Los Angeles, California – A British TV executive, Nigel Lythgoe, is facing allegations of sexual assault and battery in a recent lawsuit. The accusations have been made by an unidentified woman who claims that Lythgoe, a former judge on the US television show So You Think You Can Dance, groped her against a wall.
This lawsuit is the fourth in a series of legal actions against the 74-year-old Lythgoe, including one brought by American singer Paula Abdul. Lythgoe has denied all previous allegations, and his representatives have not commented on the latest lawsuit. The BBC has reached out to Lythgoe’s representatives for a response.
According to court documents filed in Los Angeles, the woman involved in the recent lawsuit felt violated and experienced severe emotional and psychological distress following the alleged assault in 2018. Her lawyer, Melissa Eubanks, stated that Lythgoe allegedly forced himself on their client during a business meeting and ended their relationship when she did not comply.
Two former contestants on the show All American Girl, which Lythgoe produced, previously sued him in January for alleged sexual assault. Additionally, Paula Abdul has come forward with claims that Lythgoe assaulted her while they worked together on shows like American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
In response to Abdul’s allegations, Lythgoe described her as a “well-documented fabulist” with a history of telling wild stories. He vehemently denied her claims, calling them false, despicable, and character assassination. Lythgoe, known for his role as an executive producer and on-screen judge on shows like Pop Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, stepped down from So You Think You Can Dance in January, expressing a heavy heart.