Paula Abdul’s Sexual Assault Lawsuit Versus Nigel Lythgoe: Updates

American Idol enthusiasts had been shocked when Paula Abdul submitted a lawsuit in opposition to meant good friend and producer Nigel Lythgoe at the close of 2023.

For comprehensible and pretty troubling reasons.

The legal papers submitted on December 29 alleged that previous the American Idol and So You Believe You Can Dance producer of allegedly sexually assaulting the veteran singer on various situations, with the original incident allegedly using location amid “one of Idol’s early seasons.”

Because Abdul manufactured the accusations, two additional female have appear ahead to file very similar complaints against Lythegoe. Who are these females? What does Abdul say truly transpired? And how has Lythgoe responded? Here’s what we know.

Paula Abdul’s Lawsuit & Sexual Assault Allegations From Nigel Lythgoe

The famous choreographer submitted her lawsuit towards Lythgoe on Friday, December 29 2023, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by Nigel on two different instances — the moment through the Idol years and the other in 2014 when both of those she and Lythgoe had been judges on So You Feel You Can Dance.

The files also state that Lythgoe “verbally insulated and belittled” Abdul throughout their several a long time functioning together.

As for the aspects encompassing this allegation?

Abdul promises she and Lythgoe bought into an elevator at their hotel prior to the first supposed assault… and immediately after the doorways shut, the latter shoved her against the wall, grabbed her genitals and breasts and tried using to tongue-kiss her.

Abdul states she pushed Lythgoe absent and ran to her space.

She provides that she quickly identified as a person of her reps to convey to him what experienced transpired, but made the decision to keep it peaceful at the time out of anxiety of retailiation.

With regards to the second alleged assault… Abdul statements she went in excess of to Lythgoe’s home soon after signing on to choose So You Think You Can Dance mainly because she figured the government needed to talk about her function on the exhibit.

At some point, she says Lythgoe forced himself on top of her and tried using to persuade her they’d manufactured a terrific “power pair.”

Abdul is suing Lythgoe, 19 Leisure and FremantleMedia North The usa for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and carelessness. At this time, she has not built a formal, community assertion on the matter.

Nigel Lythgoe Sued by Two Extra Women Just after Paula Abdul’s Grievance

Less than a week following Abdul submitted her lawsuit, two extra gals came ahead to accuse Lythgoe of sexual assault and battery.

Their go well with was filed anonymously, with the gals insisting on becoming determined as Jane Does. What they did reveals was that they were being both of those contestants on the all-woman actuality level of competition show All American Girl, which was developed by Lythgoe and aired for one particular year in 2003.

The ladies are suing Lythgoe , as well as his unnamed output corporation, for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and carelessness, according to TMZ’s reporting.

The gals allege that Lythgoe “walked all over the established and dressing rooms and overtly swatted and groped [their] and other contestants’ buttocks” .

They also claim in the submitting that “employees, contractors, representatives and brokers noticed this occur but did not act in any method to condemn the action or reduce it from occurring once more. It was brazenly approved.”

Nigel Lythgoe Responds To Paula Abdul’s Lawsuit

“To say that I am stunned and saddened by the allegations manufactured in opposition to me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement,” Nigel Lythgoe’s statement study to Page Six.

On the Saturday immediately after Abdul’s lawsuit came to light-weight, Lythgoe responded vehemently denying the allegations.

“For additional than two a long time, Paula and I have interacted as dear — and solely platonic — pals and colleagues,” he continued. “Yesterday, even so, out of the blue, I learned of these statements in the press and I want to be crystal clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to every little thing I stand for.”

Lythgoe then pointed the finger again at Abdul, creating a wild assert of his own regarding her “behavior”.

“While Paula’s history of erratic behavior is very well recognised, I just can’t faux to fully grasp precisely why she would file a lawsuit that she will have to know is untrue,” he additional. “But I can assure that I will combat this appalling smear with all the things I have.”

Lythgoe generated American Idol through the peak of the show’s reputation in the 2000s and was final shown as a producer for the expertise-based mostly singing program in 2014.

From 2005 to 2014, he was outlined as the producer and co-creator of So You Believe You Can Dance.

Apart from her outstanding singing career, Abdul was just one of the original judges on American Idol from 2002 to 2009.

She has considering that appeared as a panelist on The X Aspect, Stay to Dance, So You Feel You Can Dance and The Masked Dancer.

Nigel Offers ‘Evidence’ Of Marriage With Paula

By March 2024, Nigel labored tricky to distinct his name. He hoped to prove he had a loving romance with Paula for a long time and that he was not capable of the points she’s accusing him of.

In accordance to TMZ, new authorized docs on March 5, Nigel took purpose at his former buddy and coworker. In the docs, he referred to as her a “well-documented fabulist, with a extensive record of telling wild stories that are untethered from actuality and are principally developed to bring in attention and make Abdul appear to be the target of dreadful misfortune.”

From there, he generated various e mail and textual content exchanges between them, all demonstrating Paula praising Nigel for his kindness. An illustration for a Sept. 12, 2014 email reads in component, “Hi sweetheart — thank you for this charming ‘gift.’ Please forgive me for not calling yesterday. For good grateful to have you in my life! Enjoy, appreciate Adore YOU! XO P.”

Just after these documents had been manufactured general public, Paula by way of her legal professional, telling Deadline:

“Mr. Lythgoe’s remedy to Ms. Abdul’s complaint is basic victim shaming. These are the defenses that many women of all ages like Ms. Abdul had to undertake to deal with guys who abuse their electric power.”