Leah Remini (left) and Matthew Morrison (right).Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty; Noam Galai/Getty
AfterMatthew Morrison’sabrupt exitfromSo You Think You Can Dancelast month, the show has found its new judge.
Emmy Award winnerLeah Reminiwill joinJoJo SiwaandStephen “tWitch” Bosson the panel of the dancing competition next Wednesday.
Remini is an actress, producer, author and activist best known for starring alongsideKevin JamesinThe King of Queens, creating and hosting A&E’s Emmy-winning docuseriesScientology and the Aftermath, and co-hostingThe Talk’s debut season in 2010.
Leah Remini.Neilson Barnard/Getty
The news aboutMorrison’s sudden departurefrom the show broke on May 25, a little more than a week after the dance competition series aired its season 17 premiere.
At the time, Morrison said in a statement to PEOPLE that he was leaving the show after failing to follow “competition production protocols.”
“Having the opportunity to be a judge onSo You Think You Can Dancewas an incredible honor for me. Therefore, it is my deepest regret to inform you that I will be leaving the show,” Morrison, 43, said in the statement.
“After filming the audition rounds for the show and completing the selection of the 12 finalists, I did not follow competition production protocols, preventing me from being able to judge the competition fairly,” he continued. “I cannot apologize enough to all involved and I will be watching alongside you all on what I know will be one of the best seasons yet.”
Matthew Morrison.Mike Yarish/FOX
A source close to the show told PEOPLE last month that Morrison was axed from the series “after he had an inappropriate relationship with a female contestant.”
The source added that Morrison and the unidentified female contestant “never met up off-set.”
“It was just messages that crossed the line,” the source noted.
Morrisonoffered his own take on the situationon June 2.
“It’s really unfortunate that I have to sit here and defend myself and my family against blatantly untrue statements made anonymously, but I have nothing to hide,” he said in avideo posted to Instagram. “So, in the interest of transparency, I will read to you the one message I wrote to a dancer on the show.”
Morrison said his message allegedly read: “Hey, it’s Matthew. If you don’t mind, would love to get your number and talk you through some things.”
“The end,” he continued. “I sent this because this dancer and I both share a mutual respect for a choreographer that I’ve known for over 20 years and I was trying to help her get a job as a choreographer on the show.”
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Morrison was part of anew panel of judgesfor season 17 that replacedNigel Lythgoeand Mary Murphy with Siwa and Boss.Cat Deeleyreturned as host this season.
source: people.com
