British singer Seal has “vehemently” denied Tracey Birdsall’s accusation of sexual misconduct. On Saturday, the actress filed a battery complaint with Malibu police against the “Kiss From a Rose” singer.
“Seal vehemently denies the recent accusations made against him by a former neighbor for alleged misconduct of more than a year ago,” his reps told TheWrap in a statement. “He intends to vigorously defend himself against these false allegations.”
TMZ first reported news of the battery complaint. TheWrap did not immediately hear back from local authorities with regards to the filing.
Birdsall told the gossip website that former friend Seal “lunged” at her in 2016 while the two were in his kitchen, attempting to kiss her.
The singer then allegedly began to grope her breasts while belittling Birdsall for wearing a tank top and shorts, “insinuating she was asking for it,” per TMZ’s report.
Birdsall demanded he stop, she recalled. But then later, on his couch, Seal repeated the same actions. The two have not spoken since.
Birdsall says she only decided to go to the cops after seeing Seal’s Instagram post about Oprah Winfrey and disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein. The singer posted a meme of Winfrey kissing Weinstein on the cheek, above a second picture of the two Hollywood heavyweights together.
A caption read: “When you have been part of the problem for decades… but suddenly they all think you are the solution.”
Seal denied that the post was a shot at Winfrey specifically.