LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Paula Abdul and former 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show.
Abdul filed a notice of settlement of the case in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday. It still must be approved by a judge.
鈥淚 am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me," Abdul said in a statement Friday. "This has been a long and hard-fought personal battle. 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.鈥�
In his own statement, Lythgoe said, 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
The court filing said the settlement was unconditional, but did not reveal the terms, and Abdul鈥檚 attorney Melissa Eubanks said she could not comment on them
The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago had also accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after she left 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� and became a judge on Lythgoe's other competition show, 鈥淪o You Think You Can Dance."
Lythgoe said at the time that he was 鈥渟hocked and saddened鈥� by the allegations, which he called 鈥渁n appalling smear.鈥�
After other lawsuits were filed alleging sexual misconduct, Lythgoe as a judge on 鈥淪o You Think You Can Dance.鈥�
The 75-year-old English-born producer has been a prominent TV producer for decades in both the U.K. and the U.S., working on reality competition shows including 鈥淎merican Idol.鈥�
The Associated Press generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, as Abdul has done.
Abdul, a Grammy and Emmy-winning singer and dancer, said in the lawsuit that she remained silent for years about the alleged assaults out of fear of retaliation by 鈥渙ne of the most well-known producers of television competition shows.鈥�
She alleged that the first sexual assault occurred while Abdul and Lythgoe were on the road filming auditions for an early season of 鈥淎merican Idol,鈥� which premiered in 2002.
Abdul says Lythgoe groped her in the elevator of their hotel after a day of filming and 鈥渂egan shoving his tongue down her throat.鈥� Abdul pushed him away and ran to her hotel room when the elevator doors opened.
鈥淚n tears, Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform them of the assault,鈥� the lawsuit says, 鈥渂ut ultimately decided not to take action for fear that Lythgoe would have her fired.鈥�
Abdul starred as a judge for the first eight seasons, leaving in 2009.
In 2015, Abdul became a judge on 鈥淪o You Think You Can Dance,鈥� appearing alongside Lythgoe.
Around that time, Abdul alleged in the lawsuit, Lythgoe forced himself on top of her during a dinner at his home and tried to kiss her. Abdul said she again pushed Lythgoe away and immediately left.
Abdul left that reality show after two seasons. She has not worked with Lythgoe since.
In a statement at the time of the suit, Lythgoe said 鈥淲hile Paula鈥檚 history of erratic behavior is well known, I can鈥檛 pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue.鈥�
Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press
