Paula Abdul‘s legal battle against television producer Nigel Lythgoe has come to an end, nearly a year after after she sued him for alleged sexual assault.
Court documents reviewed by The Times confirm that the “Straight Up” pop star and the “So You Think You Can Dance” executive producer settled the suit Monday. Abdul filed notice of unconditional settlement Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, indicating that a request for dismissal would be filed within 45 days. The terms of the TV stars’ settlement was not revealed.
In a press release shared with The Occasions, Abdul mentioned, “I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me.”
“This has been a long and hard-fought personal battle,” she added. “I hope my experience can serve to inspire other women, facing similar struggles, to overcome their own challenges with dignity and respect, so that they too can turn the page and begin a new chapter of their lives.”
Abdul filed her four-count criticism on Dec. 29, 2023, alleging that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her twice throughout her time on “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Abdul was a decide on “Idol” from 2002 to 2009 and likewise judged on “SYTYCD” in 2015 and 2016.
Along with the sexual assault claims, Abdul alleged that she was topic to bullying and harassment and suffered gender pay discrimination throughout her tenure on the hit competitors exhibits. The lawsuit detailed two alleged accounts of sexual assault by Lythgoe, one within the early aughts in a resort elevator and one other in 2015 on the “SYTYCD” co-creator’s residence. Abdul filed her criticism underneath the Sexual Abuse and Cowl Up Accountability Act, which permits restricted home windows for submitting sure civil sexual abuse claims past the standard statute of limitations.
In January, Lythgoe denied Abdul’s allegations. In a press release on the time, he mentioned he was “shocked and saddened” by her claims. “I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for,” he added. Later that month, Lythgoe confronted further sexual assault accusations as two unidentified girls sued the producer in a separate lawsuit.
Amid the allegations, Fox introduced that Lythgoe wouldn’t return to “So You Think You Can Dance” for Season 18. In late January, Fox revealed that “Dance Moms” alum JoJo Siwa would change Lythgoe.
By the top of March, Lythgoe, 75, had been accused by 5 girls — together with Abdul — of sexual assault. In a March response to Abdul’s lawsuit, Lythgoe’s lawyer doubled down on their shopper’s preliminary denial.
“Abdul’s accusations against Lythgoe are false, despicable, intolerable, and life-changing,” lawyer Marina Z. Beck wrote. “These allegations are the worst form of character assassination on Lythgoe.”
In a press release to The Occasions on Friday, Lythgoe mentioned, “[W]e live in a troubling time where a person is now automatically assumed to be guilty until proven innocent, a process that can take years.” He additionally expressed reduction with the settlement.
“That is why, like Paula, I am glad to be able to put this behind me,” he added. “I know the truth and that gives me great comfort.”
