Paula Abdul accuses ‘American Idol’ producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault

Paula Abdul and producer Nigel Lythgoe are pictured in Los Angeles at a Television Academy event in 2014.

Vince Bucci/Vince Bucci/Invision/AP

Television star Paula Abdul filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday accusing American Idol executive producer and So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault and gender-based violence against her.

According to court filings shared with NPR by Abdul’s legal representation, the Beverly Hills-based law firm Johnson & Johnson LLP, the multipart complaint describes long-term harassment of the American Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning singer, dancer and actor by executives and others involved in the production of American Idol.

“She was the target of constant taunts, bullying, humiliation, and harassment from several executives, agents, employees, and/or representatives of Defendants,” the filing alleges.

Allegations of direct physical attacks

But the main focus of the lawsuit is a pair of direct physical attacks Abdul, 61, allegedly experienced at the hands of the 74-year-old British TV executive, director and choreographer.

The first occurred during her tenure as a host on American Idol in the early 2000s, during one of the show’s initial seasons. The complaint states Lythgoe and Abdul were on the road for Idol‘s regional auditions when Lythgoe allegedly groped and kissed Abdul in a hotel elevator.

“Abdul attempted to push Lythgoe away from her and let him know that his behavior was not acceptable. When the doors to the elevator for her floor opened, Abdul ran out of the elevator and to her hotel room,” the complaint states. “In tears, Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform them of the assault,…