The New York Times and Los Angeles Times report that four women have accused Simmons of rape in incidents spanning from 1983 to 1996, with five other women describing episodes of sexual misconduct, some as recently as 2016. The alleged incidents followed a similar pattern described in the earlier encounters, in which Simmons reportedly used his power and influence to assert his dominance over women and lure them into compromised situations where he sexually assaulted them. Former music journalist Toni Sallie said she casually dated Simmons after meeting him on assignment in 1987. Sallie described Simmons inviting her to a purported party in his apartment, where she said he raped her; a year later she said she had to physically fight off his advances at a hotel room during a music conference in Florida.