Gabrielle Union Addresses ‘America’s Got Talent’ Exit

As the reality show ‘America’s Got Talent‘ returns in January, two of it’s popular judge will not be there. This includes Gabrielle Union who has gone public about her exit. Union and Julianne Hough, would not be returning for the second season of AGT: The Champions,” which premieres January 6.

According to Variety, Union was fired after urging the show’s producers to report an incident. The incident involves a racist joke to human resources. The producers had also told her multiple times that her hairstyles on the show were “too black.”

A source alleged that there was workplace tension between Union and Simon Cowell, a judge and an executive producer on the series, partly over Cowell‘s habit of smoking on set, which is illegal in California.

Gabrielle Union’s husband defends her

Union’s husband Dwyane Wade through his Twitter handle @DwyaneWade defended her. He wrote:

“So when I got the news that my wife was being fired-my first question was obviously why? I am still waiting on a good answer to that question.

“But if anyone knows@itsgabrielleu or have heard of her you know she’s an advocate for our community and culture. As proud as I was of her being selected as a judge on #AGT. I am even more proud of her standing up for what she stands up for and that’s US.”

Gabrielle Union revealed that she had gone into some trouble following a racist joke she spoke up against on the show. She said she got a lot of criticism from the producers that are hair was “too black“. To thank all of her fans in support of her in the wake of what’s happening she wrote via her Twitter handle @itsgabrielleu

“So many tears, so much gratitude. THANK YOU! Just when you feel lost, adrift, along… You got me up off the ground. Humbled and thankful, forever.”

A spokesperson for NBC and Fremantle provided a statement to People on Tuesday stating, “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.