2023-12-31 22:38:27
Singer and choreographer Paula Abdul has accused Nigel Lythgoe, former producer of the reality show American Idol, of sexually assaulting her in the early 2000s, when she was on the show’s jury, according to a new complaint.
The lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles also accuses Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Ms. Abdul after she left American Idol to become a judge on Nigel Lythgoe’s other competition show, So You Think You Can Dance. dance in Quebec).
The Associated Press generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, as Ms. Abdul has done.
In a statement on Saturday, Ms. Abdul’s lawyer, Douglas Johnson, praised the singer and dancer for speaking out publicly.
He said the “decision was difficult to make”, but that Ms Abdul “is determined to ensure that justice is done”.
In a statement, Mr Lythgoe said he was “shocked and saddened” to learn of the allegations from Ms Abdul, whom he considers a “dear” friend and “entirely platonic” friendship.
“Although Paula’s erratic behavior is well known, I cannot pretend to understand exactly why she would bring a legal action that she must know is false,” Mr Lythgoe said.
“But I can promise you that I will fight this appalling defamation with everything I have,” he added.
The complaint alleges that Ms. Abdul kept silent for years about the alleged assaults for fear of retaliation from “one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows.”
Before American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, on which Mr. Lythgoe was a judge for 16 seasons, he was a producer on the British show Pop Idol, which became a global franchise including the American version with Ms. Abdul.
According to the complaint, the first sexual assault occurred while Ms. Abdul and Mr. Lythgoe were on the road filming auditions for a first season of American Idol, which premiered in 2002.
Ms Abdul claims Mr Lythgoe touched her in their hotel lift after a day of filming and “started shoving his tongue down her throat”. Ms Abdul pushed him away and ran to her hotel room when the elevator doors opened.
“In tears, Ms. Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform him of the assault, but ultimately decided not to act for fear that Mr. Lythgoe would have her fired from American Idol,” according to the pursuit.
Ms. Abdul, a Grammy and Emmy-winning artist, was a judge for the first eight seasons, before leaving the show in 2009.
In 2015, Ms Abdul became a judge on the show So You Think You Can Dance, appearing alongside Mr Lythgoe.
It was around this time, according to Ms Abdul’s allegations, that Mr Lythgoe lunged at her during a meal at her home and tried to kiss her. Ms Abdul claims she pushed Mr Lythgoe away again and left immediately.
Ms Abdul left the reality show after two seasons. She has not worked with Mr Lythgoe since.
The suit also accuses Mr Lythgoe of taunting Ms Abdul over the alleged assaults, telling her years later that “they should rejoice” because “the statute of limitations had run out”.
Ms. Abdul filed the complaint days before the Dec. 31 deadline set by a California law that opened a one-year window for victims to file lawsuits over sex abuse allegations after the expiration of the limitation period.
More than 3,700 complaints have been filed under a similar law in New York, which expired last month.
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