In a shocking turn of events, former 'American Idol' judge Paula Abdul has come forward with allegations of sexual assault against former producer Nigel Lythgoe. According to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Abdul claims that she was assaulted by Lythgoe both during her time on 'American Idol' and later on his other show, 'So You Think You Can Dance.'
Abdul's lawyer, Douglas Johnson, commended her bravery for speaking out publicly about the assaults. He praised her for standing up not only for herself but also for other survivors who have faced similar situations. It was no doubt a difficult decision for Abdul to make, but she is determined to see justice served.
The lawsuit reveals that Paula Abdul had remained silent for years, fearing retaliation from Lythgoe, who was a powerful figure in the world of television competition shows. Lythgoe's career spans across various hit shows, including the British franchise 'Pop Idol,' which eventually became hugely successful worldwide.
According to the lawsuit, the first assault occurred while Abdul and Lythgoe were on the road filming auditions for an earlier season of 'American Idol.' Allegedly, Lythgoe groped Abdul in an elevator and forcefully kissed her. Distressed by the incident, Abdul immediately reached out to one of her representatives at the time, but ultimately chose not to take action, fearing that Lythgoe would have her fired from the show.
Abdul, who had a successful career as a Grammy- and Emmy-winning artist, served as a judge on 'American Idol' for the first eight seasons before departing in 2009. She later joined Lythgoe on 'So You Think You Can Dance' as a judge in 2015 for two seasons before leaving the show entirely. Since then, she has not worked with Lythgoe.
The lawsuit also claims that Lythgoe continued to taunt Abdul about the assaults, even going so far as to say that they should celebrate because the statute of limitations had run out. These alleged comments only further underline the toxic environment Abdul experienced during her time working with Lythgoe.
Abdul filed the lawsuit just days before the deadline set by a California law that created a one-year window for victims to file sexual abuse claims after the statute of limitations had expired. This law has resulted in over 3,700 legal claims in New York, which had a similar provision but has now expired.
It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will unfold and what impact it will have on the career and reputation of Nigel Lythgoe. However, in a time where the entertainment industry is being forced to confront long-standing issues of abuse and harassment, the courage of survivors like Paula Abdul to come forward cannot be underestimated. These brave individuals are paving the way for a safer and more respectful industry for everyone involved.
