- Deadly Israeli strike on Beirut likely targeted Hezbollah security chief
- Bangladesh Islamist chief backs crimes against humanity trial for ex-PM
- Everest climber's remains believed found after 100 years
- 20 Pakistan coal miners shot dead in attack
- Clashes on South China Sea, Ukraine dominate Asia summit
- Han Kang's books sell out in South Korea after Nobel win
- Zelensky meets Pope, Scholz as whirlwind Europe tour ends
- Hello Hallyu: why is South Korean culture sweeping the globe?
- UK economy rebounds in August in boost to new govt
- Voice of Japan's beloved robot cat 'Doraemon' dies
- Shanghai markets sink ahead of briefing on mixed day for Asia
- Investors, analysts eye bigger China stimulus at Saturday briefing
- 20 Pakistan coal miners shot dead in attack: police
- Blinken condemns China's 'increasingly dangerous' sea moves
- Toyota returns to Formula One as Haas partner
- EU chief says China must 'adapt its behaviour' to solve trade row
- Musk unveils robotaxi, pledges it 'before 2027'
- Lynx rally, stun Liberty in overtime in WNBA Finals opener
- Pogacar hunting 'perfect' season finale with Coppi's Il Lombardia record
- 'Soul of old Baghdad': city centre sees timid revival
- Kittle at the double as Niners hold off Seahawks
- At least 11 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Yankees advance in MLB playoffs as Guardians stay alive
- Asian markets mixed after Wall St drop, Shanghai dips before briefing
- Automaker Stellantis says CEO will retire in 2026
- Musk's promised robotaxi unveil delayed
- Kamada says Japan can close in on World Cup place against Australia
- On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument
- Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island
- Argentina held, Brazil leave it late in 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Obama blasts 'crazy' Trump in first rally for Harris
- 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a plea in favour of world order?
- Fry homers as Guardians down Tigers to stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Japan PM presses China's Li on airspace intrusion
- In Trump 'Truths,' conspiracies, attacks -- and doubts about the election
- How Sebastian Stan found a 'relatable' Trump for 'The Apprentice' biopic
- Panama's water wheel trash collector keeps plastic at bay
- It's still 'the economy, stupid,' says US political guru Carville
- Five key dates in the history of the America's Cup
- Zelensky to meet Pope, Scholz as whirlwind Europe tour ends
- At least 10 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Far from eye, Hurricane Milton's deadly tornados rampaged Florida
- At least 10 dead in Florida after Hurricane Milton spawns tornadoes
- Argentina held, Bolivia stun Colombia in 2026 qualifiers
- Socceroos have 'nothing to fear' from Japan
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial set for May 2025
- Bolivia stun Colombia in World Cup qualifiers
- Internet Archive reels from 'catastrophic' cyberattack, data breach
- Greece earn late win against England in Nations League, Italy-Belgium stalemate
- Trump biopic 'The Apprentice' hits US theaters weeks before election
Singer Paula Abdul sues 'American Idol' producer over sexual assault
Grammy-award-winning artist and US television star Paula Abdul has accused a producer on the singing contest show "American Idol" of sexual assault, according to a California lawsuit.
Abdul, whose 1988 album "Forever Your Girl" was the most successful debut in history at the time, accused Nigel Lythgoe, a producer on "Idol" and a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance," of sexually assaulting her twice, the complaint filed Friday showed.
Lythgoe, who is English, has denied the accusations, according to media reports.
In the suit, the 61-year-old singer said she was harassed by Lythgoe and other executives on "American Idol," where she was a judge from 2002-2009.
It alleged she was discriminated against in terms of pay, and that "she was the target of constant taunts, bullying, humiliation, and harassment from several executives, agents, employees" of the show.
The most serious accusations are against Lythgoe, 74.
Early in Idol's run, the lawsuit stated, Abdul and Lythgoe were on the road for the show's auditions when he attacked her in a hotel elevator, groping her and "shoving his tongue down her throat."
The second assault came after Abdul agreed to appear as a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2015, and went to dinner at Lythgoe's house, where he allegedly "attempted to kiss her while proclaiming that the two would make an excellent 'power couple.'"
"For years, Abdul has remained silent about the sexual assaults and harassment she experienced on account of Lythgoe due to fear of speaking out against one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows who could easily break her career as a television personality and of being ostracized and blackballed by an industry that had a pattern of protecting powerful men and silencing survivors of sexual assault and harassment," the complaint stated.
Her contracts also barred her from discussing anything "derogatory," it said.
Lythgoe told NPR that he was "shocked and saddened" by the accusations, which he denied.
The allegations by Abdul, whose other hit songs include "Opposites Attract," "Straight Up," "Cold Hearted" and "Rush Rush," are the latest in a string of high-profile lawsuits filed ahead of Sunday's expiration of part of California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act.
A similar law in New York led to several high-profile cases, including against hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, in November.
X.Karnes--AMWN