The_Hollywood_Reporter__February_07_2018

About Town
People, Places,
Preoccupations
but — and this is my shit that
I need to work on — I still have
a bit of shame around raising
my hand and being the boss.
Our society has this way of going,
“Don’t shine too bright, know
your place.” So the idea of being
in a position of domination made
me [uncomfortable].
By 28, you had already created
two TV shows. You didn’t get
comfortable then?
I definitely learned, but there
was also a bit of, “She’s doing too
much and we don’t like it.”
Who’s the “we”?
My @ replies on Twitter? (Laughs.)
There was a bit of, “Who does she
think she is?” And people get mad
at you. I thought my dreams were
coming true, then someone was
like, “Don’t listen to them.” I’m all,
“Who’s them?” I had no idea. I do
think things have changed, even
in the last six months, but there’s
this idea of, you don’t get to
achieve too much [as a woman]
without losing friends and
people not liking it. And I’ve definitely
had male counterparts [for
whom] people were like, “Fucking
awesome, dude, that’s so cool.
You’re killing it.” There’s not a lot
of, “Who does he think he is?”
You got your start writing for
Comedy Central roasts. In 2011,
you roasted Donald Trump.
With every roast, it’s all fun and
games until you’re up there, and
then people’s feelings always end
up getting hurt. But his feelings
did not get hurt. I remember being
like, “Wow, he’s loving this.”
And net-worth jokes were off-limits?
Oh yeah. At every roast, something’s
off-limits. I love that it
wasn’t his daughter or his wife,
it was his money.
Griffin
with Cecily
Strong in
The Female
Brain.
I Was Wrongly Accused of
Harassment. This Is What I Did
I
‘To have my workplace conduct questioned was gut-wrenching,’ writes
the E! News star of allegations recently found to be unsubstantiated,
as he pledges ‘to help voices be heard’ By Ryan Seacrest
do not take things for granted. Every day I
am living my childhood dream because of the
efforts of so many other people. I do my best
to show and express my gratitude to my co-hosts,
producers, guests, audiences, executives, partners
and fans for the privilege of their collaboration
and participation, and for the unwavering support
of my loved ones and team.
In November, I received a letter from a lawyer
representing a former show stylist. She claimed
that I mistreated her more than a decade ago
when we worked together. This arrived
during an unprecedented public reckoning
by women in our industry and beyond,
courageously coming forward to share
their stories, many of them heartbreaking. These
women sought to bring attention to the systemic
gender inequality that has occurred for decades. I
was — and am — amazed at their bravery.
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. 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.
I absolutely want to be part of the change,
the progress, that is coming. I did not want to be
a postscript of evidence of its cause.
After sharing the letter with the network, I publicly
denied the claims against me and agreed
to participate in any inquiry the network deemed
appropriate. On Feb. 1, I received notice that an
Guest
Column
↑ Seacrest appeared on E!’s Live From the Red Carpet before the
Grammy Awards on Jan. 28.
independent third party found the claims to be
unsubstantiated and that there was no evidence
of wrongdoing on my part.
Most of us agree that the presumption of innocence
is an important standard. We are taught
early on that it’s essential to see all sides, to give
everyone a chance to explain and to check for
exculpatory evidence that may have been missed.
At a time when improper interactions between
men and women, particularly in the workplace,
are part of a national conversation,
we must find a way to ensure that everyone
— the public, private and public
institutions, accusers and accused — is given the
opportunity for a swift and fair review.
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.
We all have the right to be treated equally,
regardless of our gender, race, faith, ethnicity,
sexual orientation, gender identity or other
status. We find ourselves in extraordinary times
in American culture. We live with near-constant
change, disruption and public discourse. I realize
the morals and values, the decency, we’ve perhaps
taken for granted, individually and as citizens of
the world, are in question. Worse, at risk. I do not
take these things for granted.
Seacrest is an award-winning TV/radio host and
producer and creative entrepreneur.
FEMALE: COURTESY OF IFC FILMS. SEACREST: TIMOTHY KURATEK/CBS (2).
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
24
FEBRUARY 7, 2018