JoJo Siwa is tapped to replace Nigel Lythgoe as a So You Think You Can Dance judge amid sexual assault allegations from Paula Abdul
JoJo Siwa is set to replace Nigel Lythgoe as judge on season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance.
The news comes amid Lythgoe's sexual assault lawsuits, including one from former co-star Paula Abdul.
The 20-year-old former Dance Moms star announced the update on social media Friday, sharing a joint post with Reality Club Fox.
The caption read: 'Our new judge is on POINT! @jojosiwa is returning to #SYTYCD as a judge for Season 18!
'Don’t miss the season premiere Monday, March 4 on @foxtv and next day on @hulu!'
JoJo Siwa is set to replace Nigel Lythgoe as judge on season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance
The news comes amid Lythgoe's sexual assault lawsuits, including one from former co-star Paula Abdul
Siwa shared a self-recorded clip with her 11.1 Instagram followers shortly after the news broke.
'I just wanted to say how excited I am to be a part of So You Think You Can Dance season 18.
'Oh my gosh, this show — it's iconic and legendary for so many reasons. It has produced some of the world's greatest dancers and launched their careers.
'Almost every dancer that is known in the world started or a massive step in their career was on So You Think,' she said.
'And so for this show to be back and to be here for another season — this is now my second season with the show — I am beyond excited, beyond grateful.'
She excitedly added, 'The talent is actually insane and I cannot wait for everyone to see that. I can't wait to see how this season pans out.'
'It's going to be tough. It's going to be a long process but it's going to be so good,' she promised.
JoJo will join judges Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy on the latest installment of the competition series.
Siwa shared a self-recorded clip with her 11.1 Instagram followers shortly after the news broke
Lythgoe is also co-creator and executive producer of the Fox dance competition series.
'I have informed the producers of So You Think You Can Dance of my decision to step back from participating in this year's series,' Lythgoe said in a statement in early January.
'I did so with a heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great program has always been about dance and dancers, and that's where its focus needs to remain. In the meantime, I am dedicating myself to clearing my name and restoring my reputation,' the message read.
The 74-year-old media fixture has been a prominent TV producer for decades in both the U.K. and the U.S., working on reality competition shows including American Idol.
Sony Pictures Television has reportedly launched an investigation into explosive sexual assault claims against So You Think You Can Dance creator Nigel Lythgoe (pictured in 2015 with judges Jason Derulo and Paula Abdul)
Abdul alleged in a lawsuit filed on December 30 that Lythgoe twice assaulted her — first in the early 2000s when she was an American Idol judge and again about a decade later when she was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, which she left after two seasons.
Lythgoe called the allegations an 'appalling smear' that he intends to fight.
It comes after Sony Pictures Television reportedly launched an investigation into explosive sexual assault claims against the TV star.
Two women who were contestants on Lythgoe's 2003 ABC talent show All American Girl have also recently claimed that he 'openly swatted and groped' their butts and tried to force himself on them when he had them alone.
The studio which produces his long-running show SYTYCD is probing at least some of the claims, according to TMZ.
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