Gabrielle Union opens up about ‘America’s Got Talent’ racism claims
Gabrielle Union opened up in a new interview about her contentious battle with NBC over allegations of racism and misconduct on the set of “America’s Got Talent” — saying she should be allowed to “exist however the f–k I want to exist.”
The 47-year-old actress — who recently reached a settlement with the network — spoke to Marie Claire about the allegations, including that the talent show’s producers gave her “excessive notes” about her appearance and deemed her hairstyles “too black.”
“I should be able to exist however the f–k I want to exist,” she told the magazine for its October issue. “Because if you’re hiring Gabrielle Union for my talent, then my talent is going to come out of my body in every way, shape, and incarnation that I can imagine.”
“You’re getting more bang for your buck the more you allow me to exist as I see fit.”
Union said she was disappointed that high-profile black NBC talent, like Al Roker and Terry Crews, didn’t publicly support her — but she wasn’t surprised.
“These racist institutions and systems have done an amazing job at keeping us very fearful of speaking up, asking for equality, and asking for accountability because they have shown us time and time again that we are disposable,” she told the mag.
“They will discredit and malign you, and you will never work again… Being blackballed in this industry is very real.”
She also addressed skeptics who believe her battle with NBC was all about publicity and retribution for being fired as a judge from the show last September after speaking out about the “toxic environment” on set.
“That very sentiment is how all of this has been allowed to go on for centuries,” Union told Marie Claire, adding: “That kind of gaslighting, I categorically reject.”
“You are not going to gaslight me into minimizing my trauma, which is exactly what allows this to continue on for the next person.”
Earlier this year, NBC and the show producers conducted an investigation into Union’s dismissal, which they said uncovered no wrongdoing.
The network late last month told Page Six it had “reached an amicable resolution” with the actress, who is believed to have been paid a settlement by “AGT” producers Fremantle and Syco and NBC.
“NBC Entertainment appreciates the important concerns raised by Gabrielle Union and remains committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive working environment where people of all backgrounds can be treated with respect,” an NBC spokesperson said in a statement at the time.