JoJo Siwa Replaces Nigel Lythgoe on 'So You Think You Can Dance' Amid His Legal Woes

JoJo Siwa, Nigel Lythgoe

Three weeks after Nigel Lythgoe revealed his So You Think You Can Dance exit, a replacement has been named: JoJo Siwa.

Siwa will join Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy as a judge on the Fox dance competition series for Season 18, alongside host Cat Deeley. Previously, she served on Season 17 of SYTYCD.

Fox announced Siwa's return via Instagram, writing, "Our new judge is on POINT! 🤩@itsjojosiwa is returning to #SYTYCD as a judge for Season 18!"

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On Jan. 5, Lythgoe, 74, confirmed his departure from the show amid Paula Abdul's sexual assault allegations.

"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 told TMZ. "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."

Abdul filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Dec. 29, alleging that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her once during her time as a judge on American Idol and another while working on So You Think You Can Dance. Rolling Stone was the first to report the news.

The alleged offenses listed in the filing include sexual assault/battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence. Furthermore, the defendants named include Lythgoe, and both shows' production companies, American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment and Fremantlemedia North America.

Season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance premieres at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, March 4 on Fox.

Next: Why Paula Abdul is Suing 'American Idol' Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe