Gabrielle Union felt 'isolated' after ‘AGT' departure; NBC, producers say probe clears show

Gabrielle Union is breaking her silence on the drama surrounding her departure from "America's Got Talent" last year, as NBC put forth that an outside investigation decided her claims of racism had “no bearing” on the show dropping her as a judge.

Union and fellow judge Julianne Hough exited the NBC competition show after one season and, in November, Variety reported on a "toxic culture" at the show that included racist jokes and excessive focus on female judges' appearances, including race-related comments.

In an interview with Variety published Wednesday – the same day an investigation concluded that Union's allegations were unfounded, according to NBC and the show’s producers – the 47-year-old actress discussed her experience working on the show.

“I signed up for the experience of being a part of a show that hails itself as the biggest stage in the world. Super diverse, and one about giving people an opportunity to shine where they otherwise probably wouldn’t,” said said. “What could go wrong?”

She continued, “There are so many people who are committed to making NBCUniversal and Comcast different, who truly want to be a part of the solution and on the right side of history... In the same breath, there are some people who want the wheels of change to come to a grinding halt because they feel that their privilege is being challenged.”

NBC, Fremantle and Syco released a joint statement Wednesday regarding the outcome of the investigation.

"Through the investigation process, it has been revealed that no one associated with the show made any insensitive or derogatory remarks about Ms. Union’s appearance, and that neither race nor gender was a contributing factor in the advancement or elimination of contestants at any time,” the statement read in part. “The investigation has shown that the concerns raised by Ms. Union had no bearing on the decision not to exercise the option on her contract.”

The findings, which were based on some 30 interviews, pointed out “some areas in which reporting processes could be improved,” the companies said, without offering details.

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Union said her decision to speak out about fellow judge Simon Cowell's smoking on her first day was a difficult choice for someone "coming onto a set and you are 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."

"AGT" is produced by Fremantle and Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, making Cowell a key player in the show, not just an on-screen personality. He not only acts as one of the executive producers but is also the creator of the show and "Got Talent" franchise.

She says she addressed the issue with producers, who said complaints had been made in the past to essentially no avail..

Cowell, through his spokesperson, told Variety that “when he was directly informed of the smoking complaint during the first couple of days of the season, he immediately changed his behavior and the issue was never raised again.”

“I couldn’t escape. I ended up staying sick for two months straight. 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," she said.

Union added that her constant runny nose also bothered judge Howie Mandel, who is vocal about his struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder and germophobia.

"It was challenging to tend to my illness without being made to feel like I’m responsible for my own sickness. It put me in a position from day one where I felt othered," she said. "I felt isolated. I felt singled out as being difficult, when I’m asking for basic laws to be followed. I want to come to work and be healthy and safe and listened to."

She also addressed Jay Leno, a Season 14 guest judge who was mentioned in the original Variety report that stated he made an inappropriate joke. Variety reports that he declined to comment.

“My first big interview in this industry, the first person who allowed me to come on their talk show, was Jay Leno. I’ve always held him in high regard, but I was not prepared for his joke,” Union said. “I gasped. I froze. Other things had already happened, but at this point, it was so wildly racist.”

She said the reactions from production were, “we’ll delete it. We’ll edit it out."

“You cannot edit out what we just experienced. There is not an edit button in my brain or in my soul," she said. "To experience this kind of racism at my job and there be nothing done about it, no discipline, no companywide email, no reminder of what is appropriate in the workplace?”

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Union also discussed having to endure toxicity in other workplaces.

“There were so many spaces in this industry where I had to compartmentalize myself to feel like I was worthy of work," she said. "In my 40s, I embraced myself exactly as I am. I wanted to create projects and be a part of things, to have personal and professional relationships that brought me peace, joy, grace and allowed for compassion.”

She added that she hopes her experience can help lead to change.

"At the end of all this, my goal is real change — and not just on this show but for the larger parent company. It starts from the top down,” she said. “My goal is to create the happiest, most high-functioning, inclusive, protected and healthy example of a workplace.”

In January 2020, NBC Entertainment chief Paul Telegdy said he took Union's claims seriously, but that he couldn't discuss them in the midst of an internal investigation that he expects to be completed by late January.

"I promise you this is being taken very seriously," Telegdy said during NBC's presentation at the Television Critics Association. "I can't say anything else while they're doing a serious investigation."

Contributing: Associated Press

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gabrielle Union breaks silence on 'America's Got Talent' exit