Paula Abdul has sued Nigel Lythgoe for sexual assault.
Dec. 29 2023, Revealed 11:09 p.m. ET
Paula Abdul has sued Nigel Lythgoe for sexual assault, claiming the American Idol govt compelled himself on her throughout her stints as a decide on the singing competitors present in addition to So You Suppose You Can Dance, RadarOnline.com has discovered.
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles court docket on Friday, outlining Abdul’s surprising allegations.
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Based on the Straight Up singer, 61, the primary alleged assault occurred throughout “one in every of Idol’s preliminary seasons” whereas they had been on the street for the audition course of.
Within the paperwork obtained by TMZ, Abdul claimed Lythgoe shoved her towards a wall in a resort elevator, grabbed her breasts and genitals, and tried to stay his tongue down her throat.
The singer claimed the primary alleged assault occurred throughout “one in every of Idol’s preliminary seasons” whereas they had been on the street for the audition course of.
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She mentioned she pushed him away and ran out of the elevator and into her resort room as quickly because the doorways opened. Abdul claimed she instantly referred to as her consultant to report the alleged incident however did not pursue her accusations as a result of she feared she’d be fired.
Abdul claimed that the second alleged assault occurred in 2015 when she signed a brand new contract to be a decide on SYTYCD, additionally executive-produced by Lythgoe.
She claimed he grabbed her breasts and genitals whereas making an attempt to kiss her in an elevator.
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The Opposites Entice singer claimed that the tv mogul, 74, invited her to his house, claiming they’d talk about profession alternatives. She mentioned she accepted underneath the pretense it was a piece state of affairs.
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Abdul claimed the alleged incident was something however skilled. Within the paperwork, the performer accused Lythgoe of forcing himself on high of her as she sat on his sofa and, once more, allegedly tried kissing her. She claimed he instructed her they’d make an “glorious energy couple” earlier than she pushed him off of her, mentioned she wasn’t , and beelined it out of his home.
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The second alleged assault occurred in 2015 when she signed a brand new contract to be a decide on ‘SYTYCD.’
One other haunting accusation is that Abdul alleged Lythgoe referred to as her in some unspecified time in the future after the alleged incidents and “taunted” her by saying they need to have fun as a result of it had been “7 years and the statute of limitations had run.”
The Perpetually Your Woman singer alleged she was a sufferer of harassment and discrimination throughout her time on American Idol — so she’s suing Lythgoe, 19 Leisure, and FremantleMedia North America for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, and negligence.
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Abdul would not declare to be Lythgoe’s solely alleged sufferer.
However Abdul would not declare to be Lythgoe’s solely alleged sufferer. She additionally claimed to have witnessed him groping one in every of her assistants in 2015 throughout her SYTYCD judging stint.
Abdul’s lawsuit falls underneath California’s Sexual Abuse and Cowl Up Accountability Act, which waives the statute of limitations on some sexual misconduct allegations.
RadarOnline.com has contacted Lythgoe’s rep for remark.