‘American Idol’ star Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit against British TV executive Nigel Lythgoe, accusing him of sexually assaulting her during their collaboration on two popular talent shows. According to court documents, Abdul alleges that Lythgoe assaulted her in an elevator during the early seasons of American Idol. Now, Lythgoe has fired back at the claims, calling them “False and deeply offensive.”
While speaking to TMZ, Lythgoe said, “To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement. For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear — and entirely platonic — friends and colleagues.”
He continued saying, “Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for. 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.”
Source: TMZ