Paula Abdul accuses Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault in a new lawsuit

Paula Abdul has named a reality TV producer Nigel Lythgoe in a new lawsuit, in which he is accused of sexual assault, We weekly can confirm.

Abdul, 61, alleged that Lythgoe, 74, assaulted her multiple times when she was a judge in both American Idol And So you think you can dance, according to court documents obtained by Rolling stone. Abdul filed her lawsuit on Friday, December 29. (Lythgoe has not publicly discussed Abdul’s allegations. Us has reached out to both Lythgoe and Abdul for comment.)

Abdul was a judge American Idol for the first eight seasons, starting in 2002. Lythgoe, meanwhile, served as the singing competition’s producer until 2014. According to Abdul’s lawsuit, she alleged that Lythgoe “verbally insulted and belittled” her and called her a “has-been” when they met for the first time when she registered as a judge. She also alleged that Lythgoe bullied her after she took the jury gig.

Abdul also alleged that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her in a hotel room elevator while they were traveling for auditions in one of the “early seasons” of Idol. Abdul did not mention a specific year of the meeting, but claimed that Lythgoe “pushed [her] against the wall” and felt her body.

‘Abdul tried to push Lythgoe away from her. When the elevator doors opened in front of her, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room,” according to court documents. “Abdul quickly called one of her representatives in tears to inform them of the attack.”

Abdul chose not to address the allegations at the time, fearing retaliation, and claimed in her lawsuit that Lythgoe had the power to fire her. American Idol.

Several years later, Abdul alleged that Lythgoe assaulted her for a second time in 2014. She alleged that Lythgoe invited her to his home for a professional dinner meeting, where he allegedly “forced himself [her]’ and ‘tried to kiss her.’

Related: ‘American Idol’ reviews the years and why they left

A revolving door! When American Idol debuted on Fox in 2002, music manager Randy Jackson, choreographer Paula Abdul and music director Simon Cowell made up the judging panel. Throughout the show’s first seven seasons, the trio remained the faces of the series, along with host Ryan Seacrest. (Comedian Brian Dunkleman co-hosted the […]

“Abdul pushed Lythgoe away from her, explained that she was not interested in his advances and immediately left,” the complaint reads, noting that Abdul chose not to publicly discuss the alleged incident because of her contracts.

Abdul, who recently joined the So you think you can dance judgements panel in 2014 alongside Lythgoe, alleged in her legal filing that her contracts belonged to both Idol And SYTYCD “forbidden [her] of disclosing sensitive information” about the shows and its business affairs.

During her time on So you think you can dance, Abdul also allegedly witnessed Lythgoe sexually assaulting one of her assistants without consent. Lythgoe has not publicly discussed the claims.

Abdul filed her lawsuit, seeking damages for assault/abuse, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence, in Los Angeles under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which gave victims a year to report sexual abuse in to serve. abuse lawsuits that would otherwise fall outside the statute of limitations. The deadline ends on Sunday, December 31.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).