Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough are saying goodbye to America’s Got Talent. Reports claim that Union‘s departure is a lot more complicated than just leaving the show. She is leaving the show for speaking out against ‘problematic’ racism, sexism and more.
Both Union, 47, and Hough, 31, joined the show in January 2019. Surprisingly, they would not be returning as part of the judging panel next season. Gabrielle Union had only been a judge for one season, season 14, before her exit.
Back in 2017, Nick Cannon quit the show because he was “threatened with termination by executives”, after he made a racial joke about NBC on his Showtime stand- up special. Cannon had hosted the show for eight seasons, just before season 13 aired.
“I was to be punished for a joke… My soul won’t allow me be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices. 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.
“I will not stand for it. My moral principles will easily walk away from the millions of dollars they hang over my head,” Cannon wrote on Facebook.
However, Executive producer and judge Simon Cowell, reports allege is behind Gabrielle Union’s exit. He is yet to address rumors that he had something to do with it.
The winner of AGT season 14 was announced in September. After weeks of competition, singer Kodi Lee, who is blind and diagnosed with autism, was crowned the winner.
It is still unclear who will replace Union and Hough for the upcoming season of America’s Got Talent.