Paula Abdul Alleges Sexual Assault by ‘American Idol’ Producer Nigel Lythgoe

A TV personality Paula Abdul has initiated a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging sexual assault and gender-based violence against Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of American Idol and a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. Lythgoe has refuted the accusations.

Abdul, a Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning artist, lodged the lawsuit through her legal representatives at Johnson & Johnson LLP. The complaint outlines prolonged harassment experienced during the production of American Idol, encompassing taunts, bullying, humiliation, and mistreatment from various individuals associated with the show.

The legal action centres on two alleged direct physical attacks by Lythgoe. The initial incident reportedly transpired while Abdul was a host on American Idol, during which Lythgoe is accused of groping and kissing her in a hotel elevator. The second occurrence, in 2015, after Abdul joined So You Think You Can Dance, allegedly involved Lythgoe assaulting her during a dinner.

In response to the allegations, Lythgoe expressed astonishment and sadness, asserting that he and Abdul had maintained a platonic friendship and professional relationship for over two decades. He dismissed the claims as false and deeply offensive.

Abdul‘s lawsuit discloses that she refrained from coming forward earlier due to apprehensions about potential retaliation jeopardizing her career. The complaint also implicates co-defendants American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment, and FremantleMedia North America, alleging awareness of Lythgoe‘s behaviour with no corrective action taken.

Abdul‘s lawyer, Douglas Johnson, emphasized her commitment to pursuing justice and acknowledged her solidarity with other survivors. The lawsuit emerges amid a wave of high-profile cases filed in California ahead of the expiration of the state’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, featuring a one-year revival window for such claims. Recent cases involve celebrities like Jermaine Jackson and Tommy Lee, underscoring a broader trend of providing survivors with increased opportunities to share their experiences.