Nigel Lythgoe Facing Another Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Nigel Lythgoe, a prominent producer known for his work on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, is again faced with a sexual assault lawsuit. The suit, recently filed and reported by various sources, was initiated by two women referred to as Jane Doe K.G. and Jane Doe K.L. The women, former contestants of the short-lived reality show All American Girl, allege that Lythgoe, 74, betrayed their trust and exploited his position by driving them to a house in Los Angeles after filming, rather than to the reputed meeting at a studio. They claim he attempted to forcibly kiss them against their will while also righteously accusing him of touching their behinds on set during production.

The suit identifies Lythgoe as John Roe N.L. and the show as A.A.G., TMZ and Deadline have since confirmed that Lythgoe is indeed the person in question. Lythgoe's representatives have been contacted for comments, but no response has been received.

The allegations follow Paula Abdul's recent lawsuit against Lythgoe, her co-producer on American Idol, whom she claims sexually assaulted her twice. Abdul alleges the first assault took place during one of the early seasons of American Idol, a show she judged from 2002 to 2009, with the second instance occurring in 2015 when she was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. Lythgoe fervently denied the allegations stating they are deeply offensive to him and completely false.

Both Abdul's lawsuit and the recent case were filed under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, allowing claims from alleged incidents beyond the statute of limitations. However, the filing window closed on December 31, allowing Abdul's lawsuit but potentially barring the new case from consideration under the Act.

In her claim, Abdul alleged that Lythgoe, who shared many years of a professional relationship with her, assaulted her in an elevator and also a second time at his home. She said she chose not to take action at the time out of fear that Lythgoe would have her fired. Abdul also highlighted instances of gender discrimination and bullying as issues during her time on the series. Abdul is also claiming that Lythgoe further victimized her in 2015, during So You Think You Can Dance tenure, at his house where she believed the invite was for professional reasons.

In addition to Abdul, the star also alleges that Lythgoe sexually assaulted one of her assistants, identified as April in court documents. Abdul's legal team, Johnson & Johnson, LLP, commended her courage to stand up against this type of abuse, especially when the alleged perpetrator is a prominent figure in her profession. They emphasized that her actions were significant not just for her, but for many other survivors in similar situations. Abdul hopes to see justice served.