Paula Abdul settles lawsuit alleging sexual assault by 'American Idol'
producer Nigel Lythgoe
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[December 14, 2024]
By ANDREW DALTON
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paula Abdul and former “American Idol” producer Nigel
Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually
assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show.
Abdul filed a notice of settlement of the case in Los Angeles Superior
Court on Thursday. It still must be approved by a judge.
“I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is
now something I can now put behind me," Abdul said in a statement
Friday. "This has been a long and hard-fought personal battle. I hope my
experience can serve to inspire other women, facing similar struggles,
to overcome their own challenges with dignity and respect, so that they
too can turn the page and begin a new chapter of their lives.”
In his own statement, Lythgoe said, “We live in a troubling time where a
person is now automatically assumed to be guilty until proven innocent,
a process that can take years. That is why, like Paula, I am glad to be
able to put this behind me. I know the truth and that gives me great
comfort.”
The court filing said the settlement was unconditional, but did not
reveal the terms, and Abdul’s attorney Melissa Eubanks said she could
not comment on them
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The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago had also accused Lythgoe of sexually
assaulting Abdul after she left “American Idol” and became a judge on
Lythgoe's other competition show, “So You Think You Can Dance."
Lythgoe said at the time that he was “shocked and saddened” by the
allegations, which he called “an appalling smear.”
After other lawsuits were filed alleging sexual misconduct, Lythgoe
stepped down in January from his role as a judge on “So You Think You
Can Dance.”
The 75-year-old English-born producer has been a prominent TV producer
for decades in both the U.K. and the U.S., working on reality
competition shows including “American Idol.”
The Associated Press generally does not identify alleged victims of
sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, as Abdul has done.
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Nigel Lythgoe arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Robin
Williams: Come Inside My Mind" on June 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris
Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
 Abdul, a Grammy and Emmy-winning
singer and dancer, said in the lawsuit that she remained silent for
years about the alleged assaults out of fear of retaliation by “one
of the most well-known producers of television competition shows.”
She alleged that the first sexual assault occurred while Abdul and
Lythgoe were on the road filming auditions for an early season of
“American Idol,” which premiered in 2002.
Abdul says Lythgoe groped her in the elevator of their hotel after a
day of filming and “began shoving his tongue down her throat.” Abdul
pushed him away and ran to her hotel room when the elevator doors
opened.
“In tears, Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform
them of the assault,” the lawsuit says, “but ultimately decided not
to take action for fear that Lythgoe would have her fired.”
Abdul starred as a judge for the first eight seasons, leaving in
2009.
In 2015, Abdul became a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance,”
appearing alongside Lythgoe.
Around that time, Abdul alleged in the lawsuit, Lythgoe forced
himself on top of her during a dinner at his home and tried to kiss
her. Abdul said she again pushed Lythgoe away and immediately left.
Abdul left that reality show after two seasons. She has not worked
with Lythgoe since.
In a statement at the time of the suit, Lythgoe said “While Paula’s
history of erratic behavior is well known, I can’t pretend to
understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know
is untrue.”
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