US singer accuses and sues top producer for sexual assault during reality show

According to court documents, American singer, dancer, and “American Idol” star Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit against British television executive Nigel Lythgoe, alleging that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her during their collaboration on two popular talent shows. In a lawsuit submitted on Friday to Los Angeles County Superior Court, Abdul, who became well-known as a chart-topping vocalist in the late 1980s, claimed that Lythgoe had sexually assaulted her in an elevator during the first few seasons of the television singing competition “American Idol.”

After a day of “American Idol” auditions, Lythgoe, the producer of multiple popular television talent shows, is accused of making unwanted physical contact with Abdul in a hotel elevator, including touching her breasts and genitalia. According to court documents, Abdul attempted to push him away and fled as soon as the elevator doors opened.

As per the lawsuit, Abdul promptly informed her representatives about the assault by Lythgoe, who was the producer of “American Idol,” but refrained from taking any further action due to her concern about losing her job. Furthermore, the lawsuit claimed that Abdul was forbidden from speaking out by her contracts.

According to the lawsuit, following a work dinner, Lythgoe, 74, attacked her on his Los Angeles home’s couch. According to court documents, Abdul once more vehemently rejected him and “immediately left Lythgoe’s home.” The entertainment industry mogul, according to Abdul’s lawsuit, was once called to taunt her and told that “seven years had passed and the statute of limitations had run” on the alleged assaults.

Days ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline set by the California Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, the lawsuit was filed. Certain sexual abuse lawsuits that would have otherwise expired due to statute of limitations are now able to be brought by individuals thanks to legislation.