JoJo Siwa made a surprise return to the “So You Think You Can Dance” judges’ panel in an exclusive sneak peek from the dance competition series. The remaining “Top 10” contestants were thrilled by the reveal and welcomed her with excitement as she joined judges Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Allison Holker. Siwa, who has been in their position before, shared words of advice with the group, emphasizing the importance of facing pressure without fear.
The upcoming episode, titled “Challenge #1: Music Videos,” showcases the remaining dancers battling it out to advance closer to the “SYTYCD” finale and win the $100,000 grand prize. Split into two groups, the contestants will take on music video challenges choreographed by Luther Brown and Phillip and Makenzie Chbeeb. Siwa’s return to the judges’ panel for Season 18 comes after Nigel Lythgoe stepped down amid a lawsuit filed by Paula Abdul in December 2023.
Despite the departure of Lythgoe, the production companies and network behind “So You Think You Can Dance” confirmed that the show would continue with Siwa replacing him as a judge. Siwa previously judged the show in the 17th season alongside Stephen “tWitch” Boss and Matthew Morrison. In addition to her judging role, Siwa has been making headlines for her rebranded “bad girl” image, which garnered mixed reactions from fans when she appeared at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards in edgy paint makeup inspired by KISS.
Siwa addressed criticism of her new look by explaining that people are often afraid of new things, but she has remained confident in her choices because respected individuals have commended her for her bold choices. Despite facing backlash online, Siwa has garnered praise from A-listers like Gene Simmons and Tori Spelling, who described her as “cool” and “kickass.” The new episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” featuring Siwa as a judge will air on FOX and be available on Hulu the following day.
Overall, JoJo Siwa returned to the “So You Think You Can Dance” judges’ panel in a surprise appearance, sharing words of encouragement with the contestants and joining Chmerkovskiy and Holker. The episode will feature the remaining dancers competing in music video challenges, with Siwa stepping in to replace Lythgoe as a judge for Season 18. Despite criticism of her new image, Siwa has remained confident in her choices and received praise from respected figures in the industry. Viewers can tune in to the new episode to see Siwa in action as a judge on the popular dance competition series.
