Go-to television personality Ryan Seacrest shouldn’t be sent to interview women on today’s Academy Awards red carpet because of recent sexual assault allegations laid against him by his former stylist, says #MeToo originator and activist Tarana Burke.
Speaking to Variety, Burke – who began the Twitter hashtag, providing a platform for survivors of sexual assault to share their stories – said the onus of responsibility shouldn’t be on actors deciding to speak with Seacrest or not, but on the E! News TV channel itself.
“This is not about his guilt or innocence,” Burke said. “It’s about there being an accusation that’s alive, and until they sort of out, it’s really on E! News and shouldn’t be on us.”
Burke said the network’s decision to move forward with Seacrest as their red carpet host “will let us know where they stand in terms of how respectful E! News is of this issue – and of women.”
Seacrest’s former stylist Suzie Hardy has accused the perennial TV presence of an extended period of sexual harassment and assault, including an instance in which he allegedly threw her onto a bed and rubbed himself against her. She also states she was let go from her job after bringing her accusations to E!’s HR department.
In February, E! announced the results of an investigation did not find sufficient evidence to support Hardy’s accusation, and did not take any disciplinary or legal action against Seacrest.
Seacrest has denied Hardy’s claims.
Speaking to the BBC, Burke also said there would be no planned red carpet protest against sexual abuse in the industry, but stated the Time’s Up collective had collaborated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create “a moment” addressing the issue.
The Academy Awards will be broadcast from 12.30pm on Channel Nine.
If you would like to talk to a counsellor about sexual harassment, give the people over at 1800 RESPECT a call on 1800 737 732.
