JoJo Siwa to Replace Nigel Lythgoe on So You Think You Can Dance After Sexual Assault Allegations

JoJo Siwa returns to So you think you can dance jury to replace Nigel Lythgoe in season 18.

Fox issued a press release on Friday announcing that Dance moms alum, 20, will join Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy on the judging panel for the new season, which seeks to reflect the “authentic experience of building a successful dance career.”

Emmy-nominated host Cat Deeley will once again host the competitive dance show, a role she has held since 2006.

Friday’s announcement also promised fans a “documentary-style look” at the contestants’ lives as they battle it out for the ultimate $100,000 grand prize that comes with announcing the winner So you think you can dance season 18

Paula Abdul Sues American Idol, SYTYCD Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe for alleged sexual assault

Nigel Lythgoe.

Phillip Faraone/Getty

News of Siwa’s return comes shortly after Lythgoe announced he would be stepping down from the long-running dance series following allegations of sexual abuse earlier this month.

“I informed the producers about So you think you can dance about my decision to withdraw from this year’s series,” said the television personality (74). Diversity. “I did it with a heavy heart but completely voluntarily because this great program has always been about dance and dancers, and that is where its focus should remain. In the meantime, I am devoting myself to clearing my name and restoring my reputation.”

Nigel Lythgoe sued over alleged sexual assault by 2 reality show contestants amid ongoing lawsuit against Paula Abdul

On December 30, Paula Abdul, 61, accused the longtime dance judge of sexually assaulting her on two occasions while they were both working on American Idol in the early 2000s and SYTYCD in 2015.

Shortly after the news broke, Lythgoe responded to her claims and denied all the allegations in a statement provided to TMZ.

“To say I’m shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is an insane understatement,” he said. “For over two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear and completely platonic friends and colleagues.”

Noting that he learned of Abdul’s allegations “out of the blue” from the press, Lythgoe continued: “I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and everything I stand for. … I cannot pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit she must know is untrue. But I can promise to fight this horrible stain with everything I have.”

Allison Holker Boss and Maks Chmerkovskiy join Season 18 So you think you can dance as judges

FOX

Siwa made her debut as a judge in season 17 joy Matthew Morrison and trot SYTYCD beloved Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who died at age 40 in December 2022.

Siwa celebrated the news of her judging debut with a special post she shared on Instagram at the time.

“FINALLY!…. ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ is coming to FOX this summer and I’m so grateful to be a judge!” Siwa wrote. “Such an honor to be a part of this show, come back!!!”

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So you think you can dance season 18 premieres March 4 at 9:00 PM ET on Fox and can be seen the following day on Hulu.

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Source: HIS Education