Nigel Lythgoe Breaks Silence After Win In 'All American Girl' Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Embattled film producer Nigel Lythgoe is over the moon with joy after scoring a victory in his sexual assault scandal.

According to new reports, the 74-year-old has been dismissed as a defendant in the harassment lawsuit filed by two contestants from his 2003 reality competition show, "All American Girl."

Nigel Lythgoe became embroiled in multiple sexual assault lawsuits after his former mentee, Paula Abdul, accused him of inappropriate behavior during their time on "American Idol."

Following a judge's rule in his favor, Lythgoe shared his joy in an exclusive statement to RadarOnline, raving: "We've always said that these claims were meritless, and now the Court has agreed."

He continued, "I hope and expect that this will be the first of many similar wins as I continue to fight to clear my name." The producer's legal drama with two former "All American Girl" contestants began in January.

In their lawsuit, the Jane Does accuse the TV veteran of sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender violence, and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.

They painted a terrible picture, claiming he "openly swatted and groped" their butts on the show's set and in dressing rooms.

According to the plaintiffs' allegations, Lythgoe's harassment escalated in May 2003 when he drove them to a Los Angeles instead of a wrap party. They alleged he "made sexual advances" toward them despite repeated rejections and eventually forced kisses and unwanted touches.

The lawsuit was filed under The Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which became effective on January 1, 2023. It allowed sexual abuse victims to pursue claims that were previously time-barred and involved corporate bodies covering up the crimes.

However, Judge Shirley K. Watkins agreed with Lythgoe's argument that the decades-old charges against him did not apply under the new act.

Per the law, violations from before 2009 only affected corporate entities and not individuals, resulting in the producer's dismissal as a defendant.

In January, The Blast reported the sexual assault allegations forced Lythgoe to leave his position as a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance." He announced his exit from the reality dance competition in an emotional statement.

"I have informed the producers of 'So You Think You Can Dance' of my decision to step back from participating in this year's series," the TV veteran began before confessing it wasn't an easy decision, adding:

"I did so with a heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great program has always been about dance and dancers, and that's where its focus needs to remain."

Lythgoe also assured fans of his innocence in his concluding statement, stressing that he would focus on clearing his name and restoring his reputation following his exit from the series.

Lythgoe's reputation came crashing down in December 2023 when his former mentee, Paula Abdul, accused him of sexual assault. She shared an unseen version of the TV producer, claiming he also "verbally insulated and belittled" her.

These alleged crimes, per Abdul's claims, began in or about early 2001 when Fox approached her about a judge's post on "Pop Idol," the American version of "American Idol." However, Lythgoe, one of the show's producers, was not pleased.

The "Straight Up" singer claimed he harshly criticized her as a "'has been' celebrity," among other derogatory statements. But things only worsened while they were on the road for "one of 'American Idol's' initial seasons."

According to her allegations, Lythgoe and Abdul had taken the elevator together after the day's auditions when the producer attacked her without consent. The documents claimed:

"Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts and began shoving his tongue down her throat. Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her."

"When the doors to the elevator for her floor opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room. Abdul quickly called one of her representatives in tears to inform them of the assault," the documents alleged.

Abdul also claimed Lythgoe abused her on a separate occasion at his house, allegedly forcing himself on top of her while she was seated on his couch and attempting to kiss her while declaring they would make an excellent "power couple."