I totally didn’t have this on my 2023 bingo card – Former American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance judge Paula Abdul has filed a lawsuit against executive producer Nigel Lythgoe claiming he sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, she alleges the first incident happened during “one of Idol’s initial seasons” while they were on the road for regional auditions. Abdul claims he shoved her against the wall of an elevator and groped her breasts and genitals as he tried to kiss her. https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1740939662133182650 From TMZ:
In the suit, Paula says she tried to push him away, and then ran to her room once the elevator doors opened. Paula says she immediately called one of her reps to inform them about the alleged incident — but fearing she’d be fired in retaliation, she decided to keep quiet.
She says the second alleged encounter happened after she signed a new contract in 2015 to be a judge on ‘SYTYCD’ — which was also executive produced by Lythgoe.
According to the docs, at some point during her 2 seasons on the show, Lythgoe invited Paula to his house to discuss work opportunities … and she says she accepted because she thought it was a professional situation.
However, she claims the evening ended with Lythgoe forcing himself on top of her while she was on a couch … and trying to kiss her. In the suit, she says he was telling her they would make an “excellent power couple.” Paula says she pushed him off of her, said she was not interested and immediately left.
Lythgoe has issued a statement vehemently denying the allegations calling them “false and deeply offensive.” https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1741243647000006909
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