Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 27 January 2020

Simmons doc, sans Oprah, receives

huge ovation at Sundance

were Sherri Hines, a mem-
ber of the all-female hip-
hop group Mercedes La-
dies who alleged that Sim-
mons raped her in his office
in the early 1980s; and Sil
Lai Abrams, who has said
Simmons raped her in 1994.
The premiere was for Dix-
on, Hines and Abrams an
emotional culmination of a
painful two weeks. In an in-
terview the following morn-
ing, Hines said Winfrey's
withdrawal from the film
"was a hard blow because
I looked up to her."
"The past 15 days have
Sil Lai Abrams, from back left, director Amy Ziering, director
Kirby Dick, Drew Dixon, bottom left, and Sheri Hines pose for a been traumatic," said Dix-
portrait to promote the film "On the Record" at the Music Lodge on. "Definitely lots of extra
during therapy sessions. Lots of
Associated Press anxiety. Lots of physical
manifestations of anxiety.
By JAKE COYLE miere, Ziering thanked Sun- Not a lot of sleep. Not how I
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — dance "for standing strong wanted to prepare for Sun-
Without Oprah or Apple, and never blinking." dance."
the Russell Simmons docu- "On the Record" is cen- Abrams said Winfrey's ab-
mentary "On the Record" tered on the story of Drew sence, in the end, didn't
went ahead with its pre- Dixon, a former music ex- matter.
miere Saturday at the Sun- ecutive for Def Jam Re- "What's important is that
dance Film Festival, where cordings, the record label the film premiered without
the women who came co-founded by Simmons. It her and it has gotten great
forward with sexual assault chronicles her decision to reviews," said Abrams. "And
allegations against the hip- come forward and go on more importantly, we're
hop mogul received one of the record in a 2017 New here and we're telling our
the festival's most roaring York Times article, along stories."
receptions. with numerous other wom- In the crowd in Park City
The lead-up to Sundance en, in accusing Simmons of was the actress Rosanna
was especially rocky for harassment and rape. Arquette, who has ac-
"On the Record." Oprah Simmons has denied any cused Harvey Weinstein
Winfrey, an executive pro- wrongdoing. The filmmak- of sexual harassment. Ar-
ducer, on Jan. 10 withdrew ers said he declined to be quette stood up during the
from the film because she interviewed for the film. Q&A to salute the women
felt it needed more re- More than a dozen other in the film. "I'm so proud of
porting. Her exit, which women, many of whom you," she said.
stunned the directors, Kirby also appear in "On the Re- "On the Record" also delves
Dick and Amy Ziering, also cord," have also come for- into the place black wom-
meant "On the Record" no ward with allegations of as- en have in the #MeToo
longer had a distributor in sault or harassment against movement and the racial
Apple TV Plus. Simmons. Along with Dixon, dimensions of sexual as-
Ahead of the film's pre- in attendance Saturday sault. q