Hold onto your hats, Idol fans! There’s a major development in Paula Abdul’s lawsuit against American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producers. After accusing the shows’ production companies of negligence in her sexual assault case against former exec Nigel Lythgoe, Paula has reached a settlement with them. This means they’re out of the legal picture, leaving Paula to face Lythgoe head-on in court come July 2025.
Here’s a quick recap: Back in December, Paula Abdul filed a bombshell lawsuit alleging Lythgoe sexually harassed and assaulted her multiple times while she was working on Idol and SYTYCD. The accusations were serious, and the production companies clearly didn’t want to be dragged through the mud. So, they settled with Paula – details are still under wraps, though.
But Nigel Lythgoe is not going down without a fight. He vehemently denies all of Paula’s claims, calling them “entirely fictional” and a desperate attempt for attention. He even tried to use some friendly emails Paula sent him years ago as proof that nothing inappropriate ever happened. Paula’s team fired back, calling this a classic case of “victim shaming.
Things just got even messier – four other women have come forward accusing Lythgoe of sexual misconduct, with allegations dating back to 2003! Lythgoe is fighting these accusations too, but the pressure is mounting.
This is a complex case, and it’s sure to head to trial in July 2025. We’ll be keeping a close eye on developments and bringing you all the updates. #PaulaAbdul #NigelLythgoe #AmericanIdol #SYTYCD #TimesUp
