Renowned singer, dancer, and former American Idol judge, Paula Abdul, has taken legal action against British television executive Nigel Lythgoe, accusing him of sexual assault during their time on the popular talent show.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that Lythgoe sexually assaulted Paula Abdul in an elevator during the early seasons of American Idol.
According to court documents, Lythgoe, known for producing hit television talent competitions, allegedly groped Abdul’s breasts and genitals, engaging in other unwanted physical contact in a hotel elevator following auditions for the show. Abdul reportedly resisted, pushing him away and escaping as soon as the elevator doors opened.
In response to the allegations, Lythgoe denied any wrongdoing, stating,
For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear – and entirely platonic – friends and colleagues. Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press, and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for.
The lawsuit claims that Paula Abdul reported the assault to her representatives immediately but refrained from taking immediate action due to fear of losing her job and contractual restrictions. The court documents also allege another assault during Abdul’s tenure as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, where Lythgoe purportedly assaulted her at his Los Angeles home after a work dinner. Abdul reportedly rejected him and promptly left.
Apart from the assault allegations, Abdul accuses Lythgoe of taunting her over the phone and asserting that the statute of limitations had run on the alleged assaults. The lawsuit also claims that Abdul witnessed Lythgoe assault one of her assistants on So You Think You Can Dance.
The lawsuit comes just days before the December 31 filing deadline set by California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, allowing individuals to bring certain sexual abuse lawsuits that would otherwise be outside the statute of limitations.
As legal proceedings unfold, both parties are expected to provide statements and evidence to support their respective claims, and the case will likely garner significant attention in the coming weeks.
