Nigel Lythgoe hit by another sexual misconduct lawsuit

Nigel Lythgoe was accused of sexual assault in another case.

The creator of “So You Think You Can Dance” was sued by Paula Abdul in December over two separate cases of alleged sexual harassment. Two unnamed reality show contestants accused him of making unwanted sexual advances and groping them at his Los Angeles home in 2003. Now the 74-year-old producer is accused of forcibly touching a woman in 2016.

According to a lawsuit filed last weekend in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Lythgoe met with the producer at a Beverly Hills hotel and the producer “insisted” on driving her home before allegedly abusing her in his car for at least 10 minutes.

The lawsuit stated: “Plaintiff attempted to push Lythgoe away and give Lythgoe’s driver instructions on how to return to her home, but Lythgoe continued to grope Plaintiff, fondle her breasts, and kiss her.”

“Lythgoe even put his hand under the plaintiff’s skirt and penetrated her genitals.”

The alleged victim claimed that the producer finally gave in when his driver arrived at her apartment after an unexpectedly long drive.

The woman is suing for sexual assault, gender-based violence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, claiming she continued to suffer severe mental anguish as a result of the incident. She is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.

A lawyer for the plaintiff, Melissa Eubanks, who also represents Paula, said in a statement: “It is disturbing to hear of yet another alleged incident in which a woman was exploited and abused by a prominent public figure.”

Paula claims Nigel assaulted her in the early 2000s during an early season of “American Idol” and again during her time on “So You Think You Can Dance.” She is now suing him for sexual assault/assault, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and negligence.

She also claimed that he had sexually harassed her assistant and was “the target of constant taunts, bullying, humiliation and harassment.”

Shortly after her lawsuit became public, several news outlets obtained another lawsuit in which two anonymous women alleged that they were sexually abused on the short-lived competition series “All American Girl” in 2003.

Following these allegations, Lythgoe resigned from his position as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

In a statement, he said: “I have informed the producers of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ of my decision to withdraw from this year’s series.

“I did it with a heavy heart, but completely voluntarily, because this great program has always been about dance and dancers, and that must continue to be the focus. In the meantime, I am dedicated to clearing my name and restoring my reputation.”