American singer Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit against British producer Nigel Lythgoe on Friday. She accuses him of sexually abusing her in an elevator around twenty years ago when she was a judge on the musical reality show “American Idol.”
Posted at 6:51 p.m.
According to court documents obtained by The New York Times, Paula Abdul claims Nigel Lythgoe pushed her against the wall of a hotel elevator during filming of an early season of the hit reality show. He allegedly grabbed her genitals and breasts before “pushing his tongue down her throat.”
The Straight Up singer claims she tried to push the producer away but only escaped when the elevator doors opened.
After developing an early version of American Idol in the United Kingdom, Nigel Lythgoe adapted the television competition for the American market, where it became a popular phenomenon.
In total, Paula Abdul appeared on the show for eight seasons and later returned to the role of judge in the competition So You Think You Can Dance, also produced by Nigel Lythgoe.
The latter is said to have made advances to him during this time. According to the singer, he “forced himself” on her while she was sitting on the sofa at her house and “tried to kiss her.”
The complaint was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.