American Idol and SYTYCD producer Nigel Lythgoe hit with a THIRD sexual assault lawsuit
Nigel Lythgoe, the veteran television producer and former judge on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, has been hit with a third sexual assault lawsuit. The newly filed complaint, lodged in Los Angeles Superior Court on Saturday, February 17, alleges sexual misconduct that the plaintiff says occurred in 2016. This latest legal action follows earlier accusations from two separate sources, including a high-profile suit filed by Paula Abdul in December and another set of allegations made public in January by two unnamed contestants.
According to the current complaint, the plaintiff met Lythgoe at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2016. The suit states that Lythgoe insisted on driving her home and that, during that car ride, he assaulted her for approximately ten minutes. The complaint describes repeated unwanted advances, including groping and kissing, and alleges that Lythgoe shoved his hand under the plaintiff’s skirt and penetrated her genitalia. The woman says she attempted to push him away and directed the driver to return to her residence, but the alleged conduct continued until the driver reached her apartment after what she describes as an unexpectedly long route.
The plaintiff seeks damages for sexual battery, gender violence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She further alleges ongoing severe mental anguish stemming from the incident. The complaint does not specify a dollar amount but requests relief through the civil court process.
This case arrives amid other accusations against Lythgoe. In December, entertainment personality Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit alleging two separate incidents of sexual assault. Abdul’s complaint recounts claims from the early seasons of American Idol in which she says Lythgoe grabbed her breasts and genitals and attempted to kiss her while production was on the road. She also alleges an incident in 2015, after she had signed a new contract to serve as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, when she says Lythgoe forced himself on top of her while she sat on a couch and tried to kiss her. Abdul has additionally claimed she witnessed Lythgoe groping one of her assistants in 2015.
In January, two unnamed contestants from a reality series identified by some outlets as All American Girl came forward as additional accusers. They allege unwanted sexual advances and groping inside Lythgoe’s Los Angeles home in 2003. In those filings, the defendant was identified only by initials, which several media outlets linked to Lythgoe.
Lythgoe has stepped away from current season of So You Think You Can Dance
Following the emergence of these allegations, Lythgoe has stepped away from his roles as judge and producer on So You Think You Can Dance. The current season of SYTYCD premiered on FOX on March 4, with dancer and previous judge JoJo Siwa filling the judges’ panel in his absence. Representatives for Lythgoe did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the newest lawsuit, though he previously issued public denials concerning the claims made by Paula Abdul.
Melissa Eubanks, an attorney representing the Jane Doe plaintiff in the newest suit and who also represents Abdul in her case against Lythgoe, issued a statement expressing concern. “It is troubling to hear of yet another alleged incident of a woman being taken advantage of and abused by a prominent public figure,” she said, underscoring the pattern alleged by multiple plaintiffs.
The unfolding litigation involves serious allegations that span years and multiple accusers. Each lawsuit brings distinct factual claims but shares common legal theories including sexual battery and emotional distress. As these matters proceed through the Los Angeles Superior Court, they will be subject to evidentiary standards, discovery and potential further legal developments. For now, the new filing adds to a growing string of accusations against a figure long associated with some of television’s most-watched talent shows, raising questions about conduct behind the scenes in reality TV production.
Authorities and courts will determine the veracity of the claims through the legal process. Meanwhile, producers and networks involved with programming linked to Lythgoe have moved to reorganize roles on their shows as the matters are adjudicated. The plaintiff in the latest suit has asked the court for unspecified damages and relief consistent with her allegations of sexual assault and the emotional harm she says resulted from the encounter.