The newly public details from sexual misconduct accusations against Ryan Seacrest will not affect the host’s other gigs, TheWrap has learned.
Seacrest will continue to host the syndicated morning talk show “Live With Kelly and Ryan” and ABC’s upcoming “American Idol” reboot as planned. According to an individual familiar with the situation, ABC was satisfied with the results of E!’s investigation into the matter and will take no further action.
On Wednesday, E! stood by Ryan Seacrest after a man who worked with the star came forward on Wednesday’s “Today” show and said he saw the “American Idol” host sexually harass former stylist Suzie Hardy on several occasions.
The unnamed man participated in the network’s independent investigation of Seacrest, which the company reported on Feb. 1 “found insufficient evidence to support the claims against Seacrest and therefore could not be substantiated.” Seacrest is expected to host E!’s Oscars red carpet show on Sunday as scheduled.
Seacrest also hosts the syndicated radio show “On Air W/ Ryan Seacrest.” A representative for iHeartMedia did not return TheWrap’s request for comment.
Details of Hardy’s accusations were made public on Monday, when Variety first reported that the stylist said Seacrest subjected her “to years of unwanted sexual aggression” while she was his stylist from 2006-2013, including “grinding his erect penis against her while clad only in his underwear, groping her vagina, and at one point slapping her buttock so hard that it left a large welt still visible hours later.”
Seacrest has repeatedly denied the accusations, including in a statement on Tuesday: “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.”