Her experience as a judge on America’s Got Talent and her claims of a ‘toxic’ workplace have prompted NBC to launch an investigation into the show and the ‘dominance’ of its creator Simon Cowell.
But on Saturday, Gabrielle Union had just one thing on her mind – family.
The actress, 47, posted several photos to her Instagram showing herself with 13-month-old daughter Kaavia and stepson Zion, 12, posing alongside a tall outdoor Christmas tree.
‘Family Time Is The Best Time,’ she wrote in the caption.
Family time: Gabrielle Union shared photos to Instagram Saturday in which she’s seen enjoying some festive fun with her daughter Kaavia, 13 months, and stepson Zion, 12
The trio are pictured in the backyard of the family home next to a tall fir decorated with yellow gold lights and with an enormous gold star on the top.
There are also illuminated tree designs and a gold reindeer in the background behind a kids play swing.
In one cute snap, Union holds Kaavia on her hip with her other arm draped around Zion’s shoulders and all three smile for the camera.
The festive cheer came as a respite during what Union on Saturday called an ‘exhausting’ and ‘frightening’ time.
In response to a tweet from broadcaster Soledad O’Brien, who called her ‘a hero’ for speaking out, Union wrote: ‘Thank you! Support is everything! This is exhausting, anxiety inducing, and at times frightening but being able to speak truth to power feeds my soul.’
Festive fun: The photos were taken in the backyard of the family home next to a tall fir tree decorated with gold lights and with an enormous gold star on the top
Her heart: Union is married to former basketball pro Dwayne Wade. Their daughter was born via surrogate in 2018. Zion is on of wade’s sons from a previous marriage
It’s been a tough time lately for Union who, it was revealed last month, was fired from talent competition AGT after just one season as a judge.
Fellow judge Julianne Hough was also let go from the NBC show that’s co-produced by Cowell’s company Syco and Fremantle.
Since the news became public, Union has claimed the working environment on AGT was ‘toxic’ and Cowell, 60, who is a judge on the show, was too dominant.
She also alleged that talk show host Jay Leno cracked inappropriate jokes when he was a guest and that she was told her clothes and hair were ‘too black’.
Complaint: It was revealed last month that Union was fired from talent competition AGT after just one season as a judge. She has has claimed the working environment on AGT was ‘toxic’
Stressful: Also Saturday, the actress, 47, said in a tweet that the AGT controversy ‘is exhausting, anxiety inducing, and at times frightening’
Union has alleged Cowell, a fellow judge, was too dominant on the talent show and she was told her hair and clothes were ‘too black’. Fellow judge Julianne Hough was also let go from AGT after just one season but longtime judge Howie Mandel remains
Last Tuesday, NBC held a five-hour crisis meeting with Union and promised an investigation to ‘get deeper understanding of the facts’.
According to Deadline, an independent investigator will assess the claims made by Union, who replaced Spice Girl Mel B as a judge this past season, joining Cowell, comedian Howie Mandel and dancer Julianne Hough.
On Wednesday, Union tweeted about the meeting: ‘We had a lengthy 5-hour, and what I thought to be, productive meeting yesterday. I was able to, again, express my unfiltered truth. I led with transparency and my desire and hope for real change.’
Union has been getting support from a host of famous names including Ariana Grande, Patricia Arquette and Hough.
In addition, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists are investigating her departure from the show.
Meanwhile, it’s reported that Cowell has now hired heavyweight Hollywood litigator Larry Stein to represent him and serve as an investigator on behalf of Cowell, Fremantle and NBC.
A source close to Union told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Gabrielle is powerful and wealthy in her own right. She’s not interested in a settlement or having this swept under the rug. This is her #MeToo moment and she’s doing this because she genuinely wants to change an outdated system and wants to make it better for the women who come after her.’
Legal advice: Cowell has now hired heavyweight Hollywood litigator Larry Stein to represent him and serve as an investigator on behalf of his company Syco, Fremantle and NBC