Women’s advocacy group Time’s Up and more celebrities have spoken out in support of Gabrielle Union who was reportedly fired as a judge on America’s Got Talent.
Union, 47, was let go from the reality program along with fellow judge, Julianne Hough, after they complained about about alleged racist jokes and a toxic environment, according to a Variety report this week.
Now Time’s Up, an equity organization formed in wake of the #MeToo movement, has lent its support to her. In a Tweet the movement said: ‘Thank you #itsgabrielleeu for speaking up for what’s right.’
Her husband NBA star Dwayne Wade has confirmed she was fired from America’s Got Talent last week, as several NBC sources say they’re baffled by her booting from the show.
Women’s advocacy group Time’s Up and more celebrities have spoken out in support of Gabrielle Union who was fired as a judge on America’s Got Talent
Gabrielle Union, 47, was let go from the reality program along with fellow judge, Julianne Hough, after they complained about about alleged racist jokes and a toxic environment, according to a Variety report this week
Variety claimed that Union allegedly complained after Jay Leno made an anti-Korean slur during his guest appearance on the show back in April.
She also received more than half a dozen notes criticizing hairstyles as ‘too black’ for the show’s core audience, according to four sources with direct knowledge.
Taking to Twitter late Wednesday, Wade inferred that Variety’s report was accurate, stating that his wife is ‘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 for and that’s US,’ the Miami Heat shooting guard wrote.
Meanwhile, sources at NBC are now claiming to be ‘puzzled’ by the fact that Union was not invited to return to the show’s 15th season next year.
One network insider told The New York Post on Thursday that the star had a ‘productive conversation’ with producers following Leno’s alleged slur – joke that a painting of executive producer Simon Cowell surrounded by his dogs looked like something one might see ‘on the menu at a Korean restaurant’.
Among the celebrities who have rallied publicly behind Union are “Grey´s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo, Holly Robinson Peete and Patricia Arquette.
“I´m just catching up on this. This is terrible,” Arquette tweeted. “You should not be penalized for trying to have a workplace that honors the rule of law in the workplace.”
Variety reported that Union was let go from the reality program along with fellow judge, Julianne Hough, after they complained about about alleged racist jokes and a toxic environment
NBA star Dwayne Wade has confirmed his wife Gabrielle Union was fired from America’s Got Talent last week. They are pictured together at an event in Los Angeles in May
Actress Alyssa Milano also retweeted a comment from user Molly Lambert in support of Union. It read: ‘this Gabrielle Union situation is illustrative of the catch 22 facing anyone marginalized in every industry – speak up and be labeled difficult/face retaliation, or stay silent but always be dying inside, all so that guys like Jay Leno never have to feel uncomfortable.’
Ariana Grande, Ellen Pompeo, Debra Messing have also publicly expressed their disapproval of the move.
Grande wrote in response to a tweet posted by Gray’s Anatomy star Pompeo: Thank you for this @EllenPompeo. Be better NBC. We’re with your Gabrielle Union.’
Pompeo was one of the first stars to speak out against NBC for its ousting of Union, posting a series of tweets about the toxic work environment of show business.
Patricia Arquette is among the stars who have lent their support to Gabrielle Union. Actress Alyssa Milano retweeted a Twitter post praising Union for speaking out
Ariana Grande, Ellen Pompeo, Debra Messing and Patricia Arquette have also publicly expressed their disapproval of the move.
Pompeo was one of the first stars to speak out against NBC for its ousting of Union, posting a series of tweets about the toxic work environment of show business
The actress wrote: ‘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.
‘I support @itsgabrielleu commitment to speaking up to injustice. It takes courage.’
Actresses Sanaa Lathan and Jameela Jamil have also tweeted in support of Union. Jamil called on NBC to bring back Union ‘with a big rise.’
An NBC source told The Post that at least six America’s Got Talent employees expressed confusion about the claims Union’s hair was ‘too black’.
‘No one had heard this,’ the insider stated, adding that any feedback about Union and Hough’s hair would only be about ‘continuity’ for the audience.
‘I would honestly be shocked [about alleged racism]. Ensuring a safe environment is so important to the show. Anytime someone comes forward and has issues, we take things very seriously’.
Actress Jameela Jamil called on NBC to bring back Union ‘with a big rise’ and remove Simon Cowell from his role as a judge
Variety claimed that Union allegedly complained after Jay Leno made an anti-Korean slur during his guest appearance on the show back in April
The source added that America’s Got Talent had a diverse cast and crew.
On Thursday, Union posted a family photo on Instagram to wish her followers a happy Thanksgiving and to salute “all the friends and family that have my back and all the friends and family I’ve never met who show love and support when everyone is looking and when no one is looking.”
While this season’s finale had significantly smaller viewership than the previous year, it still came out on top in the coveted 18–49 demographic.
Another important metric is social media impressions, which doubled with the ouster of previous judges Heidi Klum and Mel B of the Spice Girls.
In particularly, Union was responsible for around half of the show’s 25 million social media impressions, according to Nielsen Social, a compelling statistic suggesting she was the most popular judge on the show.
A spokesperson for NBC and production company Fremantle responded to the claims with a statement this week to People, saying: ‘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.’