Paula Abdul has sued former “American Idol” producer and “So You Think You Can Dance” judge Nigel Lythgoe for sexual assault. She filed the suit last Friday in L.A. County, after California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act waived the statute of limitations for victims.
Included in her suit were 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America for “sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence.”
Some details from TMZ:
… she alleges the first assault happened during “one of Idol’s initial seasons” while they were on the road for regional auditions. Paula claims she and Lythgoe got into an elevator at their hotel, and once the doors closed he shoved her against the wall and grabbed her genitals and breasts … and tried to tongue-kiss her.
She says the second alleged encounter happened after she signed a new contract in 2015 to be a judge on ‘SYTYCD’ – which was also executive produced by Lythgoe. According to the docs, at some point during her 2 seasons on the show, Lythgoe invited Paula to his house to discuss work opportunities … and she says she accepted because she thought it was a professional situation. … However, she claims the evening ended with Lythgoe forcing himself on top of her while she was on a couch … and trying to kiss her.
Abdul also said that Nigel Lythgoe “called her” to “taunt” her that the “seven-year statute of limitations were up” and that they should “celebrate.”
WTF.
No wonder Nigel Lythgoe was radio-silent during the “Me Too” movement.
Justice for Paula Abdul!!!
Paula Abdul is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning choreographer and singer, and was one of the biggest pop stars in the 1990s.