JoJo Siwa To Replace Nigel Lythgoe On ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Season 18

JoJo Siwa is set to replace Nigel Lythgoe on Season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance following Paula Abdul‘s sexual assault allegations against the longtime judge earlier this month.

Fox announced the news via press release on Friday that Siwa will be joining Allison Holker and Makism Chmerkovskiy on the judging panel for a brand new season of the reality dance competition series that will seek to reflect the “authentic experience of building a successful career in dance.”

Emmy-nominated host Cat Deeley, who has hosted the popular show since 2006, will once again return as emcee.

Earlier this month, Lythgoe announced he would be stepping down from the long-running dance series.

“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,” he told Variety. “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.”

On December 30, Abdul accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her on two occasions when they both worked on American Idol in the early 2000s and SYTYCD in 2015.

Shortly after the news broke, the television personality responded to her claims and denied all allegations in a statement given to TMZ.

“To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement,” he said. “For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear, and entirely platonic, friends and colleagues.”

Siwa first appeared as a judge in Season 17 of the show alongside Glee‘s Matthew Morrison and the late Stephen “tWitch” Boss.

Season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance will premiere on March 4 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox and will be available to stream on Hulu the very next day.