Paula Abdul has filed a lawsuit accusing ‘American Idol’ producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her on a number of events.
Abdul filed at a Los Angeles courthouse on Friday (December 29). She recalled two incidents the place Lythgoe allegedly received bodily and forceful along with her.
Hold scrolling to see what Abdul alleges occurred and the way Nigel is responding.
Paula Abdul’s Surprising Claims In opposition to Nigel Lythgoe
Abdul judged the favored expertise present from 2002 to 2009 alongside Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. She detailed an alleged incident the place she had shared an elevator with the producer throughout one of many present’s “preliminary seasons” within the early 2000s.
When the doorways closed, Lythgoe allegedly pushed Abdul up towards the wall and “grabbed her genitals and breasts,” her swimsuit claims, per Deadline. He allegedly “shoved his tongue down her throat.”
Paula managed to tug away and shun his conduct earlier than heading to her lodge room and reporting the incident to her representatives. She finally selected to not pursue any authorized motion over fears that Lythgoe would have her fired from ‘Idol.’
The lawsuit states:
“For years, Abdul has remained silent concerning the sexual assaults and harassment she skilled on account of Lythgoe as a consequence of concern of talking out towards one of the well-known producers of tv competitors reveals who might simply break her profession as a tv persona and of being ostracized and blackballed by an trade that had a sample of defending highly effective males and silencing survivors of sexual assault and harassment.”
The FOX expertise present was arguably the largest competitors sequence of its time, catapulting the careers of artists corresponding to Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks.
In accordance with PEOPLE, the lawsuit additionally claims Paula confronted discrimination “when it comes to compensation and advantages in comparison with one of many present’s male judges and the host.” She additionally claims she was the “goal of fixed taunts, bullying, humiliation, and harassment.”
One other Alleged Sexual Assault Incident Adopted
In 2015, Abdul was a choose on ‘So You Assume You Can Dance,’ one other competitors sequence that Lythgoe was govt producing on the time.
The ‘Straight Up’ singer initially thought she had acquired a “skilled invitation” to his residence. However upon her arrival, Lythgoe “compelled himself on high of Abdul whereas she was seated on his sofa.” He allegedly “tried to kiss her whereas proclaiming that the 2 would make a superb ‘energy couple.”
She, once more, shoved him away and rejected his advances earlier than leaving his property.
The swimsuit additionally named Abdul’s former assistant, April. She allegedly suffered a separate incident of sexual assault by Lythgoe in April 2015.
“One night, Lythgoe approached Abdul and April from behind, pressed himself up towards April, and started to grope her. April didn’t consent,” the lawsuit acknowledged.
Nigel Lythgoe Denies Paula’s Claims
In an unique assertion to TMZ, Nigel denied Paula’s allegations, accusing her of displaying “erratic conduct.”
“To say that I’m shocked and saddened by the allegations made towards me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement. For greater than twenty years, Paula and I’ve interacted as expensive — and fully platonic — associates and colleagues. Yesterday, nonetheless, out of the blue, I realized of those claims within the press, and I wish to be clear: not solely are they false, they’re deeply offensive to me and to the whole lot I stand for. Whereas Paula’s historical past of erratic conduct is well-known, I can’t faux to grasp precisely why she would file a lawsuit that she should know is unfaithful. However I can promise that I’ll struggle this appalling smear with the whole lot I’ve.”
