Nigel Lythgoe Denies Paula Abdul’s Sexual Assault Claims

Nigel Lythgoe denied Paula Abdul‘s allegations that he sexually assaulted her.

“To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement,” the former American Idol executive producer, 74, said in a statement to

on Saturday, December 30. “For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear — and entirely platonic — friends and colleagues.”

He continued, “Yesterday, however,…