Paula Abdul has filed a sexual assault lawsuit against ‘American Idol’ executive Nigel Lythgoe, painting an altogether different experience at the hit show than once thought.
Full story below…
In a bombshell suit, Abdul – who served as a judge on the show for seven seasons – claims Lythgoe assaulted her multiple times.
She asserts that the first incident occurred during “one of Idol’s initial seasons” while the production travelled for regional auditions.
Per Abdul, Lythgoe walked into an elevator she was in at their hotel and when the doors closed he allegedly shoved her against the wall and grabbed her breasts and breast…the while attempting to tongue-kiss her. The ‘Straight Up’ singer claims she tried to push him away, eventually breaking free and ran to her room once the elevator doors opened.
Notably, Abdul asserts that she called and informed a rep about the alleged incident. However, fearing she would be fired in retaliation, she opted to be keep silent on the matter.
Another incident took place years later in 2015 while on production for another show, ‘So You Think You Can Dance.
Abdul says she was signed on to be a judge on the show – which was executive produced by Lythgoe.
At some point during her two season stint on the series, the performer says Lythgoe invited her to his home to discuss work opportunities. She says she accepted as she interpreted it as a professional meet.
That wasn’t the case, according to the suit.
Instead, she claims the night ended with Lythgoe forcing himself on top of her while she was on a couch … and trying to kiss her. He’s quoted as allegedly telling her that they’d make an “excellent power couple.”
She says she pushed him off her, stressed that she wasn’t interested, and immediately left.
Her suit doesn’t limit the allegations to actions carried out against her. For, Abdul also claims that saw Lythgoe grope one of her assistants in 2015.
Th 61-year-old further alleges that Lythgoe “taunted” her in the time afterwards, mockingly pointing to the fact that “7 years and the statute of limitations had run.”
Beyond the alleged assaults, Abdul alleges that she is the victim of harassment and discrimination – in regards to compensation – during her ‘Idol’ tenture.
As a result of all, she is suing Lythgoe, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence.
Abdul’s suit is made possible by California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act – which grants plaintiffs an extended window to file claims that would otherwise be impossible due to the statute of limitations.
At the time of writing, there has been no publicised response from Lythgoe and the associated parties.