‘Pathological liar’: Nigel Lythgoe denies Paula Abdul’s sexual assault claims in new legal response to lawsuit

Trigger warning: The article contains mentions of sexual assault.

Nigel Lythgoe, a well-known TV producer, has strongly denied allegations of sexual abuse against Paula Abdul. In documents filed on October 15, Lythgoe responded to Abdul’s amended complaint by calling her accusations “horrendous lies.”

Abdul, the former American Idol judge, added new details to her amended complaint, alleging Lythgoe assaulted her and her assistant in 2015. Lythgoe responds to Abdul’s accusations, describing her as a pathological liar and attention seeker.

Abdul initially filed a case, claiming that Lythgoe only attacked her assistant in April 2015. However, in her amended complaint, Abdul stated that she was also assaulted by Lythgoe during the same incident.

The new complaint also included more details about alleged incidents in the early 2000s, when both were on American Idol, and in 2015/2016, when Abdul collaborated with So You Think You Can Dance.

Lythgoe’s legal response questioned the timing and details of Abdul’s allegations. He said Abdul’s previous accusation was vague about the facts of the incidents, and that the new allegations were a convenient reminder.

According to the document, “it increases credibility that Abdul would suddenly ‘remember’ that he was attacked as her assistant during the same incident, after initially saying nothing about it.”

In his response, Lythgoe further questioned Abdul’s credibility by citing their professional and personal relationship. He included emails, text messages and social media posts in which Abdul allegedly expressed positive feelings toward him both during and after the alleged attacks.

One of the emails, dated June 20, 2014, said: “Thank you for the beautiful flowers… I really appreciate our friendship and look forward to launching our project.” In another message, dated June 9, 2015, Abdul reportedly congratulated Lythgoe on a professional achievement, writing, “I love your guts!!!”

Lythgoe responded, saying it was unthinkable that Abdul would remain friendly and affectionate if her claims were true. He also noted that Abdul was often accompanied by security during the filming of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, making it difficult for such incidents to occur without witnesses.

Lythgoe’s legal filing also accused Abdul of launching a tactical campaign to damage his reputation. He claimed that Abdul was weaponizing the current climate to discredit him, and the claims were part of a larger pattern of attention-seeking behavior.

“Abdul’s allegations against Lythgoe are false, despicable, intolerable and life-changing,” the document said, accusing Abdul of using the legal system for personal gain.

After Lythgoe initially denied the assault claims, Abdul’s attorney, Melissa Eubanks, accused Lythgoe of victimization. Eubanks alleged that Lythgoe was in a position of power over Abdul because he was a producer on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, while Abdul was a talent.

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