Dancer and singer Paula Abdul had a successful run as a judge on American Idol and later, So You Think You Can Dance. But her name has been in the headlines recently because she accused Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault. Nigel served as an executive producer on both SYTYCD and American Idol. Paula filed a lawsuit against Nigel in December 2023.
In the lawsuit, Paula alleged that Nigel sexually assaulted her during “one of Idol’s initial seasons.” The second alleged assault took place in 2015 after she signed the contract to be a judge on SYTYCD.
Although Nigel denied Paula’s allegations, he “voluntarily” dropped out of serving as a judge on Season 18 of SYTYCD. Then Nigel was hit with another lawsuit from two contestants on the 2003 series All American Girl.
Nigel fires back at Paula Abdul
Radar Online reported that Nigel intends to have his day in court. He wants a trial in front of a jury to deny Paula’s “baseless” accusations. In the court papers, Nigel also claimed that her accusations were “purely fictional.”
He added that the singer “concocted” the claims and that her complaints “amount to an unjustified and baseless character assassination, with careless disregard for the statutory authority making these allegations untimely.” Nigel also said in the legal papers that Paula had “absolutely no substantiating evidence” to prove her claims. He stated that the incidents, which allegedly happened at a hotel and Nigel’s home, “did not occur.”
He also pointed out that they “continued to work together on several new ventures, as well as remaining personal friends” after the alleged assaults took place. Nigel intends to “prove the falsity of these allegations and the Plaintiff’s improper motives for bringing them” in court.
As you may recall, Paula filed the lawsuit under the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act. This bill, which took effect on January 1, 2023, gave survivors more time to take legal action in cases where the statute of limitations had expired.
Meanwhile, a fourth woman also came forward with accusations against Nigel.
American Idol airs on Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC, while SYTYCD airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on FOX.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF NIGEL’S RESPONSE TO PAULA’S CLAIMS? ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT HE WANTS A JURY TRIAL?
