Could be an awkward Red Carpet show for Ryan Seacrest. Tom Taylor's NOW column has the reason why...
Ryan Seacrest may be sweating on Sunday’s Red Carpet at the Oscars. So may iHeart executives, because the allegations of sexual harassment by Ryan’s onetime E! network stylist haven’t gone away. And iHeart certainly doesn’t want to have the brand of a franchise player like Seacrest be diminished by scandal. Seacrest does mornings on iHeart’s L.A. CHR “Kiss FM” KIIS/102.7, hosts the syndicated “On Air,” and “American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest.” He revealed the stylist’s claims last November and said the network was investigating. Last month NBCUniversal-owned E! said it “found insufficient evidence to substantiate” the allegations. But on Monday, Suzie Hardy told Variety about a number of times when she was allegedly groped and harassed by the star. On Wednesday, NBC’s own “Today Show” said a former co-worker of Hardy’s supported her story. That’s all in the lead-up to Hollywood’s biggest night, the live Oscar telecast on Sunday, and the preceding red carpet parade where celebs chat with well-coiffed interlocutors. The New York Post says “Crisis meetings were going on at NBCUniversal over Seacrest, and his ability to seamlessly cover the red carpet.” The paper’s Page 6 has reported that handlers may steer their stars away from Seacrest. E!’s response may be to (as the Post says) “prearrange his interviews with friendly stars who won’t surprise him with uncomfortable comments.” For once, the Oscars may have more drama outside than inside – and Seacrest will be part of the Oscar story.
Seacrest is everywhere. If he is forced out, there will be ramifications throughout radio and television. On the other hand, if the others were forced out for doing the same thing, does E! or iHeart (and the hundreds of radio stations his syndicated show appears) or Live with Kelli and Ryan have a choice?
