Paula Abdul has sued Nigel Lythgoe, former American Idol and So You Suppose You Can Dance producer, claiming he sexually assaulted her twice.
The singer filed a lawsuit on Friday towards Lythgoe and the present’s manufacturing corporations, alleging that the producer sexually assaulted her throughout one of many early seasons of American Idol, after which in 2014 whereas she was internet hosting So You Suppose You Can Dance.
In a single occasion, in accordance with paperwork obtained by Rolling Stone journal, the swimsuit alleges Lythgoe sexually assaulted Abdul in an elevator of a lodge they have been each staying at whereas touring for one of many singing competitors present’s auditions. The swimsuit doesn’t give a yr the incident occurred, however claims it was throughout the present’s “preliminary seasons.”
“Lythgoe shoved Abdul towards the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and started shoving his tongue down her throat,” the criticism states. “Abdul tried to push Lythgoe away from her. When the doorways to the elevator for her door opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her lodge room. Abdul shortly referred to as certainly one of her representatives in tears to tell them of the assault.”
Years later, the swimsuit claims Lythgoe sexually assaulted her once more in 2014 when she was invited to his dwelling for a dinner. The criticism mentioned Abdul solely attended the dinner as a result of she thought it was a “skilled invitation.”
“Towards the tip of the night, Lythgoe pressured himself on high of Abdul whereas she was seated on his sofa and tried to kiss her whereas proclaiming that the 2 would make a wonderful ‘energy couple,’” Rolling Stone reported the swimsuit mentioned. “Abdul pushed Lythgoe off of her, explaining that she was not thinking about his advances and instantly left.”
Within the swimsuit, Abdul mentioned she didn’t converse out about both of the claims as a result of she feared retaliation following each alleged incidents. Abdul’s contracts on each American Idol and So You Suppose You Can Dance additionally specified that she was “prohibited from publicly disclosing delicate info” relating to the reveals and their enterprise affairs, in accordance with the criticism.
Elsewhere within the swimsuit, Abdul mentioned she additionally witnessed Lythgoe sexually assault certainly one of her assistants on the time whereas filming So You Suppose You Can Dance in 2015. The singer claims Lythgoe “approached Abdul and April from behind pressed himself up towards April and started to grope her. April didn’t consent.”
Abdul’s lawsuit claims Lythgoe proceeded to tease her on the cellphone about his alleged habits and incidents, and mentioned he “clearly knew that his assaults of Abdul weren’t simply improper however that he held the facility to maintain her silent.”
Lythgoe produced American Idol from 2002 to 2014 and produced So You Suppose You Can Dance from 2005 to 2014.
Along with Lythgoe, the reveals’ manufacturing corporations American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Leisure and Fremantlemedia North America have been additionally all listed as defendants within the swimsuit.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to reps for Lythgoe and American Idol for remark.
