The proud dad touted his daughter's academic abilities at the height of the college admissions scandal, saying he played no part in her Ivy League acceptance.
Proud parents Russell Simmons and his ex-wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, said goodbye to their daughter Aoki Lee Simmons, who will start freshman year of college at Harvard.
Inside Edition was with the family, including sister Ming Lee Simmons, who attends New York University, as Aoki begins a new chapter in her life. Aoki told Inside Edition as soon as the family arrived at her dorm, her mother invited a group of girls on the floor to dinner.
"Now I have new friends," Aoki joked.
Aoki found out she was accepted to Harvard earlier this year and the whole family celebrated.
"The waiting is crazy," Aoki said. "The waiting to hear back is the worst thing."
Kimora said she was so proud of her daughter getting into Harvard that she was "ugly crying" when Aoki received the acceptance letter.
Aoki’s acceptance came at the height of the college admissions scandal, leading Russell to tweet that he “didn’t have to pull any strings or pay anyone to get her in ... she made it on her own academic merit."
"I wouldn't want them to learn that from me," Russell told Inside Edition. "Even if I could do everything for my child, I wouldn't want my child to be part of that process."
The Simmons family took a tour of Harvard Wednesday and Aoki said she plans to study government but will also help her mom with the re-launch of the clothing line Baby Phat.
The Simmonses join other famous parents sending their children off to college, like Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, whose daughter Lola will attend NYU.
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