American Idol, Live! host Ryan Seacrest denies misconduct allegations by former E! stylist
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the alleged incident occurred back when Seacrest was working at E! News almost ten years ago; Seacrest released a lengthy statement denying the allegations, and also made it clear that he is willing to comply with any investigations that come as a result of this:
“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. 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.
“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. 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.”
The report also claims that the stylist first came forward through representation and proposed silence in exchange for money, which Seacrest denied through his attorney. Seacrest’s name is now added to a lengthy and depressing list of people that includes Louis CK, Al Franken, Jeremy Piven, Andrew Kreisberg, and many others who have been accused of sexual harassment and, in some cases, inappropriate sexual acts. While CK admitted to his actions in a statement, many of the other men accused have denied all of the allegations. There are a number of investigations open across a wide array of different networks.
E! has confirmed that there is an investigation underway into Seacrest and the incident that occurred years ago.
Once there is more news to report on this story, we will have further updates here. This accusation comes at a challenging time for Seacrest — the new season of American Idol airs next year on ABC, and he is months into his stint on the ABC daytime series. (Photo: E!.)