Nigel Lythgoe Shares Paula Abdul's 'Private Emails and Text Messages' to Support Claim They Were 'Friends' During Alleged Sexual Assault Period

Mar. 15, 2025

Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe.Photo:Steve Granitz/WireImage; Paul Archuleta/Getty

Steve Granitz/WireImage; Paul Archuleta/Getty

Nigel Lythgoeis denyingPaula Abdul’ssexual assault claimsagainst him.

Nigel Lythgoe and Paula Abdul.FOX Image Collection via Getty

FOX Image Collection via Getty

Abdul’s lawyer responded to Lythgoe’s claims in a statement to PEOPLE, saying: “Mr. Lythgoe’s use of the pleadings in this lawsuit to cast aspersions on Ms. Abdul is not just a futile effort to besmirch Ms. Abdul’s strong reputation but is wholly improper, and Ms. Abdul will be moving to strike Mr. Lythgoe’s filing from the record.”

Lythgoe’s response went on to point out the times Abdul had “expressed her positive feelings toward Lythgoe."

The docs include alleged private emails, text messages and social media statements Abdul made “during and after the time she now alleges the abuse occurred.” The answer continued, “Abdul expressed how she really felt about Lythgoe, her friend and colleague, both during periods of time when the two worked together and during periods of time when they did not.”

“It is unthinkable that Abdul would even tolerate Lythgoe’s physical proximity, let alone send him adoring messages and sexually provocative jokes, if her allegations were true – which, clearly, they are not,” the filing alleges.

The docs contain various alleged text messages and emails from the time of the alleged assaults appearing to show Abdul professing her love and gratitude for Lythgoe. Further evidence provided seems to show that the two “long-time friends” had spent birthdays and holidays together, and Lythgoe’s side claimed she was “seldom” on the set ofAmerican IdolorSo You Think You Can Dancewithout security.

One alleged email from Abdul to Lythgoe on June 20, 2014 read:

“Hi Nigel, Thank you for the beautiful flowers - they were exquisite! But, I have to say the kicker was the birthday card last night. I am still howling! I also wanted to let you know how happy I was to have you and Andrea join me on my special day! I know you had a previous commitment and was very touched that you were able to move things around to celebrate with me. I truly appreciate our friendship and am looking forward to launching our project. Xo Xo Paula.”

Nigel Lythgoe and Paula Abdul.Rodin Eckenroth/Getty, Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty, Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

In another email from June 9, 2015 she allegedly wrote, “Yippee!!! I’m so ‘eff-ing’ happy & thrilled for you!!!! Way to go, sweetheart! You are so deserved! Mazel Tov…” She ended her note, “I love your guts!!! xo P.”

Lythgoe continued to deny all allegations and accuse Abdul of having a “tactical campaign” of “defaming falsehoods” that “weaponize the climate against” him.

“Abdul’s accusations against Lythgoe are false, despicable, intolerable, and life-changing,” the document read, going on to claim theAmerican Idoljudge has a “long history” of telling stories “to attract attention.”

“Abdul has abused the legal process for her own personal and selfish gains,” the docs claim.

Citing interviews regarding Abdul’s past denials and admissions of substance abuse, along with claims she had been ina plane crash in 1992with allegedly no proof, Lythgoe’s answer called Abdul “a pathological liar and attention seeker.”

Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe.Mike Windle/Getty

Mike Windle/Getty

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In the past, Abdul’s team hascalled Lythgoe out for “classic victim shaming"after his response to her initial filing.

“Mr. Lythgoe fails to appreciate that he held a position of power over Ms. Abdul. He was a producer onAmerican IdolandSYTYCDand she was the talent,” Abdul’s lawyer Melissa Eubanks claimed. “He held the cards to her career in his hand and he knew it. It thus is no surprise that Ms. Abdul placated to his ego with positive messaging and seeming adoration. These are the defenses that many women like Ms. Abdul had to adopt to deal with men who abuse their power.”

The statement also said Lythgoe’s initial answer “cherry-picks” from years of message exchanges with Abdul in an effort to “discredit her claims.”

“What his selections fail to show are the numerous instances of overt sexual harassment he forced Ms. Abdul to tolerate,” she stated before noting examples from conversations that date back to 2014.

“There are several instances of such verbal assaults against Ms. Abdul, which are evidence of the frequent abusive behavior that Ms. Abdul was subjected to during her time onAmerican IdolandSYTYCD,“it ended.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com