Is Nigel Lythgoe Leaving American Idol?

After TMZ reported on it this morning, Rodney Ho from the Atlanta-Journal-Constitution has a bit more insight: Nigel Lythgoe leaving “Idol”?

We will wait for the official press statement from Fox later today.

If true, I am devastated. I absolutely love Nigel Lythgoe on the show, even if a lot of people do not like him. If Nigel leaves, then this is truly the beginning of the end of American Idol. *sad*