Paula Abdul and former “American Idol” producer. Nigel Lythgoe they agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she claimed he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show.
Abdul filed a notice of settlement in the case in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday. It still needs to be approved by a judge.
“I am grateful that this chapter has come to a successful conclusion and now it is something I can put behind me,” Abdul said in a statement on Friday. “This has been a long and hard personal battle. I hope that my experience can inspire other women who face similar struggles to overcome their own challenges with dignity and respect so that they too can turn the page and start a new chapter in their lives.”
In his own statement, Lythgoe said: “We live in a troubled time where a person is now automatically presumed guilty until proven innocent, a process that can take years. So like Paula, I'm glad I can put it behind me. I know the truth and that comforts me.”
The court filing said the settlement was unconditional, but did not disclose the terms or Abdul's attorney Melissa Eubanks said he could not comment on them.
The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago also accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after he left “American Idol” to become a judge on Lythgoe's other competition show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Lythgoe said at the time that he was “shocked and saddened” by the allegations, which he called “disgusting defamation”.
After other sexual misconduct lawsuits were filed, Lythgoe stepped down in January from his role as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The 75-year-old English-born producer has been a prominent TV producer for decades in both the UK and US, working on reality competition shows including “American Idol”.
The Associated Press generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual harassment unless they come forward publicly, as Abdul did.
Abdul, a Grammy- and Emmy-winning singer and dancer, said in the lawsuit that she remained silent for years about the alleged assaults for fear of retaliation from “one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows.”
She alleged that the first sexual harassment occurred while Abdul and Lythgoe were auditioning for an early season of “American Idol,” which premiered in 2002.
Abdul says Lithgow groped her in the elevator of their hotel after a day of filming and “started shoving his tongue down her throat.” Abdul pushed him away and ran into her hotel room when the elevator doors opened.
“In tears, Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform them of the assault,” the lawsuit states, “but ultimately decided not to take action out of fear that Lythgoe would fire her.”
Abdul starred as a judge for the first eight seasons, leaving in 2009.
In 2015, Abdul became a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance”, appearing alongside Lythgoe.
Around that time, Abdul alleged in the lawsuit, Lythgoe groped her during a dinner party at his home and tried to kiss her. Abdul said he pushed Lythgoe again and immediately left.
Abdul left this reality show after two seasons. He has not worked with Lythgoe since.
In a statement at the time of the lawsuit, Lythgoe said, “While Paula's history of erratic behavior is well known, I cannot pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue.”
This story was originally published by The Associated Press.
