Gabrielle Union Speaks Out About 'Toxic' Environment Simon Cowell Created On 'AGT'
Gabrielle Union is breaking her silence on her controversial ousting from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” after expressing concerns about the “toxic” culture on the set of the reality competition series.
Union and fellow judge Julianne Hough were unceremoniously fired in November after one season on the show, while the contracts of their male counterparts, Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, were picked up for another year.
Variety reported at the time that the two women had been subject to “excessive notes on their physical appearance” and that the “Being Mary Jane” alum was told multiple times that her hairstyles on the show were “too black.” She also reportedly clashed with producers and judges about alleged inappropriate and racially insensitive behavior behind the scenes.
Now Union — who has remained quiet throughout the entire ordeal — is finally sharing her side of the story in a new interview with Variety published the day after the new season of “AGT” debuted.
Union’s tenure on the show got off to a rocky start when she complained about Cowell’s habit of smoking cigarettes indoors the first day.
Union, who is severely allergic to cigarette smoke, said she was “literally met with the very definition of a toxic work environment, and it’s being carried out by the most powerful person on the production.”
“I couldn’t escape. I ended up staying sick for two months straight,” Union added, as her requests were repeatedly rebuffed. “It was a cold that lingered, and turned into bronchitis, because I couldn’t shake it. It impacted my voice, which affects my ability to do my job.”
The “Bring It On” alum felt like she was “made to feel like I’m responsible for my own sickness” as her fellow judge Mandel, a self-described germaphobe, was clearly uncomfortable with her symptoms.
Cowell, however, told Variety through his spokesperson, that “when he was directly informed of the smoking complaint...
