Paula Abdul settles sexual abuse lawsuit with Nigel Lythgoe after year-long legal battle”; Full details

On December 14, 2024By Online Niel

Trigger Warning: This article contains references to sexual abuse.

Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe reached a settlement in their lawsuit in December 2023, in which the former accused the producer of sexually assaulting her on two separate occasions. According to court documents obtained by People, the two settled their case in an “unconditional” manner on Monday, December 9.

A trial date for the case was set for August 2025, but that date is now expected to be released.

Abdul, 62, spoke to People on Friday, Dec. 13, saying she’s happy to put the legal battle behind her and move forward with her life. She hopes her story will inspire other women going through similar difficulties. “I’m grateful that this chapter has come to a successful conclusion and now it’s something I can put behind me. This has been a long and hard personal battle,” she said.

As mentioned earlier, Abdul expressed her hope that her story can inspire other women to overcome their own challenges. She added that she hopes they can do so with dignity and respect so that when the time comes to turn over a new leaf in their lives, they can do so on a positive note without lingering negativity or trauma.

In a separate statement to the publication, Lythgoe shared his perspective on living through a troubling time where a person is presumed guilty until proven innocent, a process that can take years. He added that he, like Abdul, is happy to put the case behind him because he knows his truth, and that gives him all the comfort he needs.

The settlement comes a year after Abdul accused Lythgoe of assaulting her first during her time on American Idol and then during her tenure on So You Think You Can Dance. In October, Abdul filed another complaint, accusing Lythgoe of assaulting her a third time with her assistant.

Lythgoe filed a response that month, declaring Abdul’s claims false. He argued how she could forget she was assaulted once again and then suddenly remember, expanding on the earlier case where she pleaded not guilty. In his filing, Lythgoe included several text exchanges between himself and the former American Idol judge in which he expressed his affection for him and their friendship.

Abdul’s team then called Lythgoe’s behavior “classic victim-shaming,” according to People.

If you need support or know someone who is struggling with domestic violence, aggression or abuse, please contact your nearest mental health specialist or your nearest NGO or talk to someone about it. There are several helplines available for the same.