December 14th 2024.
It has been reported that singer and former judge on "American Idol," Paula Abdul, has reached a settlement in her lawsuit against the show's former producer, Nigel Lythgoe. Abdul had accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her during her time on the popular singing competition in the early 2000s.
According to NPR, Abdul filed a notice of settlement for the case on December 12th in Los Angeles Superior Court and is now awaiting approval from a judge to make it official. She also released a statement on December 13th, explaining her decision to settle with Lythgoe. "I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can put behind me," Abdul said. "It has been a long and difficult personal battle, but I hope my experience can inspire other women facing similar struggles to overcome them with dignity and respect and move forward with their lives."
The details of the settlement have not been disclosed, but Abdul's attorney, Melissa Eubanks, confirmed that the court filing was unconditional. The initial lawsuit against Lythgoe was filed almost a year ago, with the 62-year-old singer accusing the 75-year-old producer of sexually assaulting her after she left "American Idol" to become a judge on Lythgoe's other popular competition show, "So You Think You Can Dance."
Abdul detailed multiple instances of sexual assault, including an alleged incident in an elevator and another at a dinner at Lythgoe's home. She also disclosed these assaults to a third party at the time. When the lawsuit was first filed, Lythgoe called the accusations "an appalling smear" and claimed to be "shocked and saddened" by them. He stated, "While Paula's history of erratic behavior is well known, I can't understand why she would file a lawsuit that she knows is untrue."
Lythgoe eventually stepped down from his position as a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" at the beginning of this year due to the allegations. The English-born producer has been in the television production industry for many years, working on popular reality and competition shows both in the US and overseas.
Abdul also shared that she did not initially come forward with the allegations of sexual assault because she feared Lythgoe's power and influence in the industry. She stated that she was afraid of retaliation from "one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows." This lawsuit follows her previous Grammy and Emmy-winning career as a singer and dancer, solidifying her reputation as a strong and talented woman in the entertainment industry.
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