Nigel Lythgoe is stepping back from his role as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance in the midst of multiple sexual assault lawsuits. His decision comes just before the season 18 premiere. Lythgoe has denied these allegations and has expressed his intention to defend his reputation.
The lawsuits include an accusation from Paula Abdul, who alleged that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her. Another lawsuit comes from two former contestants from the series All American Girl, who also accused Lythgoe of sexual assault.
Nigel Lythgoe is leaving his role as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance due to multiple sexual assault lawsuits, with his decision also motivated by an intent to focus on clearing his name and reputation; the vacated role has not yet been filled for the upcoming season 18.
After multiple sexual assault lawsuits, Nigel Lythgoe has officially announced his departure from his role as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. The 74-year-old shared in a statement to Variety on Friday, January 5, “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. 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.”
Lythgoe’s abrupt announcement comes just two months before the premiere of season 18 of SYTYCD, which will feature Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy as judges. No decision has been made regarding a replacement for Lythgoe this season. The veteran TV personality has been a judge on the show since its premiere in 2005 but was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed by Paula Abdul.
Abdul, 61, claimed in court documents that Lythgoe assaulted her multiple times over the years while working together on American Idol and SYTYCD. Among these accusations, Abdul claimed Lythgoe “verbally insulted and belittled” her prior to taking her American Idol gig and that he sexually assaulted her in a hotel elevator while traveling for American Idol auditions. Lythgoe has denied these allegations, stating, “For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear — and entirely platonic — friends and colleagues.”
Even more recently, Lythgoe was hit with another sexual assault lawsuit. Two former contestants from the 2003 competition show All American Girl claimed that Lythgoe drove them to a Los Angeles house after the show had ended and tried to forcefully kiss and grope them. The allegations against Lythgoe continue to present significant challenges for his career amidst the #MeToo era.
