Paula Abdul has filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing American Idol executive producer and So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault and gender-based violence. The lawsuit alleges long-term harassment, including taunts, bullying, humiliation, and harassment by various individuals associated with the production of American Idol.
The main focus is on two instances of alleged physical attacks by Lythgoe against Abdul, one during her time on American Idol in the early 2000s and another in 2015 during her tenure as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. Abdul did not come forward earlier due to fear of retaliation and contractual restrictions.
Breaking: Paula Abdul Raises Allegations of Sexual Assault Against ‘American Idol’ Producer
The complaint also implicates co-defendants, including American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment, and Fremantlemedia North America, for allegedly being aware of Lythgoe’s behavior and doing nothing. Abdul’s allegations come amidst a series of high-profile lawsuits in California, filed before the expiration of the Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which includes a one-year window for plaintiffs to file claims related to sexual abuse cover-ups.
Other states, including New York, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Colorado, have also enacted similar laws to provide survivors with more opportunities to speak out.
