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Topics: American Idol, News, Film and TV, Celebrity
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: American Idol, News, Film and TV, Celebrity
Paula Abdul's team say they have evidence to back the star's sexual assault claims about Nigel Lythgoe.
Abdul recently filed a lawsuit against American Idol producer Lythgoe, accusing the 74-year-old of sexual assault.
The singer said in the suit launched in December 2023 that Lythgoe assaulted her for the first time during her seven-year stint as a judge on the popular singing competition.
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Abdul exited American Idol in 2009 and was replaced by Ellen DeGeneres. She was only on the programme for one season, however, with Jennifer Lopez going on to take her spot.
As per 'Straight Up' singer Abdul's suit against Lythgoe, the former So You Think You Can Dance producer 'shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat'.
It goes on: "Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her. When the doors to the elevator for her door opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room.
"Abdul quickly called one of her representatives in tears to inform them of the assault."
The pair then worked together on So You Think You Can Dance, when the alleged second assault took place.
The lawsuit goes on to claim Lythgoe knew what he'd done was 'inappropriate and even criminal' and 'taunted' her about how he'd gotten away with it on a phone call.
To back the accusations against Lythgoe, Abdul's team say they have text messages between the pair, which have been obtained by TMZ via Abdul's attorney Melissa Eubank.
The text messages from Lythgoe are said to have contained inappropriate comments such as promising 'a big wet kiss with tongues' and saying 'I love you like a girlfriend'.
Elsewhere, a 2014 text seems to show the producer asking Abdul to 'please make love to me'.
Eubank also said to TMZ that Lythgoe 'victim-shamed' the singer.
Speaking about the power Lythgoe had over Abdul, Eubank told the outlet: "He held the cards to her career in his hand and he knew it."
At the time of Adbul filing the suit, Lythgoe issued a statement and denied the claims.
"To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement," the told TMZ.
"For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear - and entirely platonic - friends and colleagues.
"Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for."
UNILAD has contacted Lythgoe's legal representative for comment in the wake of the alleged texts being released.