The 74-year-old producer says in a statement that he 'can't pretend to understand exactly' why Paula 'would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue.'
- Dec 31, 2023
AceShowbiz - Nigel Lythgoe has vehemently denied sexual assault allegations leveled at him by Paula Abdul. When responding to the singer's claims, the "American Idol" executive producer declared that he will fight "this appalling smear with everything I have."
"To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement," the 74-year-old told TMZ on Saturday, December 30. "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," he added. "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."
Paula filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles on Friday, claiming that the alleged assault occurred several times. One of the alleged incidents took place during "American Idol" 's initial seasons. The second one occurred in 2014 when the now-61-year-old musician was hosting "So You Think You Can Dance".
In the suit, Paula alleged that before taking on the judge role on "American Idol", she met with several executives in 2001 about the show. During that meeting, she said Nigel "verbally insulted and belittled" her, calling her a "has been" who "probably wouldn't be known by the show's contestants."
Still, Paula decided to join the show by April 2002. However, once she was in, she reportedly got discriminated against and paid less than her fellow male judges. She additionally claimed that Nigel and the show's production bullied her.
Paula stated that Nigel sexually assaulted her in the elevator of a hotel room they were staying at while traveling for one of the show's auditions. "Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat," the suit read.
As to why she kept silent for years, Paula said she was afraid that Nigel would get her fired from her judging posts. Later in 2014, Nigel allegedly sexually assaulted her again at his home after inviting her for dinner, which she believed to be a "professional invitation."
Paula, however, once again didn't speak up on the incident because her contracts on both shows specified that she was "prohibited from publicly disclosing sensitive information" regarding the shows and their business affairs." Aside from Nigel, she listed American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment and Fremantlemedia North America as defendants.
