Nigel Lythgoe has turn into the topic of an investigation led by Sony Footage Tv’s 19 Leisure, which co-produces “So You Suppose You Can Dance” with Dick Clark Productions, an insider tells Selection.
Sony declined to touch upon the investigation.
The manager producer of “So You Suppose You Can Dance” and “American Idol” was just lately hit by two sexual assault lawsuits, together with one filed by Paula Abdul on Dec. 29. Abdul additionally sued 19 Leisure, FremantleMedia North America, American Idol Productions and Dance Nation Productions for failing to self-discipline Lythgoe and defending him from accountability.
“For years, Abdul has remained silent concerning the sexual assaults and harassment she skilled on account of Lythgoe attributable to concern of talking out in opposition to probably the most well-known producers of tv competitors exhibits who might simply break her profession as a tv character and of being ostracized and blackballed by an business that had a sample of defending highly effective males and silencing survivors of sexual assault and harassment,” the lawsuit states.
Lythgoe denied the allegations in a press release made on Dec. 30.
“To say that I’m shocked and saddened by the allegations made in opposition to me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement,” he mentioned. “For greater than 20 years, Paula and I’ve interacted as expensive – and completely platonic – mates and colleagues. Yesterday, nevertheless, 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 all the pieces 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 combat this appalling smear with all the pieces I’ve.”
Lythgoe can be dealing with allegations from two contestants on “All American Woman,” a contest present that aired on ABC in 2003, in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday.
