Nigel Lythgoe Hit With Fourth Sexual Assault Lawsuit After Responding to Paula Abdul
Only hours after reports that American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producer Nigel Lythgoe publicly refuted Paula Abdul’s sexual assault allegations, a new lawsuit was filed against him. The latest complaint brings the total to four separate lawsuits involving five plaintiffs, intensifying legal scrutiny of the longtime television producer.
This newest suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that the assault occurred in 2018 at Lythgoe’s residence. Identified as Jane Doe in the court filing, the plaintiff describes a violent encounter that she says left her shaken and emotionally scarred. According to the complaint, the assault included forced physical contact, groping, and attempts to kiss the plaintiff against the exterior wall of the property.
“Lythgoe continued to grope and tried to kiss Plaintiff”
The court filing recounts that what began as a professional discussion escalated suddenly. The complaint states that Lythgoe forced the plaintiff against an exterior wall by wedging his knee between her legs, then began licking her neck, touching her genitalia, and groping her. The plaintiff attempted to push him away but said she was pinned against the wall and could not move. When she finally broke free, she left the property and drove away but was so distraught that she had to pull over shortly afterward and sit in her car for approximately thirty minutes before continuing home.
The complaint asserts the assault caused significant emotional and psychological harm, noting the plaintiff no longer feels like the confident, capable, and independent woman she was before the incident. The filing details claims of severe emotional distress, guilt, humiliation, and embarrassment, and explains how those effects have negatively influenced both her personal life and professional opportunities.
The New Plaintiff Had a Decade-Long Professional Relationship With Lythgoe
The plaintiff is represented by the law firm Johnson & Johnson, which is also representing another Jane Doe who recently filed a separate lawsuit alleging a 2016 assault that occurred in a chauffeured car. The firm has additionally aligned with Paula Abdul in her suit against Lythgoe. In a statement, senior counsel for the firm said that after more than a decade of a professional and cordial relationship, their client alleges Lythgoe forced himself on her during what was supposed to be a business meeting and then ended the professional relationship when she did not comply.
The firm urged that incidents like those alleged should become a thing of the past and expressed support for women who are coming forward to say “enough is enough.” The new filing reiterates the plaintiff’s claim that the encounter caused ongoing emotional suffering and professional harm.
Alongside these recent suits, Lythgoe faces additional litigation from two women who contend they were contestants on an ABC reality show produced by Lythgoe roughly two decades ago. Those lawsuits add to the growing legal challenges confronting the producer, who has had a long career in reality television production.
In his own legal filings responding to some of the claims, Lythgoe has characterized Paula Abdul’s allegations in particularly forceful terms, calling her a “fabulist” and denying the accusations. He has described her statements as false and suggested they were intended to attract sympathy and attention. While Lythgoe’s filings include strong denials, the newly filed complaints keep the focus on allegations of sexual assault and the emotional impact on the women who have come forward.
As the litigation proceeds in Los Angeles Superior Court, these cases will likely involve further legal motions, discovery, and potential depositions. For now, the filings reflect a series of serious allegations against a prominent television producer with a high-profile career, and they underscore ongoing public and legal attention to claims of misconduct in the entertainment industry.