Report: Ryan Seacrest accused of groping his stylist, sexual harassment

WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) -- A former stylist who used to work for Ryan Seacrest in 2007 has come out on the record to Variety Magazine with accusations of sexual harassment.

Suzie Hardy has alleged Seacrest rubbed his private parts against her as he was erect while giving her a bear hug from behind multiple times. Hardy says he also walked around only in his underwear in front of her. The hugs happened at least 10 times without Hardy's consent.

Seacrest is also accused of sticking his hand in between Hardy's legs and cupping her crotch before quickly removing them. The talk show host allegedly joked at the time and asked Hardy, "Oh my God, are you going to sue me?"

A former co-worker of Hardy's corroborated her story to Variety saying the stylist alerted him about what happened multiple times on the days the incidents actually occurred.

Seacrest's lawyer has responded to the allegations claiming that Hardy asked for $15 million in exchange for her silence.

“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," Seacrest's attorney Andrew Baum said. "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.”

Seacrest first went public with the fact that he had allegations against him in November 2017. He said at the time that he was "truly sorry" if he made her feel anything but respected.

At the same time, Seacrest also disputed what he referred to at the time as "reckless allegations."

E! conducted an investigation of Seacrest and hired an outside attorney to look into the allegations. They interviewed the accuser as well as two dozen other people and came to the conclusion that no wrongdoing had occurred after three months of investigating.

Hardy felt "total exasperation" after hearing E!'s investigation cleared Seacrest.

“I felt like by the third interview, it was obvious the investigator was whitewashing it for Seacrest’s side,” Hardy said.

The former stylist says that when HR asked her about her relationship with Seacrest and she shared the allegations - Hardy was fired two weeks later.

These allegations come before the Oscars where Seacrest is expected to report live at the red carpet from E! and interview winners the next day on his ABC talk show, "Live with Kelly and Ryan."

Seacrest is also expected to host a reboot of "American Idol" on ABC in March.