Producer Nigel Lythgoe denies sexual assault allegations by Paula Abdul and countersues.

Producer Nigel Lythgoe denies sexual assault allegations made by Paula Abdul and accuses her of substance abuse and erratic behavior. Abdul filed a civil lawsuit against Lythgoe in December, accusing him of sexually assaulting her on two separate occasions between 2002 and 2015 while working together. Lythgoe provides emails and public tweets from Abdul to show a positive relationship during the alleged abuse and asks the court to dismiss her lawsuit, demanding she covers his attorney fees.