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JoJo Siwa<\/a>\u00a0is back on <\/span>So You Think You Can Dance<\/a><\/em>\u00a0after it was <\/span>announced<\/a> that she’s replacing\u00a0<\/span>Nigel Lythgoe<\/a>\u00a0as a judge amid his mounting legal troubles.<\/span><\/p>\n Siwa will join Allison Holker and former <\/span>Dancing With the Stars<\/span><\/em> pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy as judges for the upcoming 18th season, which premieres March 4 on FOX. Siwa, 20, previously served as a judge during season 17 in 2022. Following the announcement, Siwa took to her Instagram Story and posted a video expressing excitement about her return to the “iconic” dance competition series.<\/span><\/p>\n “I am beyond excited and beyond grateful,” she said. “The talent is actually insane and I cannot wait for everyone to see them. I can’t wait to see how this season pans out. I am very interested and excited myself. It’s gonna be tough. It’s gonna be a long process, but it’s gonna be so good. And I’m so excited, and also to be with Allison and Maks. Couldn’t have asked for anything better.”<\/span><\/p>\n The news comes just weeks after Lythgoe, the co-creator of the show, exited the series following multiple accusations of sexual assault, including from Paula Abdul. She <\/span>sued him<\/a> in late December, claiming he sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions.<\/span><\/p>\n Abdul claimed the first alleged incident happened in an elevator when he “shoved [her] against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts and began shoving his tongue down her throat” during one of <\/span>American Idol<\/span><\/em>‘s “initial seasons.” She claimed she “attempted to push Lythgoe away from her and let him know that his behavior was not acceptable.” Abdul claimed that the second alleged assault happened at his home.<\/span><\/p>\n The TV producer was <\/span>sued again<\/a> just days later by two women who claimed they were contestants on the short-lived ABC reality competition show\u00a0<\/span>All American Girl<\/span><\/em> back in 2003.\u00a0The women claimed in their lawsuit that the English producer and TV personality, now 74, drove them to a house in Los Angeles after filming wrapped — instead of to a studio to meet with others, as they say had been planned — and then Lythgoe allegedly attempted to forcibly kiss them, despite protestations.<\/span><\/p>\n He is also accused of groping and smacking the contestant’s buttocks on set during filming.<\/span><\/p>\n As for Siwa, she recalled in 2022 the unfair hate she got serving as a judge on <\/span>SYTYCD <\/span><\/em>amid\u00a0Matthew Morrison being\u00a0<\/span>forced out<\/a> following “uncomfortable” messages he allegedly sent to a contestant.<\/span><\/p>\n An online troll had tweeted,\u00a0“Dammit. I saw the headline ‘Judge Leaves #sytycd’\u00a0and got all excited. Yes! @itsjojosiwa was out! But, nope. It was Matthew Morrison. Dammit! I thought he brought the broadway perspective to the show. Maybe not an expert on dance, but on showmanship. Still won’t watch.”<\/span><\/p>\n In her response, Siwa listed her\u00a0long list of accolades as an accomplished dancer in an attempt to prove she has, in fact, earned her stripes to be a judge on the show.<\/span><\/p>\n