Paula Abdul Accuses American Idol Producer Nigel Lythgoe of Sexual Assault – The Hollywood Reporter

Paula Abdul has sued Nigel Lythgoe, former American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producer, claiming he sexually assaulted her twice.

The singer filed a lawsuit on Friday against Lythgoe and the show’s production companies, alleging that the producer sexually assaulted her during one of the early seasons of American Idol, and then in 2014 while she was hosting So You Think You Can Dance.

In one instance, according to documents obtained by Rolling Stone magazine, the suit alleges Lythgoe sexually assaulted Abdul in an elevator of a hotel they were both staying at while traveling for one of the singing competition show’s auditions. The suit doesn’t give a year the incident happened, but claims it was during the show’s “initial seasons.”

“Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat,” the complaint states. “Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her. When the doors to the elevator for her door opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room. Abdul quickly called one of her representatives in tears to inform them of the assault.”

Years later, the suit claims Lythgoe sexually assaulted her again in 2014 when she was invited to his home for a dinner. The complaint said Abdul only attended the dinner because she thought it was a “professional invitation.”

“Toward the end of the evening, 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,’” Rolling Stone reported the suit said. “Abdul pushed Lythgoe off of her, explaining that she was not interested in his advances and immediately left.”

In the suit, Abdul said she didn’t speak out about either of the claims because she feared retaliation following both alleged incidents. Abdul’s contracts on both American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance also specified that she was “prohibited from publicly disclosing sensitive information” regarding the shows and their business affairs, according to the complaint.

Elsewhere in the suit, Abdul said she also witnessed Lythgoe sexually assault one of her assistants at the time while filming So You Think You Can Dance in 2015. The singer claims Lythgoe “approached Abdul and April from behind pressed himself up against April and began to grope her. April did not consent.”

Abdul’s lawsuit claims Lythgoe proceeded to tease her on the phone about his alleged behavior and incidents, and said he “clearly knew that his assaults of Abdul were not just wrong but that he held the power to keep her silent.”

Lythgoe produced American Idol from 2002 to 2014 and produced So You Think You Can Dance from 2005 to 2014.

In addition to Lythgoe, the shows’ production companies American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment and Fremantlemedia North America were also all listed as defendants in the suit.

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to reps for Lythgoe and American Idol for comment.

Paula Abdul has sued Nigel Lythgoe, former American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producer, claiming he sexually assaulted her twice.

The singer filed a lawsuit on Friday against Lythgoe and the show’s production companies, alleging that the producer sexually assaulted her during one of the early seasons of American Idol, and then in 2014 while she was hosting So You Think You Can Dance.

In one instance, according to documents obtained by Rolling Stone magazine, the suit alleges Lythgoe sexually assaulted Abdul in an elevator of a hotel they were both staying at while traveling for one of the singing competition show’s auditions. The suit doesn’t give a year the incident happened, but claims it was during the show’s “initial seasons.”

“Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat,” the complaint states. “Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her. When the doors to the elevator for her door opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room. Abdul quickly called one of her representatives in tears to inform them of the assault.”

Years later, the suit claims Lythgoe sexually assaulted her again in 2014 when she was invited to his home for a dinner. The complaint said Abdul only attended the dinner because she thought it was a “professional invitation.”

“Toward the end of the evening, 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,’” Rolling Stone reported the suit said. “Abdul pushed Lythgoe off of her, explaining that she was not interested in his advances and immediately left.”

In the suit, Abdul said she didn’t speak out about either of the claims because she feared retaliation following both alleged incidents. Abdul’s contracts on both American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance also specified that she was “prohibited from publicly disclosing sensitive information” regarding the shows and their business affairs, according to the complaint.

Elsewhere in the suit, Abdul said she also witnessed Lythgoe sexually assault one of her assistants at the time while filming So You Think You Can Dance in 2015. The singer claims Lythgoe “approached Abdul and April from behind pressed himself up against April and began to grope her. April did not consent.”

Abdul’s lawsuit claims Lythgoe proceeded to tease her on the phone about his alleged behavior and incidents, and said he “clearly knew that his assaults of Abdul were not just wrong but that he held the power to keep her silent.”

Lythgoe produced American Idol from 2002 to 2014 and produced So You Think You Can Dance from 2005 to 2014.

In addition to Lythgoe, the shows’ production companies American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment and Fremantlemedia North America were also all listed as defendants in the suit.

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to reps for Lythgoe and American Idol for comment.