News Summary

• '"Abdul said she attempted to push him away in both cases, adding that she has suffered severe emotional distress, emotional anguish, fear, anxiety, humiliation and embarrassment following the alleged encounters.For his part, Lythgoe has denied the 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 said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter Jan. 5..
• News, saying in a joint statement that "the show remains committed to the contestants" and they have not made a decision on a replacement judge..
• "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..
• "To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement," he said in a Dec. 31 statement to E!.
• His departure comes a week after former SYTYCD and American Idol judge Paula Abdul accused him of sexual assault in Dec. 29 lawsuit..