The Hollywood rumor mill is spinning and reports have surfaced that actress Gabrielle Union was reportedly let go from her judging gig on America’s Got Talent due to her claims of the show’s toxic culture. It was announced on Friday that both Union and Julianne Hough were dropped from the show while Howie Mandell, Tyra Banks, and host Terry Crews will remain.
While the show has been a hit for the NBC network since its inception in 2006, in recent years America’s Got Talent has been accused of having a pernicious work environment for the cast and crew. Bring It On star Gabrielle Union joined the show in season 14 alongside the show’s creator Simon Cowell and judges Mandell and Hough. Each week, viewers tune in to watch contestants try to make their wildest dreams become a reality. It has been a hit among competition reality show lovers and has stood the test of time despite the similarities between other hit shows like The Voice and American Idol. But the show has been plagued by negative press after word got out that Union and Hough - who joined the season 14 judging panel back in February after replacing spots vacated by Mel B and Heidi Klum - would not be returning for the show’s upcoming 15th season.
On Tuesday, Variety shared an in-depth report that offered insight into the racial and gender-sensitive concerns Union had expressed to the show’s producers prior to being let go from the show. The outlet detailed some of Union’s concerns, including the time guest judge Jay Leno said a racially sensitive joke that targeted Asians. The report also shared claims that both Union and Hough were subject to “excessive notes” on their physical appearance, including Union being confronted about her frequent hair changes. At the time of Leno’s ill-fitting joke, Union reportedly urged producers to report it to NBC Human Resources. However, no further action was ever taken, other than it being cut from the episode that aired on August 6.
Neither Union, Cowell, nor Leno has released a comment on the matter, but NBC producers released a joint statement. “‘America’s Got Talent’ has a long history of inclusivity and diversity in both our talent and the acts championed by the show,” NBC and series producer Fremantle said. “The judging and host line-up has been regularly refreshed over the years and that is one of the reasons for AGT’s enduring popularity. NBC and the producers take any issues on set seriously.” Meanwhile, Hough released a statement expressing how good of a time she on the show. “I had a wonderful time on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I loved working with the cast, crew and producers. I am happy to continue my working relationship with NBC,” she said. She also expressed excitement for two upcoming NBC shows she’ll be featured in - Holidays With the Houghs, costarring her brother Derek, and Christmas in Rockefeller Center in December. “I’m looking forward to what the future holds,” she added.
However, Union’s silence on the matter might hint toward a confirmation behind the claims. It’s said that Union was criticized over her rotating hairstyles being “too black” for the audience. Four anonymous sources with direct knowledge of the exchanges said she received the critiques over half a dozen times. However, one network insider shut down the claims, saying there was only feedback about hair continuity for both judges. But many are pointing out the claims former host Nick Cannon issued against the show after he quit in 2017. Cannon abruptly exited the show after hosting for seven seasons in a scathing Facebook post that condemned NBC.
In his comedy special for Showtime, Cannon joked about America’s Got Talent’s demand for a squeaky-clean image from their cast on and off the camera. Cannon claimed the network told him that he could no longer use the N-word in his standup routine, and after he did, the network wanted to retaliate. “I was to be punished for a joke … My soul won’t allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices,” Cannon wrote. “Not to get too detailed but this isn’t the first time executives have attempted to ‘put me in my place’ for so-called unruly actions.”
Source: Variety
