Paula Abdul accused the producer of an American talent show on which she was a judge of harassment

Singer Paula Abdul has accused television producer Nigel Lythgoe, who runs a number of popular American TV talent search shows, of harassment. On one of them, “American Idol,” Paula worked as a jury member from 2002 to 2009.

On Friday, December 29, the 61-year-old singer filed a lawsuit against the 74-year-old producer, The Blast reports. According to the lawsuit, Nigel repeatedly verbally harassed and harassed Paula during an early season of “American Idol.” So, one day, shortly after Abdul joined the show, Nigel told her that she was a “former” celebrity and that the contestants wouldn’t even recognize her.

Another time, when Lythgoe and Abdul returned to the hotel together after the auditions and entered the elevator, the producer suddenly pressed the singer against the wall and began to forcefully kiss her, as well as touch her breasts and genitals. Paula managed to push Nigel away, and when the elevator doors opened, she ran to her room, where she immediately called one of her representatives in tears to tell her what had happened. Later, Lythgoe tried to kiss the star again during a dinner he hosted at his home.

In addition, Paula claims to have witnessed Nigel sexually assault one of her assistants. Separately, she mentions the fact that she was discriminated against based on her gender - Paula notes that she was paid much less than her male colleagues, and that “she was the object of constant ridicule, bullying, humiliation and harassment” by Lythgoe and other creators of the show.

Earlier in December, Vin Diesel's former assistant accused him of sexual harassment.