Woman accuses former 'SYTYCD' judge Nigel Lythgoe of 2018 sexual assault in new lawsuit
Nigel Lythgoe has been hit with a new lawsuit, this time for an alleged sexual assault at his home in 2018.
The new lawsuit, filed by a Jane Doe in Los Angeles Superior Court, is the fourth lawsuit filed against the former "So You Think You Can Dance" judge and "American Idol" producer in recent months, including a lawsuit filed by Paula Abdul.
USA TODAY has reached out to Lythgoe's reps for comment.
According to the lawsuit, which includes redacted information, Lythgoe, 74, forced the woman against an exterior wall by "shoving his knee between her legs" and proceeded to lick the woman's neck, touch her genitalia, grope her "all over" and try to kiss her.
The woman "tried to push Lythgoe away from her but he had her pinned against the wall," she claims. Once she broke away from him, she immediately left the home and drove away, the suit says.
She says she has "suffered severe emotional and psychological distress, guilt, humiliation, and embarrassment" in her personal and professional life as a result of the incident, including her marriage. The woman is seeking damages, according to the filing.
"Lythgoe’s sexual assault and battery were so traumatizing that" the woman "no longer feels like the confident, capable, and independent woman that she was before."
New Nigel Lythgoe lawsuit follows suits from Paula Abdul, other accusers
The suit was filed by the same lawyers as previous suits from Abdul and another unidentified woman who claimed the TV producer forcibly touched her in 2016.
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."
Nigel Lythgoe,former 'So You Think You Can Dance' judge, faces another sexual assault lawsuit
On Feb. 17, a Jane Doe filed a lawsuit alleging that in February 2016, she was out to dinner for her birthday in Beverly Hills when she took 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.
The woman alleges the TV personality instructed his driver to continue past Jane Doe's home while he "forcibly kissed, groped, and digitally penetrated her."
A third lawsuit, filed by 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.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org)
Contributing: Naledi Ushe, Melissa Ruggieri, KiMi Robinson
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