Gabrielle Union Explains Why ‘Heartbreaking’ ‘AGT’ Experience Felt Like ‘Public Flogging’
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Gabrielle Union is once again opening up about her experience leaving America’s Got Talent. The former judge was reportedly fired as a judge on the show last year after speaking up about a toxic work environment.
According to USA Today, Gabrielle mentioned her exit from the show as one of the hardest business dealings of her career during a recent panel for the American Black Film Festival.
Gabrielle Union Talks About ‘AGT’ Exit
“Probably the ‘AGT’ of it all was so surprising and so heartbreaking and so frustrating and so unnecessary,” Gabrielle said on the panel. “That would be probably the hardest part (of my time in the industry).”
Gabrielle added that the hardest parts included “it feeling like such a public flogging and just standing in my truth and standing on the side of employee rights and knowing there’s a better way of doing business.” She said the process was “really brutal.”
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It was reported that Gabrielle had called out racist incidents on the set of the NBC talent show, and faced criticism over her appearance, even being told her hairstyles were “too black.” An investigation was launched, ultimately contradicting Gabrielle’s claims and concluding that there was an “overall culture of diversity” on the show.
Gabrielle told Trevor Noah in June that she thought the investigation would be truly independent, but argued, “When NBC and Fremantle and Syco pay for that investigation, they control it.”
How Gabrielle Is Responding To The ‘AGT’ Drama
In June, following the results of the investigation,Gabrielle Union filed a harassment, discrimination and retaliation complaint against Universal, Syco, Fremantle, and Simon Cowell.
Gabrielle accused NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy of trying to “silence and intimidate” her into not sharing her experiences with the investigator. She also criticized the network for employing celebrities like Julianne Hough and Jimmy Fallon who had previously donned blackface.
The former judge’s complaint reportedly prompted an investigation into Paul Telegdy over alleged homophobia, sexism, and racism. Less than a week later, the executive left NBC.
As for Gabrielle, she’s been busy launching her new haircare line and working on future entertainment projects, including a new LGBTQ-focused TV series for her production company I’ll Have Another Productions.
