Russell Simmons has broken his silence about his 21-year-old daughter Aoki Lee Simmons dating 65-year-old restaurateur Vittorio Assaf, 65.
Aoki – who told DailyMail.com last week she wanted to ‘grow’ as a model – and Vittorio shocked fans when they were spotted kissing in their swimwear on the beach in St Barts last week.
It started a fierce viral debate about age gaps in relationships and how much is too much as Aoki is young enough to be Vittorio’s granddaughter.
‘I’m not gonna kick and scream about her choices,’ said the Def Jam mogul to TMZ on Monday.
The former husband of Aoki’s mother, model and designer Kimora Lee Simmons, added: ‘All I can do is offer my advice and unconditional love.’
Russell Simmons has broken his silence about his 21-year-old daughter Aoki Lee Simmons dating 65-year-old restaurateur Vittorio Assaf, 65. Seen in 2014
Aoki and Vittorio shocked fans when they were spotted kissing in their swimwear on the beach in St Barts last week
Aoki and 44-years her senior Assaf kissed while in swimsuits in St Barts
Russell also said his daughter warned him of her romance a day before the photos surfaced.
Russell and Kimora were wed from 1998 until 2009.
Aoki is Kimora’s youngest daughter she shares with her first husband. She also shares daughter Ming, 24, with Russell.
She has other kids, too: The fashion designer shares sons Kenzo, 14, and Wolfe, nearly nine, with exes Djimon Hounsou and Tim Leissner, respectively. With Leissner, she adopted her son Gary, 14, in 2020.
Russell shared a throwback photo of Aoki after the pictures came out.
The record exec posted a throwback photo with his daughter from June 2022 and shared a heartfelt message about his ‘unconditional love’ for her.
He recalled that they had an ‘all-around amazing day’ last Father’s Day — the day before a video went viral showing him berating his daughter during a disturbing FaceTime call and making her cry — and enjoyed a jam-packed day with yoga class, vegan lunch and cryotherapy.
‘Throw back from last fathers day nyc …bode bikram yoga express class .. vegan lunch cryotherapy vitamin drip … all around amazing day,’ he wrote in the caption and tagged his daughter. ‘love you always im always waiting for any call any time.’
It started a fierce viral debate about age gaps in relationships and how much is too much
‘I’m not gonna kick and scream about her choices,’ said the Def Jam mogul to TMZ on Monday. The former husband of Aoki’s mother, model and designer Kimora Lee Simmons, added: ‘All I can do is offer my advice and unconditional love’
Russell posted a throwback photo with his daughter from June 2022 and shared a heartfelt message about his ‘unconditional love’ for her
Kimora, 48, reposted a since-deleted video of a mother panda furiously pulling away her baby cub with her teeth and wrote: ‘On my last nerve right now!’
Assaf is a known New York City personality. He owns the Serafina Restaurant Group.
He grew up in Milan, Italy where he studied hard: first with a degree in Political Science then he studied Law at the University of Urbino.
Assaf spent eight years on the floor of Milan’s Stock Exchange then came to New York in the eighties.
Assaf opened Café Candiotti in 1985, which became a hot spot and now runs the Serafina Restaurant Group.
Here Aoki is seen in St Barts; the photo was likely taken by her new boyfriend
Kimora, 48, reposted a since-deleted video of a mother panda furiously pulling away her baby cub with her teeth and wrote: ‘On my last nerve right now!’ Seen in 2022
Here is the post with the cuddly mama bear and her cub
It is not known how long she and the restauranteur have been romantically involved, but a source close to the model revealed to People that the pair had met while vacationing in St. Barths.
‘Aoki and Vittorio are spending time together and enjoying each others’ company,’ the insider told the outlet.
As they enjoyed their couple’s getaway at what is reportedly a favorite destination for the Simmons family, the Serafina restaurant chain co-founder was taking photos of Aoki and documenting their day at the beach.
The couple both took to Instagram to share snaps from their vacation but did not post any photos of each other.
Aoki is Kimora’s youngest daughter she shares with her first husband Russell — with whom she was married from 1998 to 2009. She also shares daughter Ming, 24, with her ex-husband; seen in July 2005
The Milan-born businessman was previously married to former model Charlotte Bonstrom and made headlines in 2021 when they split.
At the time, he confirmed to Page Six that his now-ex was having an affair with her twin sister’s ex-husband Thierry Gillier.
‘Charlotte and I are in the process of getting divorced — she wants to get remarried,’ Assaf explained.
‘[She] is getting married to Thierry Gillier, the ex-husband of her sister.’
Assaf and Bonstrom were married for more than 20 years and share two kids — Vittorio Jr., 21, and Valentina, 17.
The entrepreneur was most recently linked 22-year-old model Nya Gatbe in the summer of 2023.
Last week Aoki talked exclusively to DailyMail.com but did not mention her new lover.
Simmons was modeling for BCBG New York, bringing her all to the visuals for the Spring Summer 2024 capsule for BCBG Group.
The star talked to DailyMail.com about BCBG New York: ‘I had a great time on the shoot!’ Aoki shared. ‘The full creative team was a pleasure to work with and the views from our location are what NY is all about.’
She added that she has been wearing the brand for many years. ‘I have been such a long time fan of the brand! I have been stealing my mom’s BCBG dresses for every event under the sun, so was super excited when they approached me for this project,’ said the star.
Simmons brought bringing her all to the visuals for the Spring Summer 2024 capsule for BCBG Group. The star talked to DailyMail.com about BCBG New York: ‘I had a great time on the shoot!’ Aoki told DailyMail.com
She added that she has been wearing the brand for many years. ‘I have been such a long time fan of the brand! I have been stealing my mom’s BCBG dresses for every event under the sun, so was super excited when they approached me for this project,’ said the star. Mom seen for Fendi in 1992
So far she has been enjoying modeling.
‘It’s an interesting business because everyone has their own career. No two models are ever quite alike or go down the same path. I get excited about fashion and clothing, but I also love to travel and meet new people.
‘My goal is to learn and grow as I navigate my own path through this business, and have a lot of fun doing it.’
Aoki also said mom Kimora has been a role model.
When asked how mom has inspired her, she answered: ‘Let me count the ways! Honestly, there are so many things that I look up to her for, but if I had to pick one it might be her ability of self-reliance.
‘She has a confidence that even if she doesn’t know the answer to something right now, she knows how to figure it out. That’s inspiring.’
As far as plans to design one day she said: ‘Never say never, but perhaps just not yet.’
