Simon Le Bon denies sex assault claim

Shereen Hariri, now 47, was an employee at the shop and says she didn't come forward at the time because she feared she would be sacked, rejected, ignored or even hated for making accusations against the star.

Hariri posted her claims on Facebook that Le Bon, now 59, grabbed her "butt cheek" as they posed for photographs and has asked for an apology from the singer, not compensation.

Duran Duran's publicist Katy Krassner who was in the record store on the day in question said the accusation is "ludicrous" and Le Bon himself has denied the claims in a statement released on the band's Facebook page.

"I have read the statement which Ms. Hariri posted yesterday on Facebook about a record signing 23 years ago at Wherehouse in L.A," Le Bon's statement read.

"The behaviour that Ms Hariri has accused me of would have been just as inappropriate and unacceptable to me then as it is today. But the allegation is simply untrue."

Hariri said she was prompted to come forward with the accusation following the release of a tape in October 2016 in which now US President Donald Trump talked about getting away with grabbing women.

Hariri's lawyer Sarah Prescott said Le Bon was due to meet her client, telling the Detroit Free Press they were, "within a hair's breadth" of sitting down with the singer before going public with her allegations.

Le Bon seemed to confirm they were set to meet, writing: "When Ms. Hariri first contacted me about her claim months ago, I proposed meeting with her in person so I could set the record straight. Instead, she has decided to pursue this publicly."

"I have always been one who can admit to my mistakes and apologise for my failings. But I cannot apologize for something I did not do," Le Bon wrote.

Duran Duran formed in Birmingham in the UK in 1978 and their songs include Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf and The Reflex.

Australian Associated Press