[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Paula Abdul has accused American Idol and So You Suppose You Can Dance govt producer Nigel Lythgoe of repeatedly sexually assaulting her whereas she was a decide on each exhibits.
In keeping with courtroom paperwork obtained by TMZ, the 61-year-old singer filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County on Friday towards Lythgoe below California’s Sexual Abuse and Cowl Up Accountability Act, which supplies plaintiffs a window to file sexual assault claims even after the statute of limitations has handed. She is suing the tv persona, 9 Leisure, and FremantleMedia North America for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, and negligence.
Per the courtroom docs, she alleges that the primary sexual assault incident occurred throughout “certainly one of Idol‘s preliminary seasons” whereas they have been on the highway for auditions within the early 2000s. Upon coming into an elevator at their resort collectively, Paul claims within the go well with that the 74-year-old producer shoved her towards the wall, tried to kiss her, and groped her genitals and breasts.
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She tried to push him away, however it wasn’t till the elevator doorways opened that she may escape. Instantly, Paula ran straight to her room and known as certainly one of her representatives to inform them concerning the alleged assault. However out of worry of being fired in retaliation, she determined to remain quiet and never take motion towards him.
The second alleged assault occurred years later after she signed a brand new contract in 2015 to be a decide on So You Suppose You Can Dance. Within the lawsuit, Paula claims Lythgoe invited her to his home at one level throughout her two seasons of the competitors collection to speak about some work alternatives. The pop star solely accepted the invitation as she believed it was an expert scenario. Nonetheless, that didn’t find yourself being the case. As a substitute, Lythgoe allegedly compelled himself on prime of her whereas she was on the sofa and tried to kiss her, telling her they might make an “glorious energy couple.” Paula alleges she pushed him off of her, informed him she wasn’t and left the residence.
And Paula wasn’t the one alleged sufferer. She claims within the go well with she witnessed Lythgoe grope certainly one of her assistants throughout her time on SYTYCD in 2015. So terrible.
Along with the disturbing accusations of assault, Paula claims the choreographer “taunted” her. How so? He allegedly known as her at one level to say they need to have a good time because it had been “7 years and the statute of limitations had run.” What the f**okay?!! She additional alleges she was a sufferer of harassment and discrimination when it got here to compensation throughout her years on American Idol.
Right now, Lythgoe has not responded to the sexual assault allegations. Reactions to the go well with? Allow us to us know within the feedback beneath.
Should you or somebody has skilled sexual violence and want to be taught extra about assets, think about trying out https://www.rainn.org/assets.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
