Paula Abdul has reached a settlement in her sexual assault lawsuit against Nigel Lythgoe, the guy best known for crushing dance dreams on “So You Think You Can Dance” and giving Simon Cowell a run for his money on “American Idol.”
The 75-year-old producer, who apparently wasn’t just dishing out harsh critiques but also some serious accusations-worthy behavior, was sued by Paula for alleged sexual assault and verbal abuse. It all went down during their time together on “American Idol” and later on “SYTYCD.” Fun fact: A joint interview they gave while promoting the latter in 2015 recently resurfaced, and let’s just say it aged about as well as milk left out in the sun.
Earlier this year, Paula was not here for Nigel’s attempt to sweep this lawsuit under the rug, and she came armed with what she claims were receipts. (Knowing Paula, they were probably color-coded and perfectly choreographed for maximum effect.) A trial was initially set for August 2025—because why rush justice, right?—but the settlement means that date is now cleared.
Speaking out after the dust settled, Paula channeled her inner self-help guru, telling People:
“I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can put behind me. 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.”
Translation: Paula is ready to move on and leave this drama in the rearview mirror—preferably with a perfectly synchronized pivot turn.
In other Paula news, she had to cancel her concert tour earlier this fall, which is a bummer for fans hoping to relive her greatest hits. But hey, if anyone knows how to bounce back, it’s the woman who taught us all how to take “two steps forward and two steps back.”
Here’s hoping this settlement gives Paula some much-deserved peace and, more importantly, clears her schedule for a new “Forever Your Girl” remix tour. Stay tuned, because with Paula Abdul, you never know what kind of choreographed plot twist might be around the corner.
