On Friday, 74-year-old television producer Nigel Lythgoe announced that he would not be a part of the upcoming season of So You Think You Can Dance as a judge. He told Variety, “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.”
This decision by Nigel comes after the double sexual assault case filed against him by his long-term working colleague Paula Abdul. He and Abdul have been walking together for a long time as judges on American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance. According to Paula, she was sexually assaulted by Nigel while she was working as a judge on both of the aforementioned shows.
Why Nigel Lythgoe will not be a part of SYTYCD Season 18?
Regarding his decision to step back from being a part of the upcoming series You So You Think You Can Dance, Nigel has told Variety that he has taken this decision with a very heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great program has always been about dance and dances, and that’s where it needs to be focused on and not be affected by his ongoing case.
He also said, “I am dedicating myself to clearing my name and restoring my position” to the outlet. There was also a joint statement given by 19 Entertainment, Dick Clark Productions, Fox, and other production companies and networks of So You Think You Can Dance following his recent assault allegations said that Nigel will no longer be a judge on the upcoming competitive dance series.
It was also mentioned that they will continue with the upcoming season of So You Think You Can Dance even though it will proceed without Nigel, as the show is committed to the contestants and their incredible hard work for the opportunity to compete on the stage. Further, they added, “No decision has been made as to a replacement judge for the season, which will premiere on Fox on Monday, March 4,” to the outlet.
Following the statement given by the production networks and what Nigel said, it’s clear that he will not be a part of Season 18 of SYTYCD, but it is still unclear if he will be involved during the audition process, which takes place at the start of a few episodes of the season.
Paula Abdul Sued Nigel Lythgoe for Alleged Sexual Assault
On December 30, Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit under the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which allows a sexually assaulted victim to file a suit against the assault even if the statute of limitations has already expired.
Paula had accused her longtime dance co-judge Nigel of sexually assaulting her on two occasions while they were both working on American Idol in 2000 and in 2015 at SYTYCD. Per the same lawsuit, Paula has also filed charges against the defendants for sexual assault, sexual harassment, general violence, and negligence.
When the news of the lawsuit broke out, Nigel denied all her allegations in a statement that he gave to TMZ, where he said, “To say that I am shocked and surprised by the allegations made against me by Paula is a wild understatement.” He also added that both of them have worked for two decades together. He and Paul have always interacted as “dear and entirely platonic friends and colleagues.”
According to Nigel, the acquisitions were “out of the blue” for him. He also said, “I want to be clear that not only are they false, but they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for.”
As per Nigel’s words to the press, he stated, “I can’t pretend to understand exactly why she would file a suit that she must know is untrue. But I can promise that I will fight this appalling smear with everything I have.”
After Paula’s allegations against Nigel on December 30, the other two contestants from the 2003 all-female reality show “All America Girl” filed a lawsuit against him on January 2 that accused him of negligence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
