Paula Abdul filed her sexual assault and battery go well with in opposition to Nigel Lythgoe late final yr searching for a jury trial, and she or he’s going to get one.
The American Idol decide will face off in opposition to her So You Assume You Can Dance co-star beginning on July 28, 2025, a LA Superior Court docket decide introduced right now.
The date was made public in a Case Administration listening to Tuesday morning in DLTA on Abdul’s explosive lawsuit in opposition to the very long time Idol and SYTYCD producer.
Nonetheless, whereas the much-accused Lythgoe is a trial subsequent yr, his former fellow defendants are actually off the hook, not less than tentatively. Following up on an April 23 submitting assertion (learn it right here) revealing a settlement between the Johnson & Johnson LLP represented Abdul and FremantleMedia North America and American Idols Productions, the one of many ‘Straight Up’ singer’s legal professionals stated it out loud this AM.
“The events went to mediation, and the company defendants settled out,” Douglas Johnson knowledgeable LASC Decide Thomas Lengthy of the deal reached on March 18 with the O’Melveny & Myers LLP represented corporations. Extra defendants 19 Leisure and Dance Nation Productions additionally reached an undisclosed settlement with the quickly to be touring Abdul, who’s out on the street with New Children on the Block this summer season.
As traditional, no particulars of the settlement had been launched earlier this month or right now in courtroom, and there are supposedly some finer factors nonetheless to be finalized. Nonetheless, Deadline hears plaintiff Abdul was “happy” with the end result, a well-placed supply says.
Formally, neither reps for Abdul nor Lythgoe had something to say in regards to the settlement(s) and the trial subsequent yr. Representatives for the latter Lythgoe didn’t response to request for remark. Abdul’s attorneys had no assertion on the settlement, when contacted by Deadline.
In what proved the primary of a number of related sexual assault fits in opposition to the as soon as ubiquitous Lythgoe, Abdul on December 29, 2023 accused the producer and manufacturing corporations of sexual assault/battery, sexual harassment, gender violence; and negligence.
Shockingly, Abdul alleges that Lythgoe assaulted her twice.
Based on her preliminary criticism, the primary assault occurred “throughout one in every of American Idol’ s preliminary seasons” within the early 2000s in a resort elevator whereas the Simon Cowell co-judged present was on the street. “Lythgoe shoved Abdul in opposition to the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and started shoving his tongue down her throat,” the doc states, with Abdul finally escaping to her room, locking the door and calling her reps.
‘AMERICAN IDOL Season 6 (L-R) Ryan Seacrest, judges Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Olivia Newton-John, & Paula Abdul
Michael Becker/twentieth Century Fox Movie Corp./Courtesy: Everett Assortment
The second assault supposedly occurred in 2015 throughout a Season 12 of SYTYCD assembly at Lythgoe’s LA residence. “Towards the top of the night, Lythgoe compelled himself on high of Abdul whereas she was seated on his sofa and tried to kiss her whereas proclaiming that the 2 would make a wonderful ‘energy couple,’” the extensive ranging however unspecified damages searching for criticism says of what Abdul assumed was a “skilled invitation” from her EP and on-air co-star. “Abdul pushed Lythgoe off of her, explaining that she was not enthusiastic about his advances and instantly left.” That very same yr, Abdul says she additionally witnessed Lythgoe assaulted one in every of his assistants when SYTYCD was filming in Las Vegas.
Furthering the assault, Abdul claims within the submitting allowed below the December thirty first expiring Sexual Abuse and Cowl-Up Accountability Act, that Lythgoe was completely conscious of what he had performed was “inappropriate and even prison” – he even made a joke about it.
“Certainly at one level Lythgoe referred to as Abdul and taunted her that they need to have fun as a result of it had been ‘seven years and the statute of limitations had run,’” the 16-page submitting acknowledged. “Lythgoe clearly knew that his assaults of Abdul weren’t simply unsuitable however that he held the ability to maintain her silent.”
Lythgoe’s first response on December 30 was to go after Abdul’s character.
“Whereas Paula’s historical past of erratic habits is well-known, I can’t fake to know precisely why she would file a lawsuit that she should know is unfaithful,” he stated about his former colleague. “However I can promise that I’ll combat this appalling smear with every part I’ve.”
On March 5, he added in a submitting within the LASC docket: “Lythgoe will proceed to advertise the dissemination of fact – which confirms that Abdul shouldn’t be a sufferer of sexual assault on the hand of Lythgoe, however it’s Lythgoe who has been a sufferer of Abdul’s appalling lies.” Lythgoe needs Abdul’s go well with “dismissed in its entirety with prejudice” ASAP. “Abdul’s lies are underscored by her conduct and statements throughout and after the time she alleges abuse occurred,” the response submitting from the agency of Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP added
A day later, Abdul kicked again: “Mr. Lythgoe’s reply to Ms. Abdul’s criticism is basic sufferer shaming.”