Aoki Lee Simmons Gets Accepted To Harvard University At 16

BY Erika Marie 11.3K Views
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Aoki Lee Simmons, Ming Lee Simmons
Congrats to the teen!

Earlier this month, 16-year-old Aoki Simmons tearfully took to her Instagram Live to share her struggles with her high school classmates. The daughter of Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons revealed that she was the victim of racist attacks by a white male student who would say things like "N***r, are you on crack or something?" According to Aoki, her school refused to punish the student and he continued to harass her.

"I'm so over people at my school being racist and no one doing anything about it," she said as she cried in the video. "I go to school to work. I don't even talk to these people because I'm busy. I'm trying to go to Yale. I'm trying to go to Harvard. I don't have time for you!"

The teenager's hard work has paid off because she was back on Instagram today to share a few more tears, this time documenting the moment she found out that she had been accepted to Harvard University. "I’m only 16 and I’m going to Harvard baby!" Aoki wrote. "Insert emotional crying face. @kimoraleesimmons 'thank god you got in on your own honey cause you can’t row' 😂😂😂 thank you so much to every single person who helped me along the way. I am excited and honored and so so grateful."

Aoki quoted her mom's "row" line that was in direct reference to the USC scandal involving Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. Loughlin reportedly sent USC photos of her daughter, Olivia Jade, on an ergometer rowing as proof that she was the crew coxswain for the L.A. Marina Club. In fact, Olivia Jade didn't row at all and it was all allegedly a ploy to aid in her acceptance to the university.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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