Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe Reach Settlement in Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The lawsuit alleged multiple assaults during their work on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, with terms of the settlement remaining undisclosed.

Paula Abdul, 62, and Nigel Lythgoe, 75, have settled a lawsuit in which Abdul accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions during their professional collaboration.
Abdul claimed that the first incident occurred during an early season of American Idol in the early 2000s, while the second took place in 2015 at Lythgoe's home during her tenure on So You Think You Can Dance.
The lawsuit was filed under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which allows certain abuse claims to bypass typical statute of limitations restrictions.
Lythgoe denied the allegations, describing them as false and an attack on his character, while Abdul stated that fear of retaliation initially kept her silent.
Both parties expressed relief at the resolution, with Abdul emphasizing her hope that her experience would inspire other women to face similar challenges with dignity and strength.