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.
Lythgoe has denied the allegations.
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.