Ex American Idol production, So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lythgoe sued AGAIN for sexual assault amid Paula Abdul allegations.
Only a week ago, Paula Abdul accused Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her on two occasions during stints on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Now, the proverbial other show has dropped for the former Idol producer and SYTYCD co-creator.
But maybe not, as Deadline reports, the latest allegations, from two contestants on an ABC reality show All American Girl which Lythgoe produced two decades ago, have a couple of issues.
Jane Doe K.G. and Jane Doe K.N. have filed a sexual assault/battery, sexual harassment and negligence civil suit against John Roe N.L. over an alleged attack in May 2003. Nobody in the suit is fully named, but Deadline confirmed that John Roe N.L. is Lythgoe.
The two plaintiffs, seeking a jury trial, say the incident took place after the single-season show’s finale party, when Lythgoe allegedly drove the women to a Los Angeles home instead of the studio where he promised to take them, to meet others. (Read complaint HERE.)
Plaintiffs claim defendant N.L forced kisses and pushed himself up against them
“Defendant N.L. made sexual advances on Plaintiff K.G and K.N. Plaintiffs rejected the advances but Defendant N.L. persisted and continued making advances,” reads the Los Angeles Superior Court filing from lawyers at LA’s Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team. “At one point, Defendant N.L. lifted his sweater over Plaintiff K.G.’s head and engulfed her in his sweater, attempting to kiss her and pushing her body close to his,” it adds. “Plaintiff K.G. again rejected the kiss and scrambled to release herself from his grasp.”
“Later that night, Defendant N.L. pinned Plaintiff K.N. against a grand piano in the house, pushed himself against her body, and forced his mouth and tongue onto her despite her numerous statements telling him not to and attempts to pull her face away from his. “When Plaintiff K.G. saw this and protested, Defendant N.L. finally surrendered.”
The plaintiffs ask for a wide variety of damages.
The new lawsuit has issues that could kill it
However, the complaint was filed later than December 31, 2023, which was the deadline to take advantage of The Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act. The Jane Does’ complaint states they are filing under the statue, but filed the suit on January 2, two days beyond the deadline. Paula Abdul filed her lawsuit, using the same statute on time (Dec 31).
Another problem, Doe K.G. stated her birthdate as “born in November 1997,” which would make her a 5 year old at the time of the incident. It’s probably a typo, but is sloppy lawfare and an error that will need to be amended.
Paula Abdul bombshell lawsuit claiming Nigel Lythgoe sexually assaulted her
In her lawsuit against Lythgoe, Paula describes two incidents where she claims Nigel sexually assaulted her. In an incident that took place during the early seasons of American Idol, she claims Lythgoe grabbed her breasts and genitals and tried to kiss her while the crew was out on the road to film auditions.
Paula Abdul Sues American Idol Exec Nigel Lythgoe for Sexual Assault
Additionally, she claims that in 2015, after signing a new contract to serve as judge on SYTYCD, Lythgoe forced himself on top of her while she was on a couch and tried to kiss her. He invited her to his home under the guise that he wanted to discuss business, she said. Also in 2015, Paula claims she witnessed Lythgoe groping one of her assistants.
Paula did not report the incidents at the time due to fear of retaliation. The suit alleges that Lythgoe’s behavior was common knowledge. She is suing Lythgoe, 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America, American Idol Productions, and Dance Nation Productions. for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence. She is using California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act which gives plaintiffs a window to file claims that would otherwise be past the statute of limitations.
Lythgoe denied Paula’s allegations in a statement to TMZ.
