Current:Home > MyBenjamin Ashford|Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co -NextFrontier Finance
Benjamin Ashford|Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Fastexy View
Date:2025-04-09 05:29:44
Paula Abdul and Benjamin AshfordNigel Lythgoe have settled their lawsuit a year after the allegations sent shockwaves through the dance industry.
On Thursday, the "Straight Up" singer filed a notice of settlement for the lawsuit against her fellow former “So You Think You Can Dance” judge Lythgoe, which included allegations of sexual assault and harassment. The terms of the settlement are unknown.
On Dec. 29 of last year, Abdul filed a lawsuit against the former “American Idol” executive producer, alleging that he sexually assaulted her during one of the “initial seasons” of "Idol" — on which she served as a judge for eight seasons starting in 2002 — and again in 2014 when she was judging "SYTYCD."
“I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me,” Abdul said in a statement provided to CNN and CBS News.
Abdul continued: "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.”
Need a break?Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Abdul and Lythgoe for comment.
Nigel Lythgoe is leaving Fox's'So You Think You Can Dance' amid sexual assault lawsuits
Other allegations against Lythgoe
Days after Abdul filed her lawsuit, two contestants who appeared on the 2003 ABC talent competition show "All American Girl" accused Lythgoe of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and negligence stemming from an alleged attack in May of that year. They filed anonymously, using the names Jane Doe K.G. and Jane Doe K.N.
Lythgoe worked on 'American Idol', 'SYTYCD'
Lythgoe produced “Idol” from 2002 to 2014 and "SYTYCD" from 2005-14.
He was a "SYTYCD" judge from its inception in 2005, but stepped back from the "SYTYCD" judging panel in January, telling USA TODAY in a statement at the time that he "informed the producers of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ of my decision to step back from participating in this year’s series."
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (53)
Related
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- FEMA pledges nearly $5.6 million in aid to Maui survivors; agency promises more relief
- Blake Lively, Zoey Deutch and More Stars You Didn’t Know Have Famous Relatives
- England vs. Spain: Time, odds, how to watch and live stream 2023 World Cup final
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- School's starting — but many districts don't have enough bus drivers for their students
- Tropical Storm Hilary menaces Mexico’s Baja coast, southwest US packing deadly rainfall
- U.S., Japan and Australia to hold joint drills as tensions rise in South China Sea
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Well, It's Always Nice to Check Out These 20 Secrets About Enchanted
Ranking
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Rabbit and Opossum come to life in 'Ancient Night' — a new twist on an old legend
- One dead, 6 hurt in shooting at outdoor gathering in Philadelphia 2 days after killing on same block
- Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso recovering after being shot near campus
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- One dead, 6 hurt in shooting at outdoor gathering in Philadelphia 2 days after killing on same block
- Hope is hard to let go after Maui fire, as odds wane over reuniting with still-missing loved ones
- Dwayne Haskins' widow settles with driver and owners of dump truck that hit and killed him
Recommendation
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
WWE star Edge addresses questions about retirement after SmackDown win in hometown
Kansas judge allows ACLU to intervene in lawsuit over gender markers on driver’s licenses
House fire kills 2 children in North Carolina, and a third is critically injured
'Most Whopper
Starbucks told to pay $2.7 million more to ex-manager awarded $25.6 million over firing
Tropical Storm Emily takes shape in the Atlantic, as storm activity starts to warm up
Union for Philadelphia Orchestra musicians authorize strike if talks break down