Nigel Lythgoe is formally exiting his function as a decide on So You Think You Can Dance within the wake of his a number of sexual assault lawsuits.
“I have informed the producers of So You Think You Can Dance of my decision to step back from participating in this year’s series,” Lythgoe, 74, introduced in a press release to Variety on Friday, January 5. “I did so with a heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great program has always been about dance and dancers, and that’s where its focus needs to remain. In the meantime, I am dedicating myself to clearing my name and restoring my reputation.”
Lythgoe’s announcement comes two months earlier than the season 18 premiere of SYTYCD, which is able to function Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy as judges. Fox and Sony Pictures Television’s 19 Entertainment confirmed in a separate assertion to Variety that “No decision has been made as to the replacement judge for this season.”
Us Weekly confirmed late final month that Lythgoe, who served as a decide on SYTYCD since its premiere in 2005, was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed by Paula Abdul. In court docket paperwork obtained by Rolling Stone, Abdul, 61, claimed that Lythgoe assaulted her a number of occasions over time whereas working collectively on American Idol and SYTYCD.
While Hollywood could seem like all glitz and glam on the floor, the trade has seen its fair proportion of scandals by the years. The New York Times and the New Yorker first printed investigative items in 2017 that accused disgruntled film producer Harvey Weinstein of a long time of sexual assault and harassment. Soon after, Weinstein stood trial and was […]
Among her many accusations, Abdul alleged that Lythgoe “verbally insulted and belittled” her previous to taking her American Idol gig and that he continued to bully her throughout her time on the singing competitors collection. She additionally claimed Lythgoe sexually assaulted her in a lodge elevator whereas touring for American Idol auditions, although she didn’t specify when the alleged incident came about.
“Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her. When the doors to the elevator for her door opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room,” the pop star’s court docket paperwork state. “Abdul quickly called one of her representatives in tears to inform them of the assault.”
Lythgoe, for his half, denied Abdul’s accusations. “To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement,” he stated in a Saturday, December 30, 2023, assertion to Us. “For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear — and entirely platonic — friends and colleagues. Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for.”
Helping to seek out America’s favourite dancer! When So You Think You Can Dance debuted on FOX in 2005, a panel of dance consultants and lovers had been tapped to hunt out one of the best up-and-coming performers. Nigel Lythgoe, who cocreated the dance competitors collection alongside Simon Fuller, served as one of many longtime judges since the season 1 premiere. However, […]
He continued, “While Paula’s history of erratic behavior 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 will fight this appalling smear with everything I have.” (He didn’t elaborate on what he meant by “erratic behavior” on the time.)
Lythgoe was hit with one other sexual assault lawsuit earlier this week. According to a number of shops, two former contestants of the 2003 competitors present All American Girl claimed that Lythgoe drove them to a Los Angeles home, quite than to a studio to satisfy up with others who labored on the collection, after the present had wrapped. It was there one of many constants claimed Lythgoe forcefully tried to kiss her and positioned his tongue on her face. The lawsuit reportedly claims the England native groped and smacked the rear ends of a number of All American Girl contestants whereas filming.
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