[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Paula Abdul has accused American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance govt producer Nigel Lythgoe of repeatedly sexually assaulting her whereas she was a decide on each reveals.
According to courtroom paperwork obtained by TMZ, the 61-year-old singer filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County on Friday in opposition to Lythgoe beneath California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which provides plaintiffs a window to file sexual assault claims even after the statute of limitations has handed. She is suing the tv persona, 9 Entertainment, and FremantleMedia North America for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, and negligence.
Per the courtroom docs, she alleges that the primary sexual assault incident occurred throughout “one of Idol‘s initial seasons” whereas they had been on the highway for auditions within the early 2000s. Upon getting into an elevator at their resort collectively, Paul claims within the swimsuit that the 74-year-old producer shoved her in opposition to the wall, tried to kiss her, and groped her genitals and breasts.
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She tried to push him away, however it wasn’t till the elevator doorways opened that she might escape. Immediately, Paula ran straight to her room and known as one in all her representatives to inform them concerning the alleged assault. But out of worry of being fired in retaliation, she determined to remain quiet and never take motion in opposition to him.
The second alleged assault occurred years later after she signed a brand new contract in 2015 to be a decide on So You Think You Can Dance. In the lawsuit, Paula claims Lythgoe invited her to his home at one level throughout her two seasons of the competitors sequence to speak about some work alternatives. The pop star solely accepted the invitation as she believed it was knowledgeable scenario. However, that didn’t find yourself being the case. Instead, Lythgoe allegedly pressured himself on high of her whereas she was on the sofa and tried to kiss her, telling her they’d make an “excellent power couple.” Paula alleges she pushed him off of her, instructed him she wasn’t and left the residence.
And Paula wasn’t the one alleged sufferer. She claims within the swimsuit she witnessed Lythgoe grope one in all her assistants throughout her time on SYTYCD in 2015. So terrible.
In addition to the disturbing accusations of assault, Paula claims the choreographer “taunted” her. How so? He allegedly known as her at one level to say they need to rejoice because it had been “7 years and the statute of limitations had run.” What the f**okay?!! She additional alleges she was a sufferer of harassment and discrimination when it got here to compensation throughout her years on American Idol.
At this time, Lythgoe has not responded to the sexual assault allegations. Reactions to the swimsuit? Let us us know within the feedback under.
If you or somebody you understand has skilled sexual violence and want to study extra about assets, think about trying out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
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