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A month after pop star and TV personality Paula Abdul<\/strong> accused fellow So You Think You Can Dance<\/em> judge Nigel Lythgoe<\/strong> of sexual assault, his replacement has been named. For its 18th season, recording artist and Kids\u2019 Choice snub-ee<\/a> JoJo Siwa<\/strong> will take over Lythgoe\u2019s seat on the competition show’s panel, continuing a run that began with a judge role in Season 17.<\/p>\n In late 2023, Abdul filed suit against Lythgoe<\/a>, who was also a producer on So You Think You Can Dance<\/em>. According to Abdul, Lythgoe subjected her to sexual assault, verbal abuse, and bullying, but fearing retaliation, she did not report the alleged issues during her tenure on the series.<\/p>\n Lythgoe denies Abdul\u2019s claims, telling Vanity Fair<\/em> through a spokesperson that he is \u201cshocked and saddened by the allegations\u201d and said, \u201cNot only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for.\u201d<\/p>\n Days later, two contestants from the ABC competition show All American Girl<\/em> filed a separate lawsuit against Lythgoe claiming on-set groping and sexual assault, Variety reports<\/a>. The full suit is available online<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Following the second suit, Lythgoe announced, \u201cI have informed the producers of So You Think You Can Dance<\/em> of my decision to step back from participating in this year\u2019s series.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did so with a heavy heart but entirely voluntarily because this great programme has always been about dance and dancers, and that\u2019s where its focus needs to remain. In the meantime, I am dedicating myself to clearing my name and restoring my reputation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n While he does that, the So You Think You Can Dance<\/em> show will apparently carry on, but with choreographer Allison Holker<\/strong>, dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy<\/strong>, and Siwa\u2014who has also competed on Fox\u2019s Special Forces: World\u2019s Toughest Test<\/em> and on Dancing with the Stars<\/em>\u2014at the table at which Abdul and Lythgoe used to sit.<\/p>\n