Paula Abdul has accused former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her when she was a decide on the present.
The singer’s lawsuit additionally accuses him of one other assault, years later, when she labored on So You Think You Can Dance.
Lythgoe denied the accusations and mentioned he’s “shocked and saddened”.
Abdul claims the 74-year-old Briton groped her breasts and genitals and “began shoving his tongue down her throat” in a elevate after a day’s filming within the early 2000s.
She mentioned she pushed him away and ran to her resort room when the doorways opened.
Abdul known as considered one of her representatives “but ultimately decided not to take action for fear that Lythgoe would have her fired from American Idol”, the lawsuit states.
The Grammy award-winning singer labored on eight seasons of the present earlier than leaving in 2009.
A second assault allegedly occurred across the time she joined So You Think You Can Dance, one other of Lythgoe’s exhibits, in 2015.
Abdul claims he compelled himself on her and tried to kiss her throughout a dinner at his Los Angeles house, however that she pushed him away and left.
The 61-year-old was on the judges’ panel with Lythgoe for 2 seasons of the dance present however hasn’t labored with him since.
The lawsuit additionally claims he taunted her in regards to the alleged assaults, saying to her years later “they should celebrate” as “the statute of limitations had run”.
Abdul additional alleges she noticed Lythgoe assaulting considered one of her assistants on So You Think You Can Dance.
Read extra from Sky News:
Why have so many stars been accused on the similar time?
Diddy settles lawsuit after singer accused him of abuse
Lythgoe mentioned in an announcement he thought of Abdul a “dear” and “entirely platonic” good friend.
He mentioned: “While Paula’s history of erratic behaviour 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’ll battle this appalling smear with the whole lot I’ve.”
Abdul filed the declare a couple of days earlier than a California legislation expires permitting individuals a one-year window to sue over sexual abuse claims which have exceeded the authorized time restrict.
More than 3,700 have been filed in New York – together with claims in opposition to stars resembling Axl Rose and Jamie Foxx – below an analogous legislation that lapsed final month.
Source: information.sky.com”