Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, responds after photos of her kissing 65-year-old restaurateur go viral

Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, is speaking out in a coy manner after the model kissed 65-year-old restaurateur Vittorio Assaf. Assaf is the successful founder of the Serafina restaurant group, which owns the hugely popular Serafina in New York and other hot spots.

The daughter of former model and businesswoman Kimora Lee Simmons and troubled businessman and music executive Russell Simmons was recently photographed on the beach in St. Barts with Assaf and at one point they each kissed.

She posted a photograph of herself posing on the beach while visiting a preferred spot on the island before people came upon that paparazzi were taking photos of her with Assaf. Since then, there was rather a lot to say online about their time together, especially since Aoki’s father is simply a yr older than the Italian-American restaurateur and so they not have a very good relationship. Some also mentioned that mom Kimora and pop Russell began their relationship when she was 18 and he was 35.

But Aoki seems pleased. She posted an Instagram Story with one other photo of her on the beach with the caption: “Happy, healthy, been to the beach.”

And after sources claiming to have inside information acted on that information PEOPLE to say that they’re currently “enjoying each other’s company,” Aoki addressed the controversy without saying much. She posted a photograph of herself on her Instagram stories with the caption: “Ugh, now I know why people called me.”

The Harvard graduate previously dated a young man, whom she heavily tweeted on social media on Valentine’s Day in 2023, sharing a photograph of her sitting on his lap while he played the harp while covering her face. At the time, some people didn’t agree with this relationship because her lover was white.

“I understand a public figure / you knew it would happen etc… argument. Sure I knew the world was stuck in 1950 and would have a recession [things] to talk about something as simple as an interracial relationship….. It’s really sad, especially coming from people of color, but it was to be expected,” she said in response.

This time, the uproar is clearly in regards to the significant age difference. She’s obviously an adult now and might date whoever she wants, but we’re unsure what a 21-year-old and a 65-year-old are purported to discuss.