In her submitting, obtained by E! Information, Abdul, 61, particulars two incidents of alleged sexual assault by Lythgoe, 74. The primary allegedly occurred throughout certainly one of American Idol‘s preliminary seasons, whereas Abdul and Lythgoe had been on the street for the present’s regional auditions. It states that whereas the 2 had been inside a lodge elevator, the producer groped the singer and kissed her with out her consent.

Abdul says that she tried to push him away and inform him his conduct was not acceptable and that she quickly ran out and instructed certainly one of her reps concerning the incident however “finally determined to not take motion for worry that Lythgoe would have her fired from American Idol.”

Abdul additionally alleges in her lawsuit that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her once more years later, across the time she labored as certainly one of his co-judges on So You Suppose You Can Dance, a actuality dance competitors sequence he co-created.

The singer, who starred on the present in that capability between 2015 and 2016, says in her submitting that he had invited her to dinner at his dwelling “to debate different alternatives for the 2 to work collectively” and that she accepted the invitation. Abdul alleges that towards the top of the night, Lythgoe compelled himself on prime of her whereas she was seated on his sofa and “tried to kiss her whereas proclaiming that the 2 would make a wonderful ‘energy couple.'”