Paula FIGHTS BACK

The singer slaps former boss Nigel Lythgoe with a bombshell lawsuit, claiming he sexually assaulted her

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The details are disturbing. In court documents filed on Dec. 29, Paula Abdul alleges that during one of the early seasons of American Idol, her then-boss Nigel Lythgoe pushed her against the wall in a hotel elevator, grabbed her genitals and breasts and tried to kiss her. She also claims she was "verbally insulted and belittled" by Nigel in a meeting with execs before she was hired on Idol, was paid less than fellow male judges, and was bullied by Nigel and the show's production staff. Years later, after she joined Nigel's So You Think You Can Dance as a judge, the "Straight Up" singer claims that during a dinner party at his home, he forced himself on top of her and tried to kiss her, saying they would make an "excellent power couple." In both instances, Paula says she remained quiet out of fear of retaliation.