On the heels of criticizing Oprah Winfrey’s friendship with Harvey Weinstein, “Kiss From a Rose” singer Seal is now being investigated for sexual battery. Seal’s neighbor actress Tracey Birdsall says that in 2016 he forcibly kissed and groped her.
In an interview with TMZ, Birdsall said that the incident happened when she went to Seal’s house to get a salad spinner she loaned him; during the visit, he lunged at her, then kissed her. When she pushed him away, she asked, “What are you doing?” To which he replied, “I’m kissing you!” Allegedly, Seal then started to make fun of Birdsall’s outfit and groped her while they were sitting on his couch.
Seal’s representative denies that the event ever happened:
“Seal vehemently denies the recent allegations made against him by a former neighbor for alleged misconduct more than a year ago. He intends to vigorously defend himself against these false allegations.”
The incident is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Birdsall said she was compelled to come forward after the singer criticized Winfrey’s friendship with Weinstein and said that women should speak out against sexual assault.