Seal
is being investigated for sexual assault and attempted rape one week
after he criticized Oprah Winfrey after her powerful Golden Globes
speech where she condemned sexual assault.
Last week, Seal said Oprah was being a hypocrite for only now
speaking out against sexual assault when she knew all along and did
nothing about it though she was in a position to speak up. Following his
very public criticism, his former neighbour has come out to say the
British singer sexually assaulted her in 2016.
Seal is under investigation for sexual battery after his former
Malibu neighbor accused him of forcefully kissing and groping her in
2016, authorities said. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
opened the investigation after the neighbor, actress Tracey Birdsall,
claimed Seal forced himself on her in his kitchen in November 2016.
She says she and Seal developed a close friendship until the incident
at Seal’s home. Tracey says she was in Seal’s kitchen to retrieve a
salad spinner she’d lent him when all of a sudden, he lunged at her.
Tracey says Seal forced himself on her, attempting to kiss her and
she shouted, “What are you doing?!” to which the singer replied, “I’m
kissing you!”
Tracey claims Seal then began to belittle her for what she was
wearing (a tank top and shorts) — insinuating she was asking for it —
and he began to grope her breasts. She says she asked him to stop. She
says he then invited her to sit on the couch next to him. She says she
was in shock and complied. She claims Seal once again began to make fun
of what she was wearing and groped her again. Tracey says she left
shortly after that and did not have contact with Seal again.
The accusation comes just days after the 54-year-old singer posted a
Facebook video encouraging sexual abuse victims to come forward with
their stories.