Nigel Lythgoe Doubles Down On His Stance On Paula Abdul's Allegations
By Afouda Bamidele on December 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM EST
As far as Nigel Lythgoe is concerned, a sexual assault lawsuit settlement does not equal proof of guilt!
The TV producer became embroiled in scathing allegations in 2023 when his former colleague Paula Abdul accused him of sexual assault. The case dragged on for months until December 2024, when they reached a settlement.
The terms of their settlement have been kept under wraps; however, Nigel Lythgoe recently doubled down on his innocence despite this agreement.
Nigel Lythgoe Denies Sexually Assaulting Paula Abdul
Lythgoe's cries of innocence continued at LAX over the weekend when a photog caught up with him at the airport. The paparazzo queried the entertainer about how he would rebuild his legacy following Abdul's sexual assault drama.
Rather than taking a remorseful stance, the former Young Generation choreographer boldly declared that he had nothing to rebuild. Lythgoe stressed that his name was only marred by false allegations, doubling down on his innocence in the sexual assault allegations.
Lythgoe stressed that there wasn't much he could do but remain adamant about his innocence in the alleged crimes. On that note, he chose to focus on the future instead of wallowing about the things he could not change, as seen in the video shared by TMZ.
The TV Producer Echoed Similar Sentiments About Moving On Following The Settlement
Lythgoe shared that he was working on new projects, including a movie and an upcoming show, but stayed quiet about the details. All in all, he seemed ready to put the past behind him and focus on making some money.
He echoed similar sentiments about leaving the sexual assault drama in the past following the lawsuit's settlement in 2024. Lythgoe denied all allegations of wrongdoing in a statement, stressing that it was unfortunate how a person was deemed guilty until proven innocent.
Although Lythgoe noted that it sometimes took years before the truth could surface, he was grateful to put his issues with Abdul behind him thanks to their settlement. "I know the truth, and that gives me great comfort," he declared at the time.
Inside Paula Abdul's Scathing Allegations Against Her Former Colleague
As stated, Lythgoe and Abdul reached a settlement in the sexual assault lawsuit in December 2024. The Blast covered the story, reporting that a hearing in the case had initially been scheduled for January 2025, with trial set to begin in August 2025.
Following the settlement, these dates were immediately cancelled, with Abdul raving about her victory in a statement. "I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me," the TV personality said.
She filed her sexual assault claims against Lythgoe in 2023, highlighting two horrific incidents that she alleged occurred while they were working on "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance." The first incident occurred in an elevator, with Lythgoe allegedly groping and forcing a kiss on Abdul.
The TV Personality's Attorney Accused The Alleged Culprit Of 'Victim Shaming'
Following Abdul's lawsuit, The Blast reported in March 2024 that Lythgoe had responded by sharing their email exchanges. He dropped these messages to prove that he had a close relationship with his former colleague.
In their emails, Abdul referred to Lythgoe with endearing terms like "sweetheart" and thanked him for gifts and for taking good care of her. "Forever grateful to have you in my life!" she confessed in one message. However, her attorney painted a different picture.
"Mr. Lythgoe's answer to Ms. Abdul's complaint is classic victim shaming," Abdul's legal rep argued. The attorney explained that Lythgoe had hand-picked the emails that made him look good while forgetting to mention that, as Abdul's boss, she had no choice but to be nice to him.
Nigel Lythgoe Scored A Major Victory In a Separate Assault Case
During his 2024 battle with Abdul, Lythgoe emerged victorious in a separate sexual assault case. The Blast shared that two women had accused him of sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender violence, and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.
The alleged victims were former contestants on Lythgoe's 2003 reality competition show, "All American Girl." They claimed he had repeatedly "swatted and groped" their butts, forced kisses, and made "sexual advances" towards them on the show's set and in dressing rooms.
However, their allegations were dismissed because the case was filed under the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which became effective on January 1, 2023.
The judge agreed with Lythgoe's legal team that the women's allegations did not fall under the act because violations before 2009 only affected corporate entities.
Will Paula Abdul respond to Nigel Lythgoe's adamant cries of innocence?
