American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe denies Paula Abdul’s sexual assault claim

31 December 2023 , 05:14

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Paula, 61, has alleged in court papers she was the victim of two assaults by the American Idol executive producer (Image: WireImage)

American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe has denied Paula Abdul’s "shocking" sexual assault claim.

Paula, 61, has claimed in court papers she was the victim of two assaults by the American Idol executive producer, 74. A lawsuit filed on Friday in California accused Lythgoe of "sexual assaults and harassment" while the pair worked on US reality shows American Idol and 'So You Think You Can Dance?'.

In response, Nigel Lythgoe issued a statement to celebrity publication TMZ, denying the claims: "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.

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"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."

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American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe denies Paula Abdul’s sexual assault claim

Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe (WireImage)

The pair worked on American Idol (WireImage)

The paperwork claims that Lythgoe groped Paula in a hotel lift during an early series of American Idol - which he denies. The papers claim: "Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat.

"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."

Abdul said she chose not to speak up fearing she could be fired as a judge on American Idol by Lythgoe, the show's executive producer. She claims he later assaulted her again in 2014 at his home while working as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. The Mirror has contacted Mr Lythgoe and Ms Abdul's representatives for comment.

The documents, which were obtained by TMZ, claim: "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."

Paula Abdul (centre) and Nigel Lythgoe (right) (FOX Image Collection via Getty Images)

The lawsuit also accuses Lythgoe of verbal harassment, bullying, and discrimination against Abdul, who alleges she was paid less than the male judges on American Idol. She also claims that she saw Lythgoe sexually assault one of her assistants in April 2015.

All of the claims have been denied.

The lawsuit claims: "For years, Abdul has remained silent about the sexual assaults and harassment she experienced on account of Lythgoe due to fear of speaking out against one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows who could easily break her career as a television personality and of being ostracised and blackballed by an industry that had a pattern of protecting powerful men and silencing survivors of sexual assault and harassment."

Abdul, who quit American Idol in 2009 amid rumours of a pay dispute, 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 is best known for producing shows including Blind Date and Gladiators and for his cruel jibes on Popstars. He once made singer Kym Marsh - a member of the group Hear'Say - cry after telling her: "Christmas may be gone, but I see the goose is still fat."

In 2015 Lythgoe was awarded an OBE for services to education, charity and the arts. Two years ago he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.