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Only In Hollywood—A “Unique” Celebrity Relationship

Call me old-fashioned… or a prude. Call me anything you want, and while you’re at it could you please explain to me how some celebrity couples continuously get away with redefining the definition of marriage.

Case in point: Mega-mogul Russell Simmons and his estranged wife Kimora Lee Simmons. The couple went public several months ago with the news that they had separated, BUT were still living under the same roof, raising their children together, and working side-by-side one another (Kimora heads the Baby Phat offshoot of Simmons’s Phat Farm clothing label). So to recap: they work together, parent together, and live together—yet they are separated. Separated from what? It certainly seems they aren’t physically separated from each other. Then again…

According to PEOPLE magazine, Kimora Lee Simmons has been spending a lot of time recently with Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou. In fact, the magazine reports the 31-year-old model-turned-fashion-designer and the 42-year-old actor have been spotted holding hands, kissing, and snuggling at various L.A. hot spots.

A rep for Kimora is keeping mum. However, there is someone who’s talking about the budding romance between the two—Russell Simmons.

Kimora’s “estranged” husband (did I mention the pair still live together) had this to say about Hounsou:

“He’s a wonderful guy, a very sweet guy. I want Kimora to be happy no matter what.”

Simmons wouldn’t detail the pair’s romantic status, but did say: “I don’t know what they’re doing, but he’s a nice guy. She’d better be happy. He’s one of the sweetest guys in the world.”

Okay, let me try to read between the lines here.

Simmons: “I want Kimora to be happy no matter what.”

Translation: “Djimon, please, propose to her so I can get her out of my house.”

Simmons: “I don’t know what they’re doing, but he’s a nice guy.”

Translation: “Brother, she’s all yours.”

Simmons met Kimora when she was 17 and about to finish high school, the rap mogul was then 35 and a self-admitted ladies man. The pair married six years later and had two daughters, Ming Lee Simmons, now 6, and Aoki Lee Simmons, who’s 3. Last year the couple “separated” and Simmons released this statement:

“We’re best friends and partners. Kimora and I will remain committed parents and caring friends with great love and admiration for each other. We will also continue to work side by side on a daily basis as partners in all of our businesses.”

Okay, let’s review: Russell and Kimora are “best friends,” “committed parents,” and “business partners” who have “great love and admiration for each other.” YET, they are separated… and dating other people, BUT they live under the same roof (I should qualify that by saying they live in a 20,000 square-foot mansion—-so they could be living under the same roof, but in different wings).

Perhaps, it’s just easier this way. Divorces can be so messy—-especially when you are business partners of a multi-million dollar company. Though, what I think is even messier is explaining to a six-and-three-year-old why it’s okay that mommy and daddy are kissing other people…

Related Articles:

The Hollywood Split That Makes You Go Hmmm?

Hollywood’s Relationship Carousel

Celebrity Activists Go “Red” and “Green”

Are They Or Aren’t They?

This entry was posted in Celebrity Relationships and tagged , , , , by Michele Cheplic. Bookmark the permalink.

About Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.