TV mogul Nigel Lythgoe was left “devastated” last night after being accused of sexual assault by fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul.
Briton Lythgoe, 74, nicknamed “Nasty Nigel” for his slurs on his shows “Pop Idol” and “American Idol,” has been accused of “multiple counts of bodily harm” by two-time Grammy Award-winning singer Ms. Abdul, 61.
In papers filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, she claims Lythgoe “insulted and belittled” her and called her an “old woman” when he cast her on American Idol in 2002.
She claims Lythgoe, who is reportedly worth £120million, “sexually assaulted her in a hotel lift” and “sat on her and tried to kiss her” during a meeting at his home in 2014.
Father-of-two Lythgoe declined to comment last night.
TV mogul Nigel Lythgoe is said to be “devastated” after being accused of sexual assault by fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul
Briton Lythgoe, 74, nicknamed “Nasty Nigel” for his slurs on his shows “Pop Idol” and “American Idol,” has been accused of “multiple counts of bodily harm” by two-time Grammy Award-winning singer Ms. Abdul, 61
But a close friend said: “This came out of the blue.” Nigel is devastated. This lawsuit does not describe the Nigel we all worked with for decades. He's flirtatious but a total professional.
“There are many men in Hollywood who have a reputation for being liars, but Nigel is not one of them. “He will defend himself vigorously.”
Ms Abdul is seeking damages expected to be worth millions of pounds for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and negligence.
She claims the first assault occurred in the “early 2000s” when she and Lythgoe were on “American Idol.”
She was a judge between 2002 and 2009. As she entered a hotel elevator, he allegedly “pushed her against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts and began shoving his tongue down her throat.”
She says she “fled in tears” but refused to file a police report “out of fear that Lythgoe would have her fired from American Idol.”
The second alleged assault occurred at Lythgoe's £22million Hollywood home in 2014, while they were judges on So You Think You Can Dance, the hit US show hosted by Britain's Cat Deeley.
Court documents say Lythgoe “sat on top of her while she sat on his couch and attempted to kiss her while proclaiming that the two would make an excellent power couple.”
She also claims that next year she experienced another alleged attack on one of her assistants, named only as “April.”
“Lythgoe approached Abdul and April from behind, pressed himself against April and began groping her. “April did not consent,” the lawsuit states.
Abdul adds that she was paid less than male judges on “American Idol” and suffered “constant taunts, bullying, humiliation and harassment.”
Lythgoe is said to have “taunted” her by calling her seven years after the first alleged assault and saying they should celebrate “because it's been seven years and the statute of limitations has run out.”
Lythgoe is one of the most successful British exports to Hollywood, alongside Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller.
He owns a £20 million winery in California, a villa in Barbados and a sprawling mansion in the Hollywood Hills. He was awarded an OBE in 2015.
He has two children with his ex-wife Bonnie and has dated Priscilla Presley and Raquel Welch. He is now dating actress Lisa LoCicero, 53.
A close friend said: “This lawsuit is bullshit.” Nigel can be flirtatious but he never crosses the line. He is always surrounded by beautiful women but has mostly had committed relationships.
Abdul, pictured with fellow American Idol judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell, is seeking damages for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and negligence against Lythgoe (above left).
“He remained friends with his ex-partners like Priscilla.” I've never seen him act with anything other than respect for women. “He’s an old-school British gentleman.”
Another employee said: “He always considered Paula a friend, but he didn't like her.” He saved her career on American Idol, so it's shocking and painful for him that she's getting back at him with this frivolous and hurtful lawsuit .”
The lawsuit was filed under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which allows alleged victims of sexual assault to file lawsuits even after the statute of limitations has expired.
She is demanding damages from the production companies 19 Entertainment, Freemantle Media North America, American Idol Productions and Dance Nation Productions.
Representatives for Ms. Abdul and the production companies have been contacted for comment.