Ryan Seacrest's Model Girlfriend Defends Him From Sexual Assault Allegations

Ryan Seacrest has denied allegations by his former stylist that he sexually assaulted her. The TV host's girlfriend took to Instagram to publicly stand by her man amid the claims. Shayna Taylor posted a photo on Instagram, praising Seacrest for being the most kind and respectful person she knows. 

“I love you so much Ryan. You are the most respectful, well mannered, civil, gracious, loving, kind human being,” she wrote in the caption of a photo of the couple. “I have known you for 6 years and every day you impress me with your kindness. Not only to me or your friends and family, but most importantly in your work environment,” Taylor said. “You have worked SO hard to be where you are and you deserve it." The 26-year-old model added the supportive hashtags: “#iloveyou #foreversupportyou #teamryan #teamseacrest."

Seacrest and Taylor moved in together last year, as People reports.

Suzie Hardy, a former stylist for E!, has accused the 43-year-old host of "Live with Kelly and Ryan" and a plethora of other shows, of sexual harassment and abuse. She says that she was subjected to years worth of abuse from Seacrest, including incidents of Seacrest rubbing his erect penis on her while only wearing underwear, non-consensual groping of her genitals and non-consensual spanking. 

Both Seacrest and E! vehemently denied the allegations. 

“E!’s investigation was extremely comprehensive and thorough,” an E! spokesperson said, after the network conducting an investigation in November. “Over the course of a two month process, our outside counsel interviewed more than two dozen people regarding the allegations, including multiple separate meetings with the claimant. The investigator is an attorney with nearly 20 years experience and is highly regarded professionally. Any claims that question the legitimacy of this investigation are completely baseless.”

Seacrest wrote a guest column in February for The Hollywood Reporter titled “What Happened After I Was Wrongly Accused of Harassment." 

To have my workplace conduct questioned was gut-wrenching. I’ve always aimed to treat all of my colleagues with honesty, respect, kindness and compassion," he wrote. "Yet, I knew, regardless of the confidence I had that there was no merit to the allegations, my name would likely soon appear on the lists of those suspected of despicable words and deeds. The pressures of our overflowing newsfeeds would insist on it.

He underscores that he wants to be part of progress and to use his platforms to further gender equality in Hollywood.

"I absolutely want to be part of the change, the progress, that is coming," he wrote. "My job is to listen. Beyond listening, which I will continue in earnest, I also will ask questions and try to help voices be heard. It isn’t lost on me that my platforms — radio, TV, social media — can be powerful conduits for change."

Sexual Misconduct Allegations That Broke Open Hollywood

[Photo: Getty Images]