Paula Abdul, 62, has settled with American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe, 75, in a lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting her while she was a judge on the show. The singer filed the suit last year, claiming two incidents of assault, which Lythgoe has denied.
Abdul claimed Lythgoe groped her in a hotel elevator in 2002 during American Idol auditions and, a decade later, forced himself on her during a dinner at his home while she was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.
This has been a long and hard-fought personal battle,” Abdul said after the settlement, adding that she hopes her experience inspires other women to face their struggles with “dignity and respect.”
Lythgoe, who called the allegations “an appalling smear,” expressed relief over the settlement, saying, “I know the truth, and that gives me great comfort.”
The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed and are awaiting court approval.
