judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy says he stands by departed star amid . Chmerkovskiy worked alongside TV veteran Lythgoe in the early recordings of this season’s SYTYCD before the English producer stepped down when filed a sexual assault and battery suit against him. The Ukraine American dancer revealed on camera that he has told Lythgoe he supports him amid Abdul’s legal fight and allegations from the unknown women.
Chmerkovskiy, who competed on 17 seasons of before departing in 2017, insisted Lythgoe was “innocent until proven guilty.” However, the 44-year-old also made it clear to Lythgoe that if he is found to be responsible in court for wrongdoing, then his stance would change. Chmerkovskiy is the first high profile SYTYCD name to speak out on the controversy.
Speaking on camera at The Critics Choice Real TV Awards, he said: “I only met him this season just by joining this show, and we sat through and taped a couple of episodes in the beginning. Then we took a long break, and in that break everything happened. “I had an example like this in the past; case in point where someone got accused of something and I reached out and I said, ‘if you were found to be wrong, just remember that I was in your corner until I'm not.
’ But I'm not the guy to wave a flag and immediately condemn somebody." He continued: “We haven't had communication since then, but he replied with a very nice ‘thank you’. And I guess he's out on the mission to clear his name and whatever that.
