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US media reports that American singer and dancer Paula Abdul is suing British television executive Nigel Lythgoe for alleged sexual assault. The lawsuit claims that multiple instances of assault occurred while the pair worked together on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Nigel Lythgoe was an executive producer on American Idol and a co-judge on So You Think You Can Dance. Both Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe have not publicly commented on the case. The BBC reached out to Nigel Lythgoe's representatives for a response. According to the lawsuit, the first assault allegedly occurred during one of the early seasons of American Idol in the early 2000s. The lawsuit claims that Nigel Lythgoe assaulted Paula Abdul in an elevator during regional auditions for the talent program. Paula Abdul was able to escape and immediately informed her representatives. The second instance allegedly occurred over a decade later during a supposed professional meeting at Nigel Lythgoe's home in Los Angeles. Paula Abdul claims he forced himself on her and made inappropriate remarks. She pushed him off and made it clear she was not interested. Paula Abdul also claims to have witnessed Nigel Lythgoe assault one of his assistants during the filming of So You Think You Can Dance in Las Vegas. The lawsuit alleges that Nigel Lythgoe taunted Paula Abdul by calling her and joking about the statute of limitations on the assaults. The court filing states that Paula Abdul remained silent for years due to fear of speaking out against a prominent producer in the television industry. It also mentions professional contracts that prohibited her from disclosing confidential business information or making derogatory comments. The lawsuit has been filed under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which temporarily lifts the statute of limitations in sexual assault cases. Survivors of sexual assault can file a civil claim in California until January 2026 for crimes that occurred on or after 1 January 2009.