Ryan Seacrest has issued a fresh denial of allegations he sexually assaulted his stylist and claims she asked him for money in return for her silence.
‘This person who has accused me of horrible things offered, on multiple occasions, to withdraw her claims if I paid her millions of dollars. I refused,’ the TV host told the Hollywood Reporter.
‘Yesterday, Variety published a salacious story that revealed the specific claims against me for the first time – even though an independent third-party investigator found insufficient evidence to support the claims,’ Seacrest said in a Tuesday statement.
‘Much to my dismay, Variety didn’t speak with me or bother to speak with other credible witnesses or even ask for any of the evidence that was obtained during the investigation when offered, all of which clearly challenged the veracity of the claims made against me.’
Live with Kelly and Ryan: While Seacrest did not address the claims during his first return to air on Live, he roundly denounced them by Tuesday afternoon
Alleged victim: Suzie Hardy and her lawyers sent a letter to E! last November detailing her allegations against the host
E! cleared Seacrest of any wrongdoing in January after what the network said was an ‘extremely comprehensive and thorough’ investigation, and that Seacrest will host their carpet for the Oscars on Sunday
Seacrest continued: ‘This person who has accused me of horrible things offered, on multiple occasions, to withdraw her claims if I paid her millions of dollars. I refused. I have worked extremely hard to achieve my success and I don’t take my opportunities for granted. I don’t want to accuse anyone of not telling the truth but in this case, I have no choice but to again deny the claims against me, remind people that I was recused of any wrongdoing, and put the matter to rest.’
The hard and fast statement was made after Seacrest stayed mum during his Tuesday morning gig on Live with Kelly and Ryan.
Meanwhile Seacrest has further pressure looming as he is hosting the E! carpet for the biggest night of award’s season, the Oscars, which will be the final show in light of #MeToo, on Sunday.
His former stylist, Suzie Hardy alleges Seacrest hugged her several times while wearing only underwear and that he stuck his hand between her legs and cupped her crotch.
She also claims Seacrest pushed her head into his crotch while she was tying his shoes on multiple occasions between 2007 and 2009, and once smacked her rear so hard he left a visible welt.
E! has continued to stand by Seacrest, saying he will ‘host as usual,’ at the Oscars and the network is ‘absolutely not pulling [him]’ from his red carpet job.
However, just how that job is handled may end up being different than in years passed.
‘It’s live, and celebs can say anything,’ an E! source told RadarOnline, adding ‘The plan is to have Ryan only interview celeb friends that he can trust.’
Seacrest is hosting the re-boot to American Idol next month, which ABC is hoping will be a much needed hit.
‘This is a major crisis. ABC should have ordered him to go on ‘GMA’ Tuesday morning, live at 7:30, and deny the allegations vociferously,’ an ABC insider told Fox News.
Seacrest on February 5 penned a guest column for the Hollywood Reporter titled ‘What Happened After I was Wrongly Accused of Harassment.’
Hardy’s claim was actually made in November of last year, and E! said in January that they had investigated Hardy’s allegations and found ‘insufficient evidence to support the claims against Seacrest.’
However, Monday’s report described in detail what the allegations were specifically, with Hardy claiming ‘years of unwanted sexual aggression’ by Seacrest against his ‘longtime personal stylist.’
Seacrest’s lawyer, Andrew Baum, told Fox News Hardy initially asked for a payout to keep quiet, which prompted Seacrest to announce the investigation on his own behalf.
‘Recently, someone that worked as a wardrobe stylist for me nearly a decade ago at E! News, came forward with a complaint suggesting I behaved inappropriately toward her,’ read a statement released by Seacrest at the time.
Allegations: A former stylist who worked with Ryan Seacrest (above in January at the TCAs) at E! accused the host of groping, slapping and rubbing himself on her between 2007 and 2009
A 2007 Hollywood Reporter cover that Hardy styled Seacret for at the start of her job (above)
‘If I made her feel anything but respected, I am truly sorry. I dispute these reckless allegations and I plan to cooperate with any corporate inquiries that may result.’
He did not stop there either, going on to explain what a model co-worker he has been over the course of his career.
‘I treat all my colleagues with kindness, dignity, and understanding, as this is a principle that’s core to who I am. Throughout my 25 years in the entertainment industry, the majority of my co-workers have been women, and I’ve endeavored to foster a positive work environment of mutual respect and courtesy, as that’s how I believe it should be,’ said the American Idol host.
‘I’m distraught that anyone or any situation would call that into question. I’m proud of my workplace reputation, and believe my track record will speak for itself. I’m an advocate for women. I will continue to support their voices.’
Hardy claims however that this all came out because she was asked in 2013 by E! human resources about her relationship with Seacrest, not because she sought out a meeting with them.
‘I never touched him, I never kissed him, I never f***ed him, nothing. But I said, ‘But he touched me,” Hardy said she told HR in that meeting.
‘I was in there for hours. I told them everything.’
Two weeks later she says she was out of a job, and for her final assignment with Seacrest, Hardy said she was not even allowed to dress him for the 2013 Oscars, instead being charged with leaving his tuxedo in an empty room for him to wear to the ceremony that evening.