Paula Abdul alleged in a lawsuit on Friday that she was twice sexually assaulted by Nigel Lythgoe, the chief producer of “American Idol” and “So You Suppose You Can Dance.”
Abdul rose to stardom within the late 80s and constructed a second profession as a choose of actuality present competitions within the early 2000s. Within the swimsuit, she alleges that in one of many early seasons of “American Idol,” Lythgoe sexually assaulted her in an elevator.
She alleges that he shoved her towards a wall, groped her breasts and genitals, and shoved his tongue down her throat. In accordance with the swimsuit, she tried to push him away, and as quickly because the resort door opened, she ran to her room.
Years later, Abdul was a choose on “So You Suppose You Can Dance.” Lythgoe invited her to his house for dinner, and she or he accepted, pondering it could be an expert encounter. Nonetheless, in keeping with the swimsuit, Lythgoe pressured himself on prime of her whereas she was sitting on his sofa, tried to kiss her, and mentioned they might make an ideal “energy couple.”
Once more, she pushed him away and fled his house, the lawsuit states.
The swimsuit additionally accuses Lythgoe of verbal harassment and bullying, and alleges that Abdul was discriminated towards, and was paid lower than male judges on “American Idol.” The swimsuit additional alleges that the present could be edited in a deceptive strategy to make her seem inept.
Moreover, Abdul alleges that she witnessed Lythgoe sexually assault considered one of her assistants in April 2015, urgent up towards the assistant and groping her with out consent.
“For years, Abdul has remained silent in regards to the sexual assaults and harassment she skilled on account of Lythgoe because of concern of talking out towards some of the 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.
The swimsuit alleges that Lythgoe’s conduct was widespread information, and cites a MADtv parody wherein Lythgoe was seen harassing contestants.
In accordance with the swimsuit, Lythgoe known as Abdul as soon as and taunted her, saying it had been “seven years and the statute of limitations had run.”
Abdul signed non-disclosure agreements as a part of her employment on each actuality exhibits, which prevented her from disclosing confidential or derogatory info.
Abdul filed the swimsuit beneath California’s Sexual Abuse and Cowl-Up Accountability Act, which created a one-year window to file sure sexual abuse lawsuits that might in any other case be exterior the statute of limitations. The deadline to file is Dec. 31.
Abdul additionally sued 19 Leisure, FremantleMedia North America, American Idol Productions, and Dance Nation Productions. The swimsuit alleges the businesses didn’t take steps to self-discipline Lythgoe and guarded him from accountability.
