Paula Abdul ‘Grateful’ for Outcome in Her Lawsuit Against Longtime ‘American Idol’ Producer

Music star and former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul is feeling “grateful” that a scathing lawsuit she filed against former “Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe in December 2023 has ended in a settlement one year later.

On December 13, 2024, People reported that Abdul, 62, and Lythgoe, 75, had settled the case in which she accused him of sexual assault. The case was scheduled to go to trial in August 2025.

Abdul, who was one of the original judges on “Idol” from 2002 to 2009, told People she was “grateful” about the outcome of her “hard-fought personal battle” and that she hopes that speaking out inspires other women to do the same if they feel violated. Lythgoe, who has denied Abdul’s claims, also said he was glad the lawsuit was over.

Paula Abdul Eager to ‘Put It All Behind Me’

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It is not clear if the settlement included a financial arrangement, but in a statement provided to multiple outlets including TMZ, Abdul said, “I am grateful this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me. This has been a long and hard-fought personal battle.”

Abdul continued, “I hope my experience can serve to inspire other women, facing similar struggles, to overcome their own challenges with dignity and respect, so that they too can turn the page and begin a new chapter of their lives.”

Lythgoe released his own statement to TMZ, which said, “We live in a troubling time where a person is now automatically assumed to be guilty until proven innocent, a process that can take years. That is why, like Paula, I am glad to be able to put this behind me. I know the truth and that gives me great comfort.”

Paula Abdul Accused Nigel Lythgoe of Sexual Assault on 2 Different Show Sets

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In December 2023, according to court documents obtained by outlets including TMZ and Rolling Stone, Abdul sued Lythgoe for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, and negligence that occurred during her time on “Idol” and when she was a judge years later on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Abdul didn’t come forward while she was on the shows, per The Hollywood Reporter (THR), because she feared retaliation.

After Abdul’s lawsuit filing, two more women came forward — unnamed contestants on another show Lythgoe was part of — with accusations of sexual assault against Lythgoe, THR reported.

In early January 2024, Lythgoe stepped down from his judging and producing duties on SYTYCD, vowing to spend his time and energy on clearing his name, per CNN. In a legal filing in March 2024, Lythgoe called Abdul’s allegations “false, despicable, intolerable, and life-changing,” the outlet said.