American Idol Executive SUED For Sexual Assault By Former Show Host

Why does this sort of thing continue to plague the entertainment industry?

61-year-old former American Idol host Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit against American Idol executive Nigel Lythgoe for sexual assault on Friday.

Abdul claims that Lythgoe assaulted her on two occasions while she was working on American Idol and “So You Think You Can Dance” television shows.

Lythgoe, who is an executive television producer for both shows, denied the allegations in several statements.

Whether or not the claims made by Abdul are true or not remains to be seen, but why do we keep seeing stories like this in Hollywood, the music industry, and politics?

Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit accusing British television executive Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her when they worked together on two popular talent shows https://t.co/E5SCu1Dtvv pic.twitter.com/CInzkSQDbu

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2023

Lythgoe responded to Abdul’s claims: “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.”

Nigel Lythgoe responds to Paula Abdul's sexual assault claims:

“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… pic.twitter.com/k3VP1I6Olp

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 31, 2023

Fox News outlined one of the incidents Abdul alleges occurred in an elevator when she was working on American Idol:

In the lawsuit, Abdul claimed that the first alleged sexual assault incident occurred in an elevator during one of the “initial seasons” of “American Idol.”

“Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat,” the court documents read.

The lawsuit continued, “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.”

Chuck Callesto explained: “The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles last Friday. According to court documents reviewed by The Blast, the 61-year-old singer, known for her hit “Opposites Attract,” alleges that Lythgoe, 74, committed sexual assault against her multiple times and also engaged in verbal insults and belittlement.”

JUST IN: Paula Abdul SUES 'American Idol' Producer and 'So You Think You Can Dance' Colleague Nigel Lythgoe, Citing Allegations of Sexual Misconduct..

Paula Abdul has initiated legal proceedings against Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of American Idol and her previous… pic.twitter.com/mIfVRhZaQA

— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) December 30, 2023

Paula Abdul sues So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act..We already saw Vin Diesel become one of the first big names to be hit with this lawsuit and now Paula Abdul is now one of the… pic.twitter.com/FAfq4eoEqQ

— 📍Your Source For Pop Culture News📍 (@AyoVeezy) December 30, 2023

Daily Mail detailed a second incident Abdul alleges to have happened:

The second alleged assault was at Lythgoe’s £22 million Hollywood home in 2014 when they were judges on So You Think You Can Dance, the hit US show hosted by Britain’s Cat Deeley.

Court papers claim Lythgoe ‘forced himself on top of her while she was seated on his couch and attempted to kiss her while proclaiming that the two would make an excellent power couple’.