Paula Abdul’s lawsuit against Nigel Lythgoe: What she alleged and why he continues to deny wrongdoing

Nigel Lythgoe denies Paula Abdul’s allegations again as he moves on after their lawsuit settlement

Paula Abdul’s sexual assault lawsuit against longtime television producer Nigel Lythgoe came to a quiet end last year, but the controversy surrounding the case resurfaced after Lythgoe publicly doubled down on his denial while speaking to paparazzi at LAX.

Abdul’s lawsuit had accused Lythgoe of two separate incidents of sexual assault: one in the early 2000s while the pair were working on American Idol, and another in 2015 during her time with So You Think You Can Dance.

In her complaint, Abdul alleged that the first incident occurred in a hotel elevator after a day of auditions, claiming Lythgoe forcibly kissed her, grabbed her breasts and genitals, and pinned her against the wall until the doors opened and she escaped.

She said she didn’t report the incident at the time because she feared career repercussions.

The second alleged encounter, according to Abdul, happened more than a decade later at Lythgoe’s home when she believed they were meeting to discuss work.

She claimed he sat beside her on his couch, attempted to kiss her, and pressed his body against hers before she pushed him off and left.

Her lawsuit also included accusations of harassment, gender violence, and negligence, which she argued reflected a broader pattern within the entertainment industry of men abusing positions of power.

Lythgoe consistently denied all allegations, calling them false and hurtful. His legal team argued that the accusations were unfounded and pointed to what they described as friendly emails, texts, and interactions between the two over the years as evidence of an amicable relationship.

After months of back-and-forth filings, Abdul and Lythgoe reached an unconditional settlement. The terms were confidential, and it remains unknown whether any money was exchanged.

Following the settlement, Abdul released a statement saying she was grateful to close the chapter after what she described as a long, personal battle.

She said she hoped her experience would inspire other women facing similar struggles to move forward with dignity and strength.

Lythgoe, meanwhile, also publicly commented after the settlement, saying he was relieved to move on but maintained his innocence.

He criticized what he called a cultural shift that presumes guilt before facts are established and said he took comfort in “knowing the truth.”

This weekend, Lythgoe reiterated that stance when approached by a TMZ reporter at LAX. Asked what he planned to do to rebuild his legacy following Abdul’s allegations, he said he did not believe there was anything to rebuild, insisting the claims against him were untrue and that he had denied them repeatedly.

He added that he is choosing to focus on work rather than the past, revealing that he is producing both a new show and a new film, though he declined to share details about either project.

While both Abdul and Lythgoe say they are ready to move on, the case remains another example of the complex and often contentious fallout that accompanies allegations of misconduct in the entertainment industry.