Renowned singer-dancer Paula Abdul has filed a lawsuit alleging that Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of ‘American Idol’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ sexually assaulted her on two occasions. Abdul, who gained fame in the late 1980s and later became a prominent reality show competition judge, claims that Lythgoe assaulted her in an elevator during an early season of “American Idol,” engaging in unwanted physical advances. The lawsuit further details a separate incident at Lythgoe’s home during Abdul’s tenure on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
In addition to the sexual assault allegations, the lawsuit accuses Lythgoe of verbal harassment, bullying, and gender-based discrimination. Abdul claims she was paid less than her male counterparts on “American Idol” and that the show’s editing portrayed her in a misleading manner. The legal action, filed under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, alleges that Abdul remained silent for years due to fear of reprisal from the influential television producer. The lawsuit also includes an accusation that Lythgoe sexually assaulted one of Abdul’s assistants in 2015.
The suit lists 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America, American Idol Productions, and Dance Nation Productions as co-defendants, asserting that these entities failed to address Lythgoe’s misconduct and shielded him from accountability.
Abdul’s legal action falls within the one-year window provided by the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, allowing the filing of certain sexual abuse lawsuits that would otherwise be outside the statute of limitations. The deadline for such filings is set for December 31.
