Paula Abdul has accused former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her.
The singer, 61, alleged in court documents that she was the victim of two assaults by the TV producer, 74, who has denied the allegations. On Friday (December 29), the TV star filed a lawsuit in California accusing Lythgoe of “sexual assaults and harassment” while they worked on the US reality shows American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance?.
The papers allege that he groped Paula in a hotel lift during an early series of American Idol. The papers claim: “Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat.
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“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.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Abdul quickly called one of her representatives in tears to inform them of her assault.” The presenter claimed she chose not to speak up at the time due to fears that she could be fired as a judge on the show by Lythgoe, the show’s executive producer.
She alleged he assaulted her again in 2014 at his home while she worked as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. The documents, obtained by TMZ claimed the producer thought they could become the next big “power couple”.
They read: “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. Abdul pushed Lythgoe off of her, explaining that she was not interested in his advances and immediately left.”
(Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images for LA Pride)
The lawsuit accused the producer of verbal harassment, bullying and discrimination, and claims she was paid less than the male judges on American Idol. Paula, who quit American Idol in 2009 amid rumours of a pay dispute, also alleged she saw Lythgoe sexually assault one of her assistants in April 2015.
The court filing claims that the singer has remained silent about the alleged abuse due to “fear of speaking out against one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows who could easily break her career”. The papers also state how professional contracts “prohibited” her from disclosing any information deemed “derogatory”.
Abdul is also suing production companies 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America, American Idol Productions and Dance Nation Productions for allegedly failing to take steps to hold Lythgoe accountable. Lythgoe has denied Paula Abdul’s sexual assault claim and insists he’s “shocked and saddened” by them.
(Image: zz/GPTCW/STAR MAX/IPx)
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Lythgoe has refuted the claims. A statement published by TMZ read: “To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement.
“For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear – and entirely platonic – friends and colleagues. Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for.
“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. But I can promise that I will fight this appalling smear with everything I have.” Daily Star has contacted My Lythgoe and Ms Abdul’s representatives for a comment.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
