Gabrielle Union & NBC Reach “Amicable Resolution” over "America's Got Talent" Firing [Archive] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

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11-26-2019, 09:32 PM

Did America's Got Talent dump Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough over toxic culture complaints? (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/americas-got-talent-gabrielle-union-julianne-hough-toxic-culture-ousted-judges-1203417447/)

Variety reports producers repeatedly criticized Union for having hair that was "too black" and that Hough "received consistent criticism on hair, makeup and wardrobe, which impacted her morale and led to tensions." Both Union and Hough, whose contracts weren't renewed (https://www.primetimer.com/item/Gabrielle-Union-and-Julianne-Hough-are-out-at-Americas-Got-Talent-after-one-season-P8SP97) after one season on AGT, "received excessive notes on their physical appearance," reports Variety's Matt Donnelly. He also reports that Union repeatedly complained about racial insensitivity on the show. For instance, Union raised concerns with producers when guest judge Jay Leno made a joke about Asians eating dogs while taping an interstitial segment. She also shared her concern over a white male performer's gimmick that involved him, at one point, pretending to be Beyoncé with black hands. Union declined to comment to Variety, while representatives for Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment had no comment. Hough, meanwhile, denied to Variety that there was tension, but in the same interview she plugged two upcoming NBC projects. “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,” said Hough. As Donnelly notes, this isn't the first time AGT has been accused of being insensitive to its top talent. After Nick Cannon resigned abruptly after seven seasons, he accused NBC of trying to maintain a squeaky-clean image. “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," he said in a Showtime standup special (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM2jr_vjj_E). Asked for comment, NBC and series producer Fremantle issued the following statement: "America’s Got Talent has a long history of inclusivity and diversity in both our talent and the acts championed by the show. 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.”

Report: Simon Cowell labeled Gabrielle Union "difficult" after her America's Got Talent complaints (https://www.vulture.com/2019/11/why-gabrielle-union-was-let-go-at-americas-got-talent.html)

Union "is exploring her legal options against" NBC after she was let go from AGT after one season following her complaints about the show's toxic culture, reports Vulture's Yashar Ali. Multiple sources tell Ali that Cowell and his team of producers labeled Union as being "difficult" after she made several grievances, starting with her complaints over him smoking indoors in the theater where they filmed. "Union, who is allergic to cigarette smoke, was repeatedly rebuffed when she asked other staff members to request that Cowell stop smoking inside," reports Ali. "Sources say Union was told by an NBC executive and production staff on the program that no one could stop Cowell from smoking and that previous attempts by a fire marshal and NBC executives had been unsuccessful." Ali reports that Union "further solidified" her "difficult" reputation in Cowell's eyes by complaining about Jay Leno telling a Korean dog-eating joke and a contestant using "blackface hands," as Variety reported Tuesday (https://www.primetimer.com/item/Did-Americas-Got-Talent-dump-Gabrielle-Union-and-Julianne-Hough-over-toxic-culture-complaints-P8SPQB). Ali also reports Union annoyed producers by asking contestants dressed in drag what their preferred pronouns were and by pushing back on producers who were pulling for a dance group from Texas made up of white contestants over a 10-year-old black rapper. "The situation was so tense that Union was pushed by Cowell and his agents at CAA (which also represents Union) to meet with Cowell privately, along with her manager, in an attempt to patch things up, which sources told Vulture she did at his home last May," reports Ali. "It’s unclear how their conversation went, but the show then went on hiatus, and Union was let go ahead of filming for season 15. Now, Union is exploring her legal options against the network, according to sources close to the actress and producer." Ali also reports that Union had a three-year contract with the show, but NBC had the option to drop her after the first season.

ALSO:

NBC is reportedly "puzzled" over stories of Union's alleged terrible experience on the show (https://pagesix.com/2019/11/27/nbc-puzzled-over-americas-got-talents-gabrielle-union-drama/): A Variety story (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/americas-got-talent-gabrielle-union-julianne-hough-toxic-culture-ousted-judges-1203417447/) reported Tuesday that Union's contract wasn't renewed after she complained about a Jay Leno Korean dog-eating joke and after producers sent her notes that her hair was "too black." An NBC source tells Page Six, however, that “a half-dozen AGT employees were asked (about the ‘too black’ notes) and no one had heard this. I would honestly be shocked. Ensuring a safe environment is so important to the show. Anytime someone comes forward and has issues, we take things very seriously.” The source says the comments were only about about “hair continuity” for both Union and Julianne Hough. Another NBC insider tells Page Six that Union had a “productive conversation” with producers about the Leno incident at the time and was surprised that it was coming up again.
Dwyane Wade defends wife Gabrielle Union, says she was "fired" from America's Got Talent (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/dwyane-wade-gabrielle-union-americas-got-talent-nbc-julianne-hough-1203418635/): "So when i got the news that my wife was being fired—my first question was obviously why!? Iam still waiting on a good answer to that question," Wade said in one of a series of tweets Wednesday. "But if anyone knows @itsgabrielleu or have heard of her you know she’s an advocate for our community and culture."
Wade's comments prompted #BoycottAGT hashtag on Twitter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/gabrielle-union-fired-americas-got-talent-culture-concerns-1258399)

Some cliffs from the article below

- Simon Cowell allegedly smoking on the AGT set even though it is illegal under California law.
- Simon Cowell has near-total control of AGT
- AGT allegedly eliminated a talented 10 year old black rapper and instead let an all-white dance group advance because producers wanted an act that America could get behind.
- Italian contestant who did impersonations of singer put on black gloves on when he was impersonating Beyonce. Gabrielle called the contestant out saying he was doing "blackface hands"
- Howie Mandel's made allegedly an ignorant statement about a black South-African choir.

Gabrielle Union Criticized the Culture at America’s Got Talent (https://www.vulture.com/2019/11/why-gabrielle-union-was-let-go-at-americas-got-talent.html)

Howard Stern slams America's Got Talent successor Simon Cowell over Gabrielle Union controversy (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/howard-stern-simon-cowell-americas-got-talent-gabrielle-union-1203421087/)

Stern has been feuding with Cowell since 2014 after the Sony email hack scandal that revealed that the America's Got Talent creator had written an email to NBC urging the network to fire Stern (https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/americas-got-talent-why-howard-stern-cant-stand-simon-cowell.html/) and replace him with Cowell. This morning on his SiriusXM radio show, Stern didn't hold back in going after Cowell in wake of the controversy over the firing of Hough and Gabrielle Union. “How is it that Simon Cowell has orchestrated this?” said Stern, who served as an AGT judge from 2012 to 2015, according to Variety. “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, later adding that it’s “obvious” that AGT continuously switches out female judges for “hotter chicks and younger chicks.” ALSO: Jay Leno declines to address his cut Korean AGT dog-eating joked when asked by TMZ (https://www.tmz.com/2019/12/02/jay-leno-gabrielle-union-agt-firing-korean-dogs-joke/).

Time's Up: NBC's treatment of Gabrielle Union in America's Got Talent dispute "follows a pattern" of protecting powerful men (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/gabrielle-union-americas-got-talent-times-up-1203421261/)

“Union’s story is deeply troubling on its own, but her experience is particularly problematic because it follows a pattern of NBCUniversal protecting the careers of powerful men at the expense of women who speak out," said Time’s Up CEO Tina Tchen in a statement. "Union’s experience shows that NBCUniversal still has a lot of work to do to change its culture so discrimination, harassment, and retaliation are no longer tolerated at the company. Building a culture of safety and equity requires continuous, intentional work sustained over a long period of time – even when a company isn’t in the throes of a crisis...Ensuring people of all kinds are respected and supported at work is critical for any company, but especially a media company like NBC that has such an outsized influence in our culture and in our lives.”

Gabrielle Union's America's Got Talent ouster prompts SAG-AFTRA investigation (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/gabrielle-unions-americas-got-talent-exit-prompts-sag-aftra-investigation-1203420687/)

The entertainment industry labor union says it has launched a probe in response to Variety reporting that Union was fired after repeatedly complaining about workplace toxicity. “We take issues of workplace health and safety very seriously," SAG-AFTRA said in a statement. "We immediately reached out to Ms. Union’s representatives when these reports came to light. It is our practice to work closely with members who reach out to us and their representatives in instances like this, as that usually affords the best protection and best resolution for the affected member."

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NBC and America's Got Talent producers issued a new statement on Gabrielle Union on Sunday, vowing to "hear more about her concerns" (https://deadline.com/2019/12/nbc-americas-got-talent-producers-new-statement-gabrielle-union-firing-1202797774/): “We remain committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees and take very seriously any questions about workplace culture,” read the statement from NBC, Fremantle and creator Simon Cowell's Syco. “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.”
Gabrielle Union quickly threw shade, via a retweet, at NBC and AGT producers' statement (https://theblast.com/102722/gabrielle-union-throws-shade-at-simon-cowell-after-company-relea)
Debra Messing blasts her network NBC for Union's firing (https://pagesix.com/2019/11/30/debra-messing-joins-ellen-pompeo-to-blast-nbc-over-alleged-disgusting-behavior/): “This is disgusting behavior from a network that has been my professional home for decades," Messing tweeted. "Yes, women become ‘difficult,’ when their insistence on a respectful and professional working environment, is ignored.” Messing was responding to Ellen Pompeo (https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/1200067381231587330), who lashed out at NBC on Thanksgiving: “It’s unfortunate that @nbc the same network that protected disgusting men like Matt Lauer and punished women for speaking out or not putting up with it…has not changed their practices or culture," Pompeo tweeted.