Report: Seal Avoids Sexual Assault Charges

The "Kiss From a Rose" singer is in the clear.

TMZ reports that the case brought against Seal has been rejected by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. According to the gossip rag, there were neither enough witnesses nor sufficient evidence to support allegations that Seal had committed sexual assault. Furthermore, since the alleged crime was said to have occurred in February 2016, the statute of limitations has run out.

As TMZ previously reported, Seal became the subject of an investigation after his former neighbor, actress Tracey Birdsall, accused him of forcing himself on her, trying to kiss her, and groping her breasts. She also claimed that he'd tried implying that she was to blame for his behavior, criticizing what she was wearing.

As for why she decided to come forward with her story, Birdsall reportedly said she'd seen Seal's controversial comments about Oprah Winfrey and Harvey Weinstein, in which appeared to call out Winfrey for staying quiet about the producer's sexual misconduct. TMZ notes that she was also prompted to file a report with police after she'd heard that Seal had encouraged women to speak out about sexual abuse.

As Nicki Swift previously reported, Seal had denied Birdsall's allegations. A spokesperson for the singer said at the time, "He intends to vigorously defend himself against these false allegations."