Embattled producer Nigel Lythgoe released emails and social media posts from Paula Abdul, claiming they had a “very friendly and loving relationship” for years. before alleging he had sexually assaulted heraccording to TMZ.
The producer, 74, filed legal documents Tuesday, three months after Abdul, 61, alleged that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her twice, dating back to their time together working on “American Idol” and then to new on Lythgoe's Fox series “So You Think You Can.” Dance.”
Following Abdul's allegations, Lythgoe left 'So You Think You Can Dance' on which he was a judge, and was eventually replaced by JoJo Siwa, who was a judge on the show in 2022.
Lythgoe called Abdul a “well-documented fabulist, with a long history of telling wild stories that have no connection to reality and are primarily designed to attract attention and make Abdul appear to be the victim of a terrible misfortune.” , according to TMZ.
He included several private emails that Abdul allegedly sent her, including one dated September 12, 2014, in which she wrote: “Hi honey, thank you for this lovely 'gift.' Please forgive me for not calling yesterday. Always grateful to have you in my life! Lovek, love, I love you! XO P.”
According to TMZ, another email Abdul allegedly sent to Lythgoe in June 2014 included the message: “Thank you for the beautiful flowers, they were exquisite!” But I have to say that the most memorable thing was last night's birthday card. I'm screaming again! I truly value our friendship and can't wait to launch our project.
Lythgoe's legal filings also include numerous tweets from Abdul directed to his handle @dizzyfeet, beginning in 2009 and continuing through 2015, when they were both on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Many of the tweets, according to TMZ, include photos of Abdul and Lythgoe together. In a Thanksgiving tweet, she wrote to him: “I'm grateful to have met you too, Nigel. Have a very happy Thanksgiving! xoxoP.
Abdul took legal action against Lythgoe and FremantleMedia North America in December. She claimed he attacked her the first time during “one of the first seasons of Idol” in the early 2000s and the second time at an unspecified time when Abdul was a judge for two seasons on ” So You Think You Can Dance” from 2015.
In the incident that allegedly occurred during “American Idol,” Abdul said Lythgoe pushed her against the wall of a hotel elevator, grabbed her genitals and breasts and forced his hand into her. tongue in the throat. She said she tried to push him away and ran back to her hotel room once the elevator doors opened.
Lythgoe immediately denied the allegations and said he would “fight this appalling smear with everything I have.”
“To say I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is an understatement,” Lythgoe said in a statement at the time. “For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear – and entirely platonic – friends and colleagues. Yesterday, however, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and everything I stand for.”
The Post has contacted representatives for Lythgoe and Abdul for comment.