Former 'So You Think You Can Dance' judge faces another sexual assault lawsuit
Nigel Lythgoe is facing a third sexual assault lawsuit from a woman alleging that the former "So You Think You Can Dance" judge attacked her in 2016.
The woman, identified as Jane Doe, in the complaint filed on Saturday in the Los Angeles Superior Court is accusing Lythgoe, 74, of "sexual assault and battery, gender violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress," her attorney Melissa Eubanks of Johnson & Johnson LLP asserts, according to a copy of the filing on the company website.
In the complaint, Jane Doe alleges that in February 2016, she was out to dinner for her birthday in Beverly Hills when she got a photo with Lythgoe due to his role in competition television.
Lythgoe allegedly invited her to hang out with him and his associates before offering her a ride home. After his alleged persistence, she accepted the ride.
"What should have been a quick two-minute ride ended up being a ten-to-fifteen minute sexual assault and battery," the complaint states, alleging the TV personality instructed his driver to continue past Jane Doe's home while he "forcibly kissed, groped, and digitally penetrated her."
Jane Doe "suffered tremendous shock, guilt, humiliation, embarrassment, and emotional distress" from the alleged incident.
“It is troubling to hear of yet another alleged incident of a woman being taken advantage of and abused by a prominent public figure," her attorney Eubanks said in a statement. “We are proud to represent Jane Doe and humbled by her courage, and the courage of many other women, to come forward with her story in hopes of ending such egregious misconduct by persons of fame, celebrity, influence, and power.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Lythgoe's reps for comment.
The law firm representing Jane Doe in this case is the same counsel for Paula Abdul, who filed a lawsuit against Lythgoe in December. Following a second accusation of sexual assault, Lythgoe stepped down as a judge of "SYTYCD."
Nigel Lythgoe is leavingFox's 'So You Think You Can Dance' amid sexual assault lawsuits
Paula Abdul, 'All American Girl' contestants filed lawsuits against Nigel Lythgoe
On Dec. 29, Abdul filed a lawsuit against the former “American Idol” producer, alleging Lythgoe sexually assaulted her during one of the “initial seasons” of "Idol" — on which she served as a judge for eight seasons starting in 2002 — and again in 2014 when she was hosting “SYTYCD.”
Lythgoe quickly denied Abdul's allegations: "Not only are (the claims) false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for," he said. "While Paula’s history of erratic behavior is well known, I can’t pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue. But I can promise that I will fight this appalling smear with everything I have."
Days after Abdul filed her lawsuit, two contestants who appeared on the 2003 ABC talent competition show "All American Girl" accused Lythgoe of sexual assault, sexual harassment and negligence stemming from an alleged attack in May of that year. They filed anonymously, using the names Jane Doe K.G. and Jane Doe K.N.
Lythgoe produced “Idol” from 2002 to 2014 and "SYTYCD" from 2005-14. He's been a "SYTYCD" judge since it premiered in 2005.
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, KiMi Robinson
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