Matthew Morrisonis speaking out following news ofhis exitfromSo You Think You Can Dance.
One day aftera source told PEOPLEthat Morrison, 43, was fired from the series for sending a female contestant “flirty” messages that made her “uncomfortable,” the actoris setting the record straight about his alleged actions.
“It’s really unfortunate that I have to sit here and defend myself and my family against blatantly untrue statements made anonymously, but I have nothing to hide,” hebegan in the video posted to Instagramon Thursday. “So, in the interest of transparency, I will read to you the one message I wrote to a dancer on the show.”
Morrison said his message allegedly read: “Hey, it’s Matthew. If you don’t mind, would love to get your number and talk you through some things.”
“The end,” he continued. “I sent this because this dancer and I both share a mutual respect for a choreographer that I’ve known for over 20 years and I was trying to help her get a job as a choreographer on the show.”
“It’s devastating that we live in this world where gossip rules and people’s lives are being thrown around as clickbait,” he noted. “I think this is much bigger than me and this story. Gossip is toxic and it is destroying our society, and we need to do better.”
Concluding his video, Morrison said he “in no way” wanted this “to take away from the show” and wished the contestants and his fellow judges “all the best.”
Matthew Morrison.Ian West/PA Images/Getty
The actor’s wifeRenee Puenteshared her husband’s video to herInstagram Storyand wrote a response of her own in a second slide. “It’s been a wild ride… My husband has finally been given an opportunity to speak his truth. He has done so with such grace and integrity in a situation that is complex and incredibly complicated,” she wrote.
“Gossip and cruelty are poison that have penetrated the depths of our society and somehow have made people forget their true nature- Love & compassion,” she continued, adding a quote about “negativity” and another about how “letting go gives us freedom.”
She concluded, “To all those who have shined love and light in our lives through this… thank you … To all the rest- sending Love & Light.”
Matthew Morrison.Gareth Cattermole/Getty
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.
“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.”
Matthew Morrison.Mike Yarish/FOX
On Tuesday, asource close to the Fox reality show told PEOPLEthat Morrison was fired from the series “after he had an inappropriate relationship with a female contestant.”
The source added that Morrison and the unidentified female contestant “never met up off-set,” but “it was just messages that crossed the line.”
Reps for Morrison and Fox did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment at the time.
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.
Siwa, 19,recently clapped back at naysayerswho claimed she didn’t have the résumé to back up her place on the judges' panel. On Tuesday, she wasted no time responding to the digs, quote-tweeting one user’s complaint and asking, “literally why tweet this?”
source: people.com
