courtesy: Los Angeles Times
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Paula Abdul has sued Nigel Lythgoe, former American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producer, alleging that he has sexually assaulted her twice.
The singer filed a lawsuit on Friday against Lythgoe and the show’s production companies, alleging that the producer sexually assaulted her during the early seasons of American Idol. She also claimed that the second time happened when she was working as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.
As per the court documents, Abdul has alleged that Lythgoe has not only subjected her “verbal harassment and bullying” but also “sexual abuse.”
The complaint states the before she was casted as a judge on American Idol, Abdul had approached the executives and producers for the show after her business manager was informed by Fox regarding a potential opportunity to appear as a judge. However, during the meeting, the suit alleges that Abdul was “verbally insulted and belittled by Lythgoe.”
Despite of having her concerns, Abdul decided to hop on the opportunity as she believed the insult to be a one-time thing.
It was later in an elevator, when Lythgoe allegedly sexually assaulted Abdul. It was in one of the hotels where they were staying as they had to travel for singing competition’s show’s auditions.