Who Is Aoki Lee Simmons' Ex-Boyfriend? All About Restaurateur Vittorio Assaf

Model Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, and the founder of Serafina Restaurant Group Vittorio Assaf, 65, had a brief fling in April 2024

Model and Harvard University graduate Aoki Lee Simmons had a brief fling.

The 21-year-old daughter of model Kimora Lee Simmons and entrepreneur Russell Simmons dated Serafina Restaurant Group founder Vittorio Assaf, PEOPLE confirmed in April 2024. The two met in St. Barths and, a day after the news broke that they were seeing each other, they were spotted kissing on the island.

However, just days later, PEOPLE confirmed the two had already split.

Simmons’ modeling career took off while she was in college at Harvard, from which she graduated in 2023 at 20 years old. She has since graced the covers of magazines like Teen Vogue and Flaunt, as well as collaborated with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and BCBG.

Assaf is most well known for being the founder of Serafina, a popular Italian restaurant in New York City. He was previously married to model Charlotte Bonstrom before the two split in 2021.

Related: Kimora Lee Simmons' 5 Kids: Everything to Know

So who is Aoki Lee Simmons’ ex-boyfriend? Here’s everything to know about Vittorio Assaf and his relationship with the model.

He grew up in Milan

Assaf was raised in Italy and grew up in Milan where he studied law at the University of Urbino, per an interview with Natfluence in June 2015. For eight years, he worked at the Milan Stock Exchange before choosing to pivot careers.

In 1985, he moved to N.Y.C. to pursue an opportunity in the fashion industry. He opened Café Candiotti in the city the same year, which featured original Andy Warhol paintings.

He is a co-founder of Serafina Restaurant Group

Assaf told Natfluence that he’d been cooking all his life, starting at 4 years old helping his grandmother with dinner parties for 40 to 50 people. By the time he was 12, she was too old to cook it all herself, so he mainly took over.

The idea for Serafina came about when Assaf and his co-founder Fabio Granato were stranded at sea in a small boat and daydreamed about the perfect pizza. They promised each other that after they got back to land, they would open a restaurant together serving the best pizza — and they did just that in 1995 when the first Serafina Fabulous Pizza location opened in the Upper East Side.

“The original idea, was to make a restaurant that was an extension of your own dining room. A place where families, kids, business people, celebrities, actors, singers could be together and feel comfortable,” Assaf told Natfluence of his vision for the restaurant.

He continued, “The food is made with the best quality ingredients and the prices are reasonable. We started 20 years ago and my vision is to continue our tradition.”

He was previously married

Assaf was married to model Charlotte Bonstrom for over two decades and welcomed two children with her before their split in 2021.

Simmons and Assaf were confirmed to be dating in April 2024

In April 2024, PEOPLE confirmed that Simmons and Assaf were dating after meeting in St. Barths, a Simmons family favorite travel destination.

"Aoki and Vittorio are spending time together and enjoying each others' company,” a source close to Simmons told PEOPLE.

The couple, who have a 44-year age gap, were later photographed enjoying time on the tropical island, in pictures obtained by the Daily Mail. Soon after the photos were public, Simmons posted a photo of herself on her Instagram Stories, seemingly addressing them with the caption, “Errr well now I know why folks were calling me.”

Her dad said he can only offer his advice on her budding relationship

While Kimora has yet to comment on her daughter’s new relationship, Russell shared his opinion with TMZ days after the photos surfaced.

"I'm not going to kick and scream about her choices," he said. "All I can do is offer my advice and unconditional love."

Simmons and Assaf broke up days after getting together

Four days after PEOPLE first reported that they were together, Simmons and Assaf ended their relationship, a source confirmed.

"Not only is it 'over', it was never a thing," the insider told PEOPLE. "Aoki is learning to navigate her private life in a public sphere. And that can be difficult. However, Kimora was concerned to see her daughter in that kind of relationship due to what she herself went through."

A rep for Aoki could not be reached for comment.

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