Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe settle sexual assault lawsuit one yr after she filed

Paula Abdul settled her sexual assault case against her former co-worker Nigel Lythgoe, according to TMZ.

The outlet reported that the notice was filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court earlier in the week. 

TMZ spoke to Paula, 62, after the settlement, with the star saying: ‘I am grateful this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me.’

Adding: ‘This has been a long and hard-fought personal battle. I hope my experience can serve to inspire other women, facing similar struggles, to overcome their own challenges with dignity and respect, so that they too can turn the page and being a new chapter of their lives.

Nigel, 75, also gave a statement to the outlet: ‘We live in a troubling time where a person is now automatically assumed to be guilty until proven innocent, a process that can take years. That is why, like Paula, I am glad to be able to put this behind me.’

‘I know the truth and that gives me great comfort,’ he said. 

It is unknown if there was money involved in the settlement. 

The singer accused Nigel of sexually assaulting during their time on the singing competition show American Idol and also on the dance reality competition show So You Think You Can Dance.

She claimed he had allegedly he forcibly tried to kiss her and grab her crotch, the lawsuit claimed via the outlet – which Nigel denied.

She filed the lawsuit on December 30, 2023.

In documents obtained by The Blast, the Opposites Attract singer claimed that the TV personality had sexually assaulted her on more than one occasion, and also ‘verbally insulted and belittled’ her. 

The star explained that in 2001, she was approached by FOX to appear as a judge in an American version of the singing competition series called Pop Idol – which Lythgoe also helped produce.

Due to being ‘intrigued’ by the show, she attended a meeting with both executives and producers on the series. She then alleged that she was ‘verbally insulted and belittled by [Nigel] Lythgoe.’

Abdul stated that he had told her, ‘she was a “has been” celebrity and probably wouldn’t be known by the show’s contestants’ – despite others believing ‘she was exactly what they were looking for.’

Paula had ‘grave reservations about appearing on the show and informed her representatives about such concerns’ but both she and her team hoped that the incident was only a ‘one-time’ occurrence.

In the documents, the Straight Up songstress claimed that the first instance of sexual assault had happened during one of American Idol’s first seasons, while on the road for regional auditions.

‘One evening, following the day’s auditions, Lythgoe and Abdul entered the elevator of the hotel where they were staying.’

‘Upon entering the elevator, Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat.’

The lawsuit claims that Abdul ‘attempted to push’ Nigel away and that she hurried to her room once the elevator doors opened. She immediately reached out to her reps to inform them of the incident.

The second alleged occurrence took place during a dinner held at Lythgoe’s house, after she had signed a contract to appear as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance in 2015, per TMZ.

Assuming the dinner was on a professional basis, Paula attended the dinner. However, she claimed that at one point, while they were both sitting on a couch, Lythgoe had tried force himself on top of her.

She also stated in the documents that he had also ‘attempted to kiss’ her while telling her that they would make an ‘excellent power couple.’

The lawsuit claims that Abdul, ‘pushed him off, explaining she was not interested in his advances, and immediately left.’

However, due to fear of ‘possible implications to her career,’ the dancer chose to stay quiet on the incident.

In the documents, Paula additionally claimed that she had witnessed Nigel sexual assault one of her assistants.

According to TMZ, the singer also alleged that Lythgoe had called her at one point to say they should celebrate because it had been ‘7 years and the statute of limitations had run.’

The star not only sued Nigel, but also 19 Entertainment and Fremantle Media North America.

Per The Blast, the lawsuit also stated, ‘Throughout her tenure on American Idol, Abdul not only was discriminated against in terms of compensation and benefits as compared to one of the show’s male judges and host (making nearly pennies to the dollar of what one of her male counterparts were making)…’

‘But she was the target of constant taunts, bullying, humiliation, and harassment from Lythgoe and other executives, agents, employees, and/or representatives of the show’s producers, 19 Entertainment and Fremantle.’

Paula notably appeared as one of the original judges on American Idol from 2002 through 2009. Nigel had been one of the executive producers on the hit show.

She later became a judge on the American version of So You Think You Can Dance alongside Lythgoe during the show’s 12th season, but made her exit shortly before season 14 to focus on her tour.

According to TMZ, Paula has made the decision to finally come forward with the lawsuit due to California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act.

The law offers a ‘three-year window for survivors of sexual assault to file a claim and recover damages as a result of crimes that occurred on or after January 1, 2009,’ per the California Public Agency of Labor & Employment.

‘From January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026, sexual assault and abuse claims, which would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations, will be revived and officially be eligible to be brought in civil court…’

In October 2024, Nigel claimed Paula had changed her story in her sexual assault suit against him, adding that he’s the ‘victim of Abdul’s appalling lies.’

The U.K. native filed court docs in the case in October that were reviewed by TMZ, claiming that the singer and TV personality has made ‘shifting allegations’ against him in the sexual assault lawsuit she filed against him late last year.

The American Idol producer said in legal docs that Abdul has changed her story in regards to allegations she’s made against him focused on a 2015 incident in Las Vegas, the outlet reported, citing court docs.

Abdul said that the incident occurred during a taping of the series So You Think You Can Dance, which she was a judge on and he was a co-creator of, saying she witnessed Lythgoe groping her assistant; he denied the allegations.

Lythgoe said that in an amended lawsuit Abdul filed, she said that he had sexually assaulted her during the same timeframe in Las Vegas, changing her story with a crucial detail.

‘It stretches credulity that Abdul would supposedly remember witnessing her assistant allegedly being assaulted … and yet apparently ‘forget’ until the filing of [the amended complaint] that she also allegedly was assaulted at the same time,’ his attorneys said.

Abdul said in her amended lawsuit that Lythgoe put his hands on her ‘buttocks, hips, waist and her breasts,’ and attempted to kiss her on the neck, the outlet reported.

Lythgoe said in legal docs that he didn’t do any of what she accused him of, adding the claims against him were ‘false and deeply offensive.’

Abdul’s lawyer Melissa Eubanks told TMZ on March 6 that Lythgoe had been ‘victim-shaming’ the Grammy-winning singer in an effort to denigrate the sexually assault lawsuit she filed against him late last year.

The statement from Abdul’s camp came after reports Lythgoe was sued by a separate woman who accuses Lythgoe of sexual assaulting her at his home in 2018.

Abdul’s team said they have a text message from Lythgoe dated March 8, 2014 that read, ‘When you get back to LA will you please make love to me! Slowly and lovingly!’

Abdul did not respond to the message, according to Eubanks, and Lythgoe then said to her, ‘I’ll take that as a YES then!’

Abdul’s legal team said that in an April, 10, 2014 text message, Lythgoe sent a message to Abdul about ongoing auditions in Las Vegas for So You Think You Can Dance.

They said he wrote to her, ‘I’ll come if you promise a big wet kiss! With tongues! Is a small grope of the a** asking too much?’

In a July 2014 text from Lythgoe, Abdul’s legal team said that he ‘acknowledged’ his conduct was ‘inappropriate.’

He allegedly wrote to her, ‘You love me like a relation I love you like a girlfriend. I could easily be your f****** cousin? Ha Ha.’

Lythgoe – in a response to the suit – submit to the court email communications with Abdul depicting ‘a friendly and loving vibe’ in the timeframe after the alleged assault occurred.

Eubanks said that the legal response from Lythgoe and his team didn’t acknowledge ‘the power dynamic in their relationship,’ as Lythgoe was essentially her boss.

‘He held the cards to her career in his hand and he knew it,’ Eubanks said.

Eubanks said that Abdul, who appeared on American Idol from 2002-2009, employed ‘defenses that many women like Ms. Abdul had to adopt to deal with men who abuse their power’ in providing Lythgoe with ‘positive messaging and seeming adoration.’