Nigel Lythgoe: Talent show judge faces new sexual assault claim

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British TV producer Nigel Lythgoe has been accused of sexual assault and battery in a new lawsuit.

The 74-year-old is known to be dealing with 5 lawsuits of the same nature, together with claims from US singer and dancer Paula Abdul, who lately accused Lythgoe of a number of sexual assaults whereas she appeared as a judge on hit TV reveals American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.

Lythgoe has vehemently denied earlier allegations and reportedly alleged that Abdul is a “well-documented fabulist” in an announcement seen by US retailers on Tuesday.

In the new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Lythgoe is accused of attacking a lady in early spring 2018, “groping her all over” after he had “pinned” her towards the wall.

As a results of the alleged incident, the girl was left feeling “horribly violated” and suffered “severe emotional and psychological distress”, in addition to “gravely” impacting her marriage, nearly leading to divorce, courtroom paperwork stated.

Lythgoe is dealing with claims of sexual assault/battery, gender violence, sexual harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional misery within the lawsuit.

After stepping down from So You Think You Can Dance with a “heavy heart” in January, Lythgoe stated he was dedicating his time to clearing his identify and restoring his repute.

“After more than a decade-long professional and cordial relationship, Mr Lythgoe allegedly forced himself upon our client during what was supposed to be a business meeting and then terminated their relationship when she did not acquiesce.

“We hope that stories like this will become a thing of the past, and we continue to be proud to support the women who are finally standing up to say: ‘enough is enough’.”

Lythgoe was an govt producer of British expertise show Pop Idol and American Idol earlier than co-creating and starring within the US sequence So You Think You Can Dance, which launched in 2005.

He was additionally a producer and appeared as a judge on Popstars, incomes the nickname “Nasty Nigel” due to his slicing remarks to the hopefuls.

The 2001 expertise show opened the door to American Idol and The X Factor, ceaselessly altering TV on each side of the Atlantic.

Lythgoe joined the BBC’s The Young Generation dance troupe in 1969 and have become a choreographer at 21.

He has since labored on greater than 500 TV reveals, together with Morecambe And Wise, The Two Ronnies and Gladiators, in addition to with a few of the greatest names in showbiz, akin to Gene Kelly and Bing Crosby.

A consultant for Lythgoe has been contacted for remark.