Television and radio show host Ryan Seacrest was accused of sexual abuse and harassment by his former stylist Suzy Hardy. In an exclusive interview with Variety, Hardy accused the TV presenter of unwanted and aggressive sexual advances, including groping her vagina, while she worked with him on E! News between 2007 – 2013.
“I was battling finally being in a decent financial position to breathe and be a mom, that I didn’t have to be freaking out all the time, and then dealing with this infantile celebrity person who was testing me on every level and manipulating me and knew that I was in a vulnerable position,” she said.
Hardy became Seacrest’s personal stylist on E! News in 2007. She had worked with the host previously on a Vanity Fair shoot and the American Idol cast. Hardy said that Seacrest’s assistant approached her about the job, promising steady pay and regular hours — 10 AM-2 PM daily.
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In November last year, Hardy’s attorney had asked Seacrest and E! to “come up with a plan to address the treatment of all women at the networks and to take responsibility for the wrongful treatment” of Hardy, and threatened “more formal action” if the request were ignored. On November 17, Seacrest took the allegation public, announcing in a statement that an investigation was underway with respect to a misconduct complaint against him made by “someone that worked as a wardrobe stylist for me nearly a decade ago at E! News.” He called her claims “reckless allegations.”
The investigation resulted in finding “insufficient” evidence of any ‘wrongdoing’.
Thus far, Seacrest’s lawyer called the recent Variety story “upsetting” and “untrue” while claiming that Hardy was seeking $15 million from him. Hardy’s lawyer claimed that she hasn’t asked for money from Seacrest or E! and no evidence of this monetary request has been found.
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