Recasting the role isn't going to make people forget why real Nicole is gone: sexism, assault, retaliation. Something tells me the public embarrassment of this lawsuit will make them try to get her back. Just like the embarrassment made them finally get rid of Mr. Handsy in the first place. The question is whether she'll come back. I'm just not sure if all this will be enough to save the show.
Didn't Ari Zucker (Nicole) just stop shooting recently? Anna Lynne McCord has already been filming, so I don't think she could be playing Nicole. But then, I never thought Gwen would leave in one scene and come back as Theresa in the next.