Gabrielle Union breaks silence about AGT toxic’s workplace

When Gabrielle Union turned 40, she decided to pursue projects that “brought peace, joy, grace and allowed for compassion.” When the Bring It On star was offered a spot on the judging panel of America’s Got Talent early last year, she thought she’d found it. Instead, reveals Union in a new cover story interview for Variety, she found levels of toxicity that she’d never before experienced in her 25-year-long career.“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,” Union said, asking, “What could go wrong?” Both Union and the show’s other female judge, Julianne Hough were let go when the season ended leaving their male counterparts, producer Simon Cowell and comedian Howie Mandel, in place.[video_embed id='1950928']RELATED: Gabrielle Union advised young Steph and Ayesha Curry to break up[/video_embed]And while the media investigated the culture at AGT and it’s home network NBC shortly afterwards, it’s taken longer for Union to come forward with her own side of the story — one in which she says that the set of AGT was both literally and metaphorically toxic.The problems started on her very first day at work, when she voiced a complaint about Cowell’s (illegal) on-set cigarette habit. It didn’t go well. Union, who has a severe allergy to cigarette smoke, said “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,” adding that her symptoms freaked out legendary germaphobe Mandel.“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. 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 told Variety.But Union wasn’t simply put off by the way she, herself, was treated. She described several  incidents which left her feeling like AGT fostered an environment where racism went unchecked and where the needs of contestants weren’t respected.

Gabrielle Union says #AGT did not have a policy of asking pronouns: “We should never be put in a position where we are guessing, not when we know better… It sends a message that this kind of thing is not only tolerated but encouraged” https://t.co/KWGakAmuMN

— Variety (@Variety) May 27, 2020

In an episode where Jay Leno had a guest spot, the late night host made a racist joke referencing an Asian stereotype. The show’s response was to offer to edit the gaff out of the show. Union said she was appalled — how do you edit something like that from your memory? “My first big interview in this industry, the first person who allowed me to come on their talk show, was Jay Leno,” says Union. “I’ve always held him in high regard, but I was not prepared for his joke.I gasped. I froze. Other things had already happened, but at this point, it was so wildly racist.”Union also referenced a white contestant who appeared on stage using black gloves to portray a Black character. And remember Julianne Hough’s racist Halloween misstep? She was hired after she did that. Awkward.“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,” Union said. “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.”[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Pup is just so confused by owner's mocking sounds [/video_embed]