The news was dumped on a Friday night before a long holiday weekend. Matt Morrison was leaving the So You Think You Can Dance judges panel for ” breaking production protocols.” The explanation was vague. Now, sources are talking about why FOX fired Morrison from the show after only a month.
A source close to SYTYCD production told People magazine that Morrison was fired from the series “after he had an inappropriate relationship with a female contestant.”
“They didn’t have sex, but he reached out to her through flirty direct messages on social media,” the source said. “She felt uncomfortable with his line of comments and went to producers, who then got Fox involved. He was fired after they did their own investigation.”
The source says that Morrison and the unidentified female contestant “never met up off set.”
“It was just messages that crossed the line,” the source told People.
Did Matt Morrison’s team attempt to get ahead of a negative story?
“Having the opportunity to be a judge on So You Think You Can Dance was an incredible honor for me,” Matthew said in a statement, part of Friday’s announcement. “Therefore, it is my deepest regret to inform you that I will be leaving the show.”
The US magazine source that revealed Friday’s news said that while Morrison is “disappointed,” he’s “happy to have left on good terms,” adding: “He plans to spend time with his family and is excited about what is next.”
Did Morrison’s team drop the news on a holiday weekend hoping to get ahead of a negative story? Because FOX firing him for what amounts to sexual harassment of a contestant does NOT sound like leaving on “good terms.” Maybe FOX waiting until after the long Memorial Day holiday weekend to tell their version of events in a competing entertainment rag.
Season 17 kicked off on Thursday, May 18, after a 3 year absence due to the pandemic. The Glee actor sat on the judges panel alongside JoJo Siwa and Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
FOX reps told Us that the network “will soon announce a new judge to the series for the next wave of the competition starting on June 15th featuring the Top 12 performing for America’s vote.”
