Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
NBC, Union Investigate ‘America’s Got Talent’ Racism Report
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
December 3, 2019

Share

LOS ANGELES — NBC and the guild that represents television performers said they are investigating Gabrielle Union’s allegation that she was fired as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” because she complained of racism and other on-set issues.

“We remain committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees and take very seriously any questions about workplace culture. We are working with Ms. Union through her representatives to hear more about her concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps may be appropriate.” — NBC, production company Fremantle and Simon Cowell’s company Syco statement 
The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists issued a statement Monday saying it is looking into the allegations.
“We take issues of workplace health and safety very seriously.” The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television said in a statement. “We immediately reached out to Ms. Union’s representatives when these reports came to light … While we have taken steps to investigate this matter, we have nothing to report now.”
The statement said such investigations and their results are usually kept confidential, unless the union member making the report wants it made public.
According to reports, Union, who is black, sought action to address an environment she said allowed racist jokes, comments and notes from producers along with other troubling behavior, including judge-producer Simon Cowell’s smoking indoors.
NBC, production company Fremantle and Cowell’s company Syco issued their own statement Sunday.
“We remain committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees and take very seriously any questions about workplace culture,” the statement said. “We are working with Ms. Union through her representatives to hear more about her concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps may be appropriate.”
In a previous statement, the three companies said “America’s Got Talent” has a strong record of inclusivity, and judge turnover is common.
Photo of Gabrielle Union
FILE – This March 11, 2019 file photo shows Gabrielle Union at the “America’s Got Talent” Season 14 Kickoff in Pasadena, Calif. Union is thanking supporters for defending her amid reports she was fired from “America’s Got Talent” after complaining about racism and other on-set issues. Without directly addressing her status with NBC’s talent show, the actress tweeted Wednesday that the backing helped overcome feeling of being lost and alone. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

Union and Another Judge, Julianne Hough, Were Dropped From the Show on Nov. 22

On her twitter account Monday, Union, without specifying who she was addressing, retweeted instructions on how to give a proper apology, which included sincerely admitting wrongdoing, correcting the mistake loudly, and laying out steps to correct future behavior.
She added the comment, “This! This! AND THIIISSSSSSS!!!!!!”


She had previously thanked fans, friends and family for their support on her social media accounts, in similarly vague terms.
Her reported firing became a cause for celebrities on Twitter, including Union’s husband, former NBA player Dwyane Wade.
Before landing the job on the talent showcase, Union was best known as an actress from films including “Bring It On” and “Bad Boys II.”
Union and another judge, Julianne Hough, were dropped from the show on Nov. 22 after one year, Variety reported.
The judging panel has changed since the show’s 2006 debut, but most judges’ tenures have lasted at least several years, including that of Sharon Osbourne, Mel B and Howard Stern.
On his SiriusXM radio show Monday, Stern, who left the show after four seasons in 2015, slammed Cowell, saying he “sets it up that the men stay, no matter how ugly they are, no matter how old they are, no matter how fat they are, no matter how talentless they are.”
Stern said it is “obvious” that the show consistently replaces female judges with younger and more attractive women.

DON'T MISS

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

DON'T MISS

Live Updates: Who Will Be President? AP Calls States for the Candidates

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Road Rage Incident Leads to Violent Assault, High-Speed Chase

DON'T MISS

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

DON'T MISS

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

DON'T MISS

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

DON'T MISS

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

DON'T MISS

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

DON'T MISS

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

UP NEXT

At 91, Willie Nelson Has a New Album Out and a Cannabis Cookbook Coming

UP NEXT

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

UP NEXT

Beyoncé, Shaboozey and Post Malone Topped Country in 2024. How Will Grammys Respond?

UP NEXT

Weekend Lineup: Football Showdown, Rock Tributes, and Halloween Festivities

UP NEXT

Reynolds and McElhenney Expand Wrexham Empire, Acquire Historic Brewery

UP NEXT

Teri Garr, the Offbeat Comic Actor of ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Tootsie,’ Has Died

UP NEXT

Hallmark Faces Age Discrimination Lawsuit Over Alleged Casting Bias

UP NEXT

Who is Tony Hinchcliffe, Who Insulted Puerto Rico at Trump’s MSG Rally?

UP NEXT

6 Takeaways From Donald Trump’s 3-Hour Podcast With Joe Rogan

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

3 hours ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

4 hours ago

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

4 hours ago

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

5 hours ago

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

5 hours ago

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

6 hours ago

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

6 hours ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

6 hours ago

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

7 hours ago

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

7 hours ago

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

They might not be able to agree on who should be elected president or whether the country is headed in the right or wrong direction, but the...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

1 hour ago

Live Updates: Who Will Be President? AP Calls States for the Candidates

A road rage incident in Fresno County escalated into a violent assault and a high-speed pursuit, resulting in the suspect's arrest and vehicle impoundment. (CHP)
3 hours ago

Fresno County Road Rage Incident Leads to Violent Assault, High-Speed Chase

3 hours ago

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

The wreckage left by Israeli airstrikes in Dahieh, a predominantly Shiite suburb of south Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday, Nov. 5 2024. (Daniel Berehulak /The New York Times)
4 hours ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
4 hours ago

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

5 hours ago

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

5 hours ago

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

Search

Send this to a friend