December 31st 2023.
Paula Abdul has filed a lawsuit against Nigel Lythgoe for alleged sexual assault while she was a judge on "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" under his executive production. According to court documents obtained by Page Six from the Dec. 29 filing, Abdul claims that Lythgoe forcibly touched her on multiple occasions.
Abdul, 61, detailed the first alleged assault during one of "American Idol's" initial seasons. She claims that Lythgoe pushed her against a hotel elevator wall and fondled her inappropriately, while attempting to kiss her. Abdul stated that she attempted to push him away before running out of the elevator and to her hotel room.
The entertainer and judge said that she was worried that Lythgoe would retaliate by firing her from the show, so she refrained from pushing her allegations further. She then went on to claim that the now-74-year-old executive sexually assaulted her again in 2015 after she secured a deal to be a judge for "SYTYCD".
The lawsuit stated that Lythgoe invited her to his home after hours under the guise of a work-related talk. At the end of the evening, Lythgoe forced himself on top of Abdul while she was seated on his couch and attempted to kiss her while proclaiming that they would make a 'power couple'. Abdul quickly pushed him off and left the premises.
This is not the first time Abdul has spoken out about her experiences with sexual assault. She recently addressed her harrowing ordeal on a podcast, where she detailed the assault and the long-term effects that it had on her.
The legal dispute between Abdul and Lythgoe is ongoing. Randy Jackson's recent departure from "American Idol" has caused a stir in the entertainment industry, and this new development is likely to add fuel to the fire.
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