LOS ANGELES (AP) – Television producer Nigel Lythgoe on Friday accused Paula Abdul of sexual assault, including sexual assault, by a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.” announced that he would resign.
Lithgow is also co-creator and executive producer of the Fox dance competition series, whose 18th season is scheduled to begin in March.
“I have informed the producers of 'So You Think You Can Dance' of my decision to decline to participate in this year's series,” Lithgow said in a statement. “I did it with a heavy heart, but completely spontaneously, because this great program has always been about dance and dancers and we need to keep the focus there. is dedicated to clearing its name and restoring its reputation.”
The 74-year-old British-born Lithgow has been a prominent television producer for decades in both the UK and the US, producing reality shows such as “American Idol.''
Abdul, a singer and dancer, claims in a lawsuit filed on December 30 that Lithgow assaulted him on two separate occasions. The first time was in the early 2000s when she was a judge on “American Idol,” and the second time was about 10 years later when she was a judge on “So You Think You.” It was time. He left the show after two seasons.
Mr Lithgow called the allegations a “terrible slander” and said he intended to fight them.
The Associated Press typically does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, as Abdul did.
