, , , , , , , ,

Paula Abdul Sues ‘American Idol’ Producer Nigel Lythgoe Over Sexual Assault Claims


Paula Abdul is suing Nigel Lythgoe over claims that the former American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producer sexually assaulted her while she was filming the competition television shows.


The singer-dancer claims in the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday (Dec. 29) and obtained by Billboard, that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her on two occasions. The first instance allegedly occurred during one of the early seasons of American Idol and the second took place in 2014 when she was in talks to judge So You Think You Can Dance.


Abdul, 61, alleges in the suit that Lythgoe, 74, first sexually assaulted her in an elevator of a hotel where they were both staying while traveling for one of Idol’s “initial seasons.” It does not state a specific year the alleged incident occurred.


“Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat,” according to court documents. “Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her and let him know his behavior was not acceptable. When the doors to the elevator for her door opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room. In tears, Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform them of the assault, but ultimately decided not to take action for fear that Lythgoe would have her fired from American Idol.”


Abdul’s complaint claims that Lythgoe sexually assaulted Abdul again in 2014 when she was approached for a judging position on So You Think You Can Dance. The alleged incident took place during a dinner at his home where the two were supposed to discuss her professional opportunities, according to the lawsuit.


“Toward the end of the evening, however, Lythgoe forced himself on top of Abdul while she was seated on his couch and attempted to kiss her while proclaiming that the two would make an excellent ‘power couple,’” the complaint states. “Abdul pushed Lythgoe off of her, explaining that she was not interested in his advances, and immediately left Lythgoe’s home.”


The suit also alleges that Abdul witnessed Lythgoe sexually assault one of her assistants while filming So You Think You Can Dance in 2015. Lythgoe allegedly “pressed himself” against the woman and “began to grope her” without consent, court document states.


The “Strait Up” hitmaker’s suit further claims that Lythgoe taunted her on the phone about his alleged assaults and states that he “clearly knew that his assaults of Abdul were not just wrong but that he held the power to keep her silent.”


In addition to Lythgoe, the lawsuit names the shows’ production companies American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment and Fremantlemedia North America are also listed as defendants. Abdul is suing the defendants for sexual assault/battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence.


Representatives for Abdul and Lythgoe did not immediately reply to Billboard‘s request for comment at press time.

https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/paula-abdul-nigel-lythgoe-american-idol-sexual-assault-lawsuit-1235574057/


July 2024
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  

About Us

Welcome to encircle News! We are a cutting-edge technology news company that is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in everything tech. From automobiles to drones, software to hardware, we’ve got you covered.

At encircle News, we believe that technology is more than just a tool, it’s a way of life. And we’re here to help you stay on top of all the latest trends and developments in this ever-evolving field. We know that technology is constantly changing, and that can be overwhelming, but we’re here to make it easy for you to keep up.

We’re a team of tech enthusiasts who are passionate about everything tech and love to share our knowledge with others. We believe that technology should be accessible to everyone, and we’re here to make sure it is. Our mission is to provide you with fun, engaging, and informative content that helps you to understand and embrace the latest technologies.

From the newest cars on the road to the latest drones taking to the skies, we’ve got you covered. We also dive deep into the world of software and hardware, bringing you the latest updates on everything from operating systems to processors.

So whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a business professional, or just someone who wants to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in technology, encircle News is the place for you. Join us on this exciting journey and be a part of shaping the future.

Podcasts

TWiT 986: Our Dope GPS! – Supreme Court Decisions, Snapdragon X Elite Tests This Week in Tech (Audio)

Supreme Court Decisions, Snapdragon X Elite Tests Murthy Decision Should Not Foreclose Cases Against Actual First Amendment Violations What SCOTUS just did to broadband, the right to repair, the environment, and more Nearly 4,000 arrested in global police crackdown on online scam networks Mark Cuban's public email was hacked after receiving call from a fake Google rep The Julian Assange Saga Is Finally Over Microsoft's bundling of Office and Teams breaks antitrust law, EU says EU Competition Commissioner says Apple's decision to pull AI from EU shows anticompetitive behavior Microsoft says it's okay to steal content published on the web Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC is finally the best clamshell laptop on the market after 8 years of iterations Tested: Don't buy a Snapdragon X Elite laptop for PC gaming Signal 65 Snapdragon battery testing The RIAA's lawsuit against generative music startups will be the bloodbath AI needs Wherein The Copia Institute Asks The Second Circuit To Stand Up For Fair Use, The Internet Archive, And Why We Bother To Have Copyright Law At All Redbox's owner files for bankruptcy after repeatedly missing payments and payroll Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Cathy Gellis, Ryan Shrout, and Doc Rock Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: lookout.com 1password.com/twit
  1. TWiT 986: Our Dope GPS! – Supreme Court Decisions, Snapdragon X Elite Tests
  2. TWiT 985: TikTok With Wings – AT&T Landlines, US Bans Kaspersky and DJI
  3. TWiT 984: Fifty-three Clicks – Bot Farms in Ukraine, LA Public Health Dept. Phished
  4. TWiT 983: Digital Snackwells – NVIDIA's Thor, Adobe's TOS, Insta's Unskippable Ads
  5. TWiT 982: International Trash – Startup Chaos, Breaking Ticketmaster, Ultrasonic Coffee