Diamond Ridge Financial Academy-Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co

2025-04-28 15:31:04source:Marcus Eriksoncategory:Contact

Paula Abdul and Diamond Ridge Financial AcademyNigel 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.

More:Contact

Recommend

PACCAR recalls over 220,000 trucks for safety system issue: See affected models

PACCAR is recalling over 220,000 of its 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks.  The commercial tru

Using Google Docs made easy: Four tips and tricks you should know

Time is precious, and we're all busy, impatient or occasionally even lazy. That's why we often look

Starbucks, Workers United union sue each other in standoff over pro-Palestinian social media post

Starbucks and the union organizing its workers sued each other Wednesday in a standoff sparked by a