Paula Abdul Settles “Hard-Fought Battle” With ‘American Idol’ EP Nigel Lythgoe Over Sexual Assault Suit
DeadlineStory by Dominic Patten
scrn logline
Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe settle hard-fought sexual assault lawsuit, ending their long-running feud in the world of reality TV judging.
beat sheet
- The lawsuit, filed in January 2023, alleged that Lythgoe sexually assaulted Abdul during their time as co-judges on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
- Though the details of the settlement were not disclosed, sources say it was a 'hard-fought battle' that finally came to an end after nearly a year of legal wrangling between the two industry veterans.
call sheet
Paula Abdul, Nigel Lythgoe, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance