A stylist known for dressing Hollywood’s elite has found himself at the center of controversy following accusations of squatting in upscale apartments in New York and Los Angeles. The allegations against Bryant Simmons, 36, have sent shockwaves through the fashion and social scenes in both cities.
Simmons, who had until recently worked with top-tier retailers outfitting celebrities such as Katie Holmes, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Olivia Palermo, claims he was dismissed in what he described as a “typical HR ambush” meeting this past October. However, it was during the Thanksgiving holiday that the drama intensified with the emergence of an Instagram account named @bryantsimmonsisascammer. This account has since fueled a whirlwind of speculation and intrigue within the communities Simmons once navigated with ease.
A detailed article in Vanity Fair has brought to light a series of allegations made by his former colleagues, roommates, and friends. They accuse Simmons of not only squatting in their homes and neglecting rent payments but also of misusing clients’ credit cards to bankroll his extravagant lifestyle. Furthermore, there are accusations of theft from his employers, painting a picture of betrayal and deceit.
The Instagram account, managed by Arya Toufanian, a former roommate, claims that Simmons moved into his SoHo apartment in February 2025. However, tensions rose by November as Simmons allegedly failed to pay rent on time for several consecutive months, leading to a breakdown in their living arrangement.
The account is run by his former roommate Arya Toufanian, who alleges he rented a room in his SoHo flat to Simmons in February of 2025.
By November, the arrangement had soured after Simmons had allegedly failed to make on-time rent payments several months in a row.
In October, he had been mysteriously let go from his job at fashion label Khaite, which has dressed A-listers since its launch in 2016.
‘It was the typical HR ambush meeting,’ he wrote in an Instagram post at the time.
A glamorous personal stylist to the stars has been accused of squatting in luxury apartments across New York and Los Angeles in an explosive expose
Bryant Simmons, 36, worked in high-end retailers which were dressing the likes of Katie Holmes, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Olivia Palermo up until October, when he revealed he had been ‘terminated’ during a ‘typical HR ambush’ meeting
‘Due to me being late – despite taking calls, emails, and texts 24/7, and working on my days off to tailor myself to clients’ needs and schedules – I was terminated.’
Rumors were also swirling about unauthorized credit card transactions billed to clients.
According to Toufanian, Simmons once paid his rent using a card belonging to one of his clients, and it was sent through as ‘Khaite clothing.’
Another partial rent payment on another occasion allegedly was sent under the name: ‘Jacket.’
The individual whose card was used asked not to be named, but reportedly told Vanity Fair that he had reported what he believed to be fraudulent activity on his card to Khaite management.
Simmons flatly denied the allegations, insisting he hadn’t ‘taken anything from anybody.’
‘They all want to be famous,’ he said of the list of associates who contributed to the article.
‘And the only person who doesn’t care about the fame is me… Every New Yorker is running some kind of scam.’
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Simmons’ former employer has been known to dress A-listers, including Ivy Getty (pictured)
Katie Holmes (pictured) has also been known to wear clothes by Simmons’ former employer, Khaite
After the Instagram account documenting the alleged behavior emerged, another former associate who once sublet a Gramercy apartment to Simmons came forward.
The sublessor claimed that Simmons stopped paying rent just a couple of months into the lease.
‘I found out that he wasn’t even there. He was in LA,’ she said.
‘I would look at his Instagram, and he would be at the nicest restaurants LA has to offer, carrying the nicest bags, head-to-toe designer, living the highest life you’ve ever seen. And meanwhile, he will not pay rent.’
During his time in Los Angeles, Simmons allegedly hopped between three luxury apartments in a single year, and in each case he was accused of some form of squatting despite appearing online to be living the high life.
The allegations led to a bitter court battle between Simmons and Toufanian.
Toufanian had initially filed a complaint for aggravated harassment, prompting Simmons to file his own order of protection in family court, alleging that the pair had been in an intimate relationship.
He claimed Toufanian had stalked him, harassed his work colleagues and threatened violence with a knife.
Simmons told a judge late last year that they had been dating almost a year.
Toufanian vehemently denied the claim, and Simmons allegedly told Vanity Fair that he specifically used the phrase ‘intimate relationship’, arguing he never claimed it had been of a sexual nature.
Instead, he said the roommates would watch The White Lotus together on the couch to justify his use of the term intimate relationship.
According to Toufanian, the judge dismissed Simmons’ petition.
Simmons has pleaded not guilty to harassment charges and that matter is still before the courts.
Daily Mail has contacted Simmons for comment.
