This allegation came from Dr. Katelyn N. Allers, who said that she feels deGrasse Tyson doesn’t respect “female bodily autonomy,” although she does not consider it assault.
In response to the groping accusation, Neil deGrasse Tyson states the instance was “simply a search under the covered part of her shoulder of the sleeveless dress,” stating that he only learned that the woman involved was uncomfortable with it nine years later, and would have apologized immediately if he’d known.