Mary Murphy is officially done with So You Think You Can Dance.
ADVERTISEMENT
Fox did not renew Murphy's contract for the upcoming twelfth season although she has served as a guest judge or regular judge on So You Think You Can Dance since its first season debuted back in 2005, E! News reported.
"I'm saddened of course to be released from my contract. 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!!" Murphy said in a statement obtained by E! News.
"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 that went global."
Murphy then signed off by writing: "The Conductor of the Hot Tamale Train, Mary Murphy."
ADVERTISEMENT
A replacement for Murphy has yet to be announced.
In December 2014, reports surfaced Murphy might be leaving So You Think You Can Dance and replaced with another dancing icon, but Fox declined comment. Producers were allegedly eyeing Paula Abdul for the spot at the time.
"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," the show, Fox and producers Dick Clark Productions and 19 Entertainment reportedly said in a joint statement.
"She will always be part of our Dance family and we wish her continued success."
Murphy appeared as a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance's first two seasons before becoming a permanent judge starting with Season 3 of the reality dancing competition. Murphy took a brief break from the show in Season 7 but returned for Season 8.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski