ending his feud with Jay-Z.

Hova just broke his silence about their beef, and admitted that although the past few months have been rough, he'll always have love for 'Ye.

"I [talked to] Kanye the other day, just to tell him, like, he’s my brother. I love Kanye. I do,. It’s a complicated relationship with us," he said during an interview with T: The New York Times Styles Magazine.

"Kanye came into this business on my label. So I’ve always been like his big brother. And we’re both entertainers. It’s always been like a little underlying competition with your big brother. And we both love and respect each other’s art, too. So it’s like, we both — everyone wants to be the greatest in the world. You know what I’m saying? And then there’s like a lot of other factors that play in it. But … we gonna always be good," he continued.

"But that happens. In the long relationship, you know, hopefully when we’re 89 we look at this six months or whatever time and we laugh at that. There’s gonna be complications in the relationship that we have to get through. And the only way to get through that is we sit down and have a dialogue and say, ‘These are the things that I’m uncomfortable with. These are the things that are unacceptable to me. This is what I feel.’ I’m sure he feels that I’ve done things to him as well. … I’m not a perfect human being by no stretch," he concluded.

Now the bigger question - are Kim and Beyonce cool again, too?

We're still in shock.

Matt Lauer's firing came after a female NBC colleague went to the network heads and told them the TV host sexually assaulted her back in 2014 during their coverage of the Sochi Olympics, Page Six reports.

"This happened so quickly. She didn’t go to the media, she made a complaint to NBC’s human resources, and her evidence was so compelling that Matt was fired on Tuesday night. The victim says she has evidence that this has also happened to other women, but so far we don’t have evidence of that," a source dished to the site.

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb fought back tears as they made the announcement on Today this morning, but Megyn Kelly didn't seem quite so broken up about it on her own show.

"This one does hit close to home. I, too, have known Matt for a long time. He has been a friend, and kind and supportive to me and my transition to NBC News. I see the anguish on my colleagues’ faces. But when this happens, what we don’t see is the pain on the faces of those who’ve found the courage to come forward. And that is a terrifying thing to do. We don’t see the career opportunities women lose because of sexual harassment or the intense stress it causes a woman dealing with it when she comes to work each day. I am thinking of those women this morning and hoping they are okay. The days to come will not be easy," she told the audience.

"We are in the middle of a seed change in this country, an empowerment revolution in which women who for years have felt they had no choice but to simply deal with being harassed at work are now starting to picture another reality, to feel that change is within their grasp. As painful as this moment is for so many here at NBC today, at CBS earlier this month, at Fox News over the last year, in Hollywood this fall, it is a sign of progress, of women finding their voices, their courage, and of the erosion of a shameful power imbalance that has been in place for far too long," she added.

Lauer has yet to respond to the allegations.

We didn't see this coming!

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie still aren't officially divorced despite being separated for more than 15 months, and that's because Angie is dragging her feet in hopes of reconciling, Life & Style reports. The bad news? The War Machine star isn't interested in that!

The A-list hunk has reportedly been telling friends there are "a million reasons" why he would never get back with his estranged wife, and that he thinks he's better off without her.

The now-sober actor just wants the whole ordeal to be over, and is doing his very best to make that happen.

"In hopes of getting Angie to sign off on the divorce, Brad started throwing huge financial settlement offers at her lawyer," a source dished to the mag, adding that Angie rejected every single offer.

Not only that, but the father-of-six now thinks that leaving Jen Aniston for Angelina was a bonehead move!

"He’s come to realize that leaving Jen for Angelina was one of the biggest mistakes of his life. And while he’s not in love with Jen, he realizes how much he does love her. Brad keeps telling friends that he’s seeing everything more clearly," another source told In Touch.

We wonder when either of them are going to start dating?

Fun night out with grandma!

Kris Jenner took grandkids North, Penelope, and Reign to see Coco at the movie theater last night in LA, and it seems like the momager wanted to give Kim and Kourtney the night off. She's going to be even busier with babysitting when three more babies are added to the ever growing brood!

It's unlikely we're going to see Kylie before she gives birth, as sources are saying she's really struggling with her expanding waistline as she preps to welcome her first kid with boyfriend Travis Scott.

"Her body is changing and she’s very self-conscious about it. She’s always been insecure that she’s not as curvy or pretty as her sisters," a source dished to People.

Still, the LipKit queen is over the moon about welcoming her little one, and so is her rapper beau.

"Travis is so excited about the baby. They’re both trying to enjoy this time for themselves and keep it private as long as they can. They know it’s going to be a frenzy when they do come out. Travis is crazy about Kylie and he feels so lucky to have her and the baby. The family has been welcoming — they know how important it is to Kylie that everyone gets along," the source added.

Kris is going to be one busy lady juggling all her new clients!

WATCH: Here are TODAY's headlines on this Wednesday morning pic.twitter.com/opzA3IcYmP

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 29, 2017

Another one bites the dust! And another one does and another one does ...

Today's disgraced male ... Matt Lauer! NBC has fired the veteran journalist amid after a single allegation of sexual misconduct was presented to network bosses. There were a few more details in a company email:

"Dear colleagues, on Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer,” the email read. “It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident. Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected and to ensure that any actions that run counter to our core values are met with consequences, no matter who the offender. We are deeply saddened by this turn of events."

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb broke the news to viewers as they held hands and tried to hold back tears. Guthrie said, "We are devastated. All we can say is we are heartbroken."

Lauer, 59, had been the foundation of the morning show for more than two decades. He was informed of the network's decision late Tuesday night. A spokesperson for Lauer said the journalist has no comment at this time. Guthrie and Kotb were awoken even earlier than their usual early-morning call time to be given the news. Kobt commented, "We were both woken up with the news kind of predawn. And we're trying to process it and make sense of it. And it will take some time for that."

The network was aware that The New York Times and Variety had been conducting months-long investigations about several sexual misconduct allegations against the reporter and that damaging stories would soon be published. NBC News chairman Andrew Lack said in an early-morning memo to staff that the complaint was filed on Monday night and that it was the first complaint against Lauer during his decades at the network but that, "we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."

Stay tuned to The New York Times for this one ...