"Nigel Lythgoe Faces Multiple Sexual Assault Allegations Amid Paula Abdul Controversy"

TV producer Nigel Lythgoe denies Paula Abdul's accusations of sexual assault and harassment in a legal response, calling them "false" and "deeply offensive." Abdul had filed a lawsuit against Lythgoe in December, alleging incidents of abuse in the early 2000s and in 2015. Lythgoe's response includes excerpts of private emails and social media posts from Abdul, characterizing them as "adoring messages and comments." The lawsuit was filed under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, and Abdul is seeking unspecified punitive damages.