- Paula Abdul accuses Nigel Lythgoe
- Alleged sexual assaults in 2000s
- Lythgoe denies claims, plans defense
Declaring that Abdul has a “history of erratic behaviour,” Lythgoe asserts, “I will fight this abhorrent smear with all my strength.”
Nigel Lythgoe, the former producer of American Idol, is accused by Paula Abdul of sexually assaulting her while she was a juror on the programme.
In addition, the singer’s lawsuit alleges that he assaulted her again years later, during her employment at So You Think You Can Dance.
Lythgoe refuted the allegations and expressed his profound disbelief and sorrow.
Abdul asserts that in the early 2000s, following a day of filming, the 74-year-old British national groped her breasts and genitalia and “began shoving his tongue down her throat” in an elevator.
She stated that upon the doors of her hotel room opening, she fled after pushing him away.
According to the lawsuit, Abdul contacted one of her representatives “but ultimately chose not to act for fear that Lythgoe would have her fired from American Idol.”
The Grammy-winning vocalist was a regular guest on the programme for eight seasons prior to his departure in 2009.
In 2015, approximately when she began competing in So You Think You Can Dance, another of Lythgoe’s programmes, a second assault allegedly occurred.
Abdul asserts that during dinner at his Los Angeles residence, he forcibly entered her presence and attempted to embrace her, but she repelled his advances and departed.
Since serving on the judges’ panel alongside Lythgoe for two seasons of the dance competition, the 61-year-old has not collaborated with him.
Additionally, the lawsuit asserts that he teased her regarding the alleged assaults, telling her “they ought to celebrate” years later because “the statute of limitations had expired.”
Abdul further asserts that she observed Lythgoe on So You Think You Can Dance assaulting one of her assistants.
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As a juror on the ITV show Popstars, which produced the band Hear’Say, Lythgoe earned the moniker “Nasty Nigel” due to his critical comments regarding the programme.
He stated in a statement that Abdul was a “entirely platonic” and “dear” friend.
Lythgoe stated, “Although Paula’s history of erratic behaviour is well-known, I cannot even attempt to comprehend why she would file a lawsuit that she must know to be false.”
Nonetheless, I can guarantee that I will throw my entire being into combating this abhorrent slander.
Abdul initiated the legal action just days prior to the expiration of a California statute that grants individuals a one-year period to initiate legal proceedings regarding sexual abuse allegations that have surpassed the prescribed time limit.
