According to US media, Paula Abdul, the American singer, dancer, and talent show judge, has allegedly filed a lawsuit against Nigel Lythgoe, a British television executive, alleging sexual assault.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County on Friday, describes several alleged assaults that happened while the two worked together on hit programs like So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol. Lythgoe co-judged the Fox singing talent show in addition to serving as executive producer.
Paula Abdul filed a sexual assault case against Nigel Lythgoe
Neither Paula Abdul nor Nigel Lythgoe have commented publicly about the case thus far, and neither has answered questions from the media. The lawsuit claims that the first assault happened in the early 2000s, while Lythgoe and Abdul were traveling for regional auditions for American Idol during one of the show’s early seasons.
Abdul claims that Lythgoe attacked her in their hotel’s elevator and fled when the doors opened. Even though she told her delegates right away from her hotel room, she remained silent out of concern for possible consequences like firing.
According to the lawsuit, Lythgoe’s Los Angeles home was the scene of another assault more than ten years later, during what Abdul took to be a business meeting. There, he is said to have made inappropriate approaches, saying they would make an “excellent power couple.”
Abdul allegedly shoved him away in response, showing her disinterest before walking away. Abdul claims that when So You Think You Can Dance was being filmed in Las Vegas that same year, she saw Lythgoe physically abusing one of his assistants.
Paula Abdul’s lawsuit against other productions
In addition, the lawsuit claims that Lythgoe made fun of Abdul and encouraged her to celebrate the fact that the seven-year statute of limitations had run out. Abdul allegedly filed a lawsuit against Lythgoe, American Idol Productions, FremantleMedia North America, Dance Nation Productions, and 19 Entertainment for negligence, sexual assault and battery, and sexual harassment.
Lythgoe reportedly ended his 12-year tenure as a producer on American Idol in 2013 when he was fired from the show.
In court filings that have been reported by US media, it is stated that Abdul decided not to speak out against a well-known television producer of competition shows for years because she was afraid it would damage her career. She was also apparently bound by professional contracts that forbade her from disclosing any information that was considered proprietary or disparaging.
According to reports, the lawsuit was brought under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which allows people to file lawsuits for sexual assault even after the statute of limitations has passed. The act is said to have been in effect for a year.
More about Paula Abdul
American artist Paula Abdul is a multi-talented person well-known for her work as an actress, singer, dancer, choreographer, and TV personality. At the age of eighteen, she started her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers.
She later rose to the position of head choreographer for the Laker Girls, where The Jacksons became interested in her. Abdul became well-known during the music video era after choreographing Janet Jackson’s music videos and landing a record contract with Virgin Records.
In the US, her 1988 debut studio album “Forever Your Girl” sold seven million copies, making it an incredible success. Remarkably, it broke the record for the most number-one hits from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Hits from the album included “Cold Hearted,” “Straight Up,” “Forever Your Girl,” and “Opposites Attract.” Her chart dominance was further cemented with two more chart-toppers from her second album, “Spellbound” (1991): “Rush Rush” and “The Promise of a New Day.”
With six number-one hits on the Hot 100, Abdul’s remarkable accomplishment tied her for third place among female solo artists at the time with Diana Ross.
