Untitled episode

[Music] you may know her as the Grammy winning Pop Princess of the late 80s and early 90s whose songs like [Music] coldhearted blasted from practically every radio in [Music] America her dance moves straight up iconic her choreography award-winning Paul Abdul is an American Dream story she starts off as a Laker girl and then inside of a year becomes the head choreographer and Janet Jackson hired her

Think You Can Dance Gabby you know that was absolutely beautiful but nearly a decade after leaving the judge's table Abdul says behind the scenes she felt there was some behavior that was inappropriate and even criminal now suing executive producer Nigel litho who she says subjected her to not just verbal harassment and bullying but also sexual abuse since then ABC News has learned two more women have

filed lawsuits against the industry Juggernaut alleging that lithco made unwanted sexual advances on them while they were contestants on the 2003 show All-American Girl which aired on ABC network Representatives had not responded to our request for comment litho a pioneer of reality TV a classically trained dancer and choreographer grapher he went on to develop and produce Britain's top rated pop Idol there you go that's the

end of 2002 Nigel for the last 20 years has really made his Mark as a talent-based reality TV producers he's brought a number of television shows to American households and international households developing and helping to develop new Superstar talent in 2002 lithco moved to the us to produce American Idol which became the number one television show in the country drawing up to 38 million viewers in

one episode you are through to the next round you're coming the program became a cultural phenomenon that introduced America to the powerful voices of Kelly [Music] Clarkson country Superstar Carrie Underwood Fantasia burino and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson we're going live Nightline went backstage with Paula Abdul in 2009 as she returned to judge her eighth season of idol her contract set to expire that same year

if this is my last har on idol I must say the proudest thing for me is that I'm having the best time of my life PA you're an inspiration thank you I love the show I do I love what I do but behind the curtain Abdul says she was the target of harassment coming from litho in one incident during one of American Idol's early Seasons the

complaint states that during an elevator ride litho shoved her against the wall then grabbed her genitals and breasts and began shoving his tongue down her throat I think she was fearful that if she spoke out against someone who is a very powerful reality TV show producer and that's where she was making her life's work that that would limit the jobs and opportunities that she had so

she stayed silent her legal team says in part that Paula has lived with the trauma of these events for a long time and like many victims suffered feelings of guilt and trepidation over being shunned from her industry Paula she's hanging out with Kathy Hilton she's doing okay right now so I don't think that this you know is a money grab I think she probably was just

fed up and didn't want to be silent anymore Abdul left idle in 2009 after being denied a raise and a few years later joined so you think you can dance as a judge a show litho also created and he judged alongside her you've mastered every language there is in dance according to her lawsuit Abdul says it was around that time that litho invited her to dinner

at his home forced himself on top of her and attempted to kiss her while proclaiming that the two would make an excellent power couple in the complaint she also states that at one point litho called her and taunted her that they should celebrate because it had been seven years and the stat statute of limitations had run in a statement to the Associated Press litho says while

Paula's history of erratic behavior is well known I can't pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue but I can promise that I will fight this appalling smear with everything I have none of the production companies implicated in the suit have responded to nightline's request for comment Now sources tell ABC News litho is facing additional accusations a lawsuit

filed earlier this week by two contestants of the 2003 ABC show All-American Girl alleges that litho engaged in sexual harassment battery and assault the contestants claimed that litho one of the show's executive producers made sexual advances toward both of them including pinning one of the women against a grand piano in the house pushed himself against her body and forced his mouth and tongue onto her according

to the filing the contestants did not consent to the contact on any occasion these lawsuits are the latest in a series of high-profile cases in California that are part of the sexual abuse and coverup accountability act the sexual abuse in cover of accountability act gave adults survivors of sexual abuse this look back window to say even though the statute limitations might have expired for those allegations

that you suffered we will allow you to reopen and accuse your uh abusers of sexual assault during this period as the law neared its expiration date several filings involving celebrities came to light including a claim against Jackson 5 member Germaine Jackson and mly Cruz Tommy Lee neither have commented publicly on the allegations so what do you think it is that pushes some people to go from

that place of fear to finally make that decision to come forward seeing high-profile people being held accountable for their actions the knowledge that sexual assault can touch the most vulnerable Among Us and also the most powerful Among Us is something that I believe allows a lot of survivors to know that they can come forward and actually be believed and that they are not alone but it's

not just California other states are opening Windows for sexual assault filings in New York the adult survivors act paved the way for filings against John Diddy comes who's denied any wrongdoing and settled one of the lawsuits against him and Neil portnell former head of the Grammy Awards who also denies the allegations current laws that offer look back windows are absolutely a good step they signal an

advancing understanding of the Survivor journey and also what may prevent survivors from coming forward in the immediate aftermath of an attack ultimately I think these are good things but I think we can go [Music] further our thanks to Diane anyone affected by sexual assault can find support from the national sexual assault hotline at 1800 656 hope or 4673 hi everyone George Stephanopoulos here thanks for checking

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