So long, Mary Murphy.
Murphy will not appear as a judge on the upcoming season of "So You Think You Can Dance," E! News reported. The choreographer and longtime judge released a statement, confirming her exit from the show and also thanking her fans and former co-stars.
"I'm saddened of course to be released from my contract," Murphy said in a statement. "I'm very grateful and proud to have been part of such an extraordinary television show, So You Think You Can Dance, for 11 seasons. I'm sure there wasn't a person watching that didn't know I loved what I did!!"
Her statement continued, "Thank you to the dancers and choreographers who inspired and enriched my life every week; to the crew and producers, especially James Breen, Jeff Thacker, and Nigel Lythgoe, I thank you for believing in me. And thank you to my fans, as you always put a smile on my face when I encountered you. It has been a great pleasure and honor to be part of the dance wave than went global."
Murphy joined the dancing completion series as a judge in 2007 and remained on the show for two years before returning to the judges table in 2011. Mia Michaels and Adam Shankman served as guest judges during Murphy's time away from the show.
Murphy's exit ends a month-long speculation about her status on the show, after reports surfaced that Fox was considering Paula Abdul as Murphy's replacement on the show.
"Mary has been a huge part of So You Think You Can Dance, from mentoring the dancers as a choreographer to inspiring fans as a judge," Fox and show producers Dick Clark Productions and 19 Entertainment said in a joint statement, according to E! News. "She will always be part of our Dance family and we wish her continued success."
No premiere date has been announced for the upcoming 12th season of "So You Think You Can Dance."
