New details are emerging aboutMatthew Morrison’ssudden departurefrom his judging gig onSo You Think You Can Dance.
A source close to the Fox reality show tells PEOPLE that Morrison, 43, was fired from the series “after he had an inappropriate relationship with a female contestant.”
The source adds that Morrison and the unidentified female contestant “never met up off-set.”
“It was just messages that crossed the line,” the source notes.
Reps for Morrison and Fox did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Matthew Morrison.Mike Yarish/FOX
News that theTony Award-nominated Broadway starhad exitedSYTYCDbroke on Friday, a little more than a week after the dance competition series aired its season 17 premiere on May 18.
At the time, Morrison said in a statement to PEOPLE that he was leaving the show after failing to follow “competition production protocols.”
“Having the opportunity to be a judge onSo You Think You Can Dancewas an incredible honor for me. Therefore, it is my deepest regret to inform you that I will be leaving the show,” Morrison said in the statement.
Matthew Morrison.Ian West/PA Images/Getty
“After filming the audition rounds for the show and completing the selection of the 12 finalists, I did not follow competition production protocols, preventing me from being able to judge the competition fairly,” he continued. “I cannot apologize enough to all involved and I will be watching alongside you all on what I know will be one of the best seasons yet.”
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As most of this season’s episodes were already pre-taped, Morrison will likely appear in episodes through mid-June, according toEntertainment Weekly, adding that his replacement is expected to be brought in for the second part of the competition’s filming.
Morrison was part of anew panel of judgesfor season 17 that replacedNigel Lythgoeand Mary Murphy withJoJo SiwaandStephen “tWitch” Boss.Cat Deeleyreturns as host this season.
source: people.com
