Paula Abdul Sues Former ‘American Idol’ Producer for Sexual Assault and Harassment

According to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul has alleged that the show's former executive producer sexually assaulted her.

TMZ reported that she said Lythgoe attacked her several times when she was a judge on popular reality shows "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Idol".

She alleged that he once assaulted her in an elevator, groping her, trying to kiss her and pushing her against the wall. She escaped to her room when the doors opened and told one of her reps, but did not report it because she was afraid of losing her job. She also said that Lythgoe forced himself on her on the sofa after inviting her to his home to talk about work opportunities and said they would be an "excellent power couple". She pushed him away and left right away. In the lawsuit, she said she saw Lythgoe grope one of her assistants in 2015, while they were working on "So You Think You Can Dance".

She also said that he verbally abused her and mocked her about the statute of limitations expiring.

She is taking legal action against Lythgoe, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence.