Ryan Seacrest’s Former Stylist Accuses Him Of Years Of Unwanted Sexual Harassment
Anyone with a career in robotics repair is in for a busy week. Ryan Seacrest’s former stylist has come forward with detailed allegations of sexual harassment and assault, and something tells me the highest-functioning animatronic of the E! Network has blown several fuses over it.
In November, Ryan got ahead of a potential #MeToo story by acknowledging that a former wardrobe stylist had an alleged workplace sexual harassment complaint, apologizing, and calling the allegations “reckless.” E! launched an internal investigation into the claims, the conclusion of which was that they found “insufficient evidence” to support the allegations against Ryan. That might have tidied everything up on Ryan’s end, but his female accuser (yes, Britney, female) has come forward to Variety to tell her side.
Suzie Hardy worked as Ryan’s stylist on E! News from 2007 to 2013. Suzie got the job from Ryan’s personal assistant, and not long after getting hired, it was hinted at by the assistant that he was romantically interested in her. Suzie alleges that Ryan began asking her to be present at times when a stylist wasn’t needed, like coming to his house at 8pm to tie a tie for him (Suzie says she declined). While getting Ryan for the 2007/2008 New Year’s Rocking Eve special, he allegedly asked Suzie to take a nap with him.
Eventually it allegedly got physical. Suzie alleges that in 2007, Ryan – wearing only his underwear – wrapped her in a bear hug. She claims Ryan gave her more than 10 unwanted hugs during her employment. She claims a tearful Ryan – once again in his underwear – confronted her once saying, “I just don’t think you’re attracted to me,” to which she allegedly replied, “I’m attracted to my paycheck.” In 2008, Ryan allegedly approached her from behind, slid his hand onto her crotch, and asked if she was going to sue him (she replied she wouldn’t as long as she remained employed). Suzie was a single mother of a young daughter, and said she was really happy to have a steady job.
A former co-worker of Suzie’s corroborated her allegations, saying he also saw Ryan trip her a number of times, once saw him allegedly push her head into his crotch while she was tying his shoes, and slap her butt hard enough to leave a red mark. That same co-worker also claims to have seen Ryan (in his underwear) allegedly rub his erect penis against Suzie after pushing her onto a hotel bed while preparing for the 2009 Oscars, only stopping after that co-worker yelled at him to stop.
Suzie also alleges that when she started dating a high-powered entertainment attorney, a jealous Ryan allegedly asked if she had “fucked him” yet while tightly grabbing her crotch
In 2013, HR from E! approached Suzie regarding her relationship with Ryan. She swore they didn’t have a physical or romantic relationship, but that he had allegedly touched her in a number of inappropriate ways. Two weeks later, Suzie says she was fired as Ryan’s stylist.
Suzie tells Variety she cooperated with E!’s investigation, and she felt “total exasperation” when they announced that they found insufficient evidence. Both E! and Ryan side-eye Suzie’s claims. E! released a statement saying that any claims questioning the legitimacy of their investigation are “baseless” and that they interviewed more than two dozen people. Ryan’s attorney went after Suzie, accusing her of being a liar who tried to shake down Ryan for $15 million.
“It is upsetting to us that Variety is electing to run a ‘story’ about untrue allegations that were made against my client, after they were told that the accuser threatened to make those false claims against him unless he paid her $15 million. At that time, the claimant threatened to issue a demonstrably false press statement unless she was paid. Instead, my client proactively and publicly denied the claims and agreed to fully cooperate with E!’s investigation about the matter.
On January 31st the network notified us that their independent third-party investigation had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support her claims, effectively, clearing my client’s name. It’s telling that after my client refused to pay her money, and the E! investigation resulted as it did, that she is now coming forward to share her debunked story to the press.”
So according to Ryan’s attorney, Suzie was just in it for the cash. How insulting! To Suzie, I mean. She came through with an allegation that Ryan got an erection while looking at her. If she was shaking Ryan down, then he should at least throw her a couple bucks for accidentally humanizing him. I’m sure I’m not the only one who was fully convinced the only way that vain robot is able to get hard is after making direct eye contact with himself in a mirror.
Pic: Wenn.com