Gabrielle Union calls ‘AGT’ drama the ‘hardest’ part of her career

Gabrielle Union is once again speaking out about her traumatic experiences on the set of America’s Got Talent, revealing that in her nearly 20 years within the industry, that period of her life has emerged as the hardest so far.The 47-year-old actress and producer headlined the virtual “Minding Her Business” panel during the American Black Film Festival over the weekend, where she told moderator Raymone Jackson (the national diversity officer at Morgan Stanley, who sponsored the panel) that her firing from the talent series was one of the most difficult business interactions in her life.“Probably the AGT of it all was so surprising and so heartbreaking and so frustrating and so unnecessary. That would be probably the hardest part [of my time in the industry]," Union said, as per USA Today. She added that speaking out against the practices she saw and experienced took its toll."It [felt] like such a public flogging and just standing in my truth and standing on the side of employee rights and knowing there's a better way of doing business,” she added. “But that whole process was really brutal and knowing that I brought my team into that, it just sucked.”[video_embed id='2007459']RELATED: Gabrielle Union calls out Terry Crews for lack of ‘AGT’ support[/video_embed]In November 2019, Union was let go from the NBC series after just one season, despite her three-year contract with an option to extend. She and fellow new judge Julianne Hough were both dismissed in what the network and producers described as a judging refresh, but Union later revealed that she parted ways with the series because she spoke out against problematic, racist behaviour on set and behind-the-scenes.“We face a lot of rejection in this business," Union explained during the panel. “Anytime someone says yes to us you get so excited because we don't hear yes that often, and sometimes those yeses are masking a host of trouble and problematic behaviour. … Perhaps you don't want to be someone's racial guinea pig.”Union was just the third person of colour to judge AGT when she joined in season 14. Previously Spice Girl Mel B judged from seasons eight to 13, while Brandy Norwood was one of the original judges back in the first season. (She was forced to leave the show after one year due to an ongoing court case.) Meanwhile Nick Cannon served as the show’s host from seasons four through 11 before leaving after the way he felt “silenced, controlled or treated like a piece of property” after making a joke in a comedy special that NBC felt disparaged their brand. He was replaced by Tyra Banks, who hosted for two seasons, before current host Terry Crews took over in season 14.In the conversation with Jackson, Union added that through other collaborations and with her production company (which produces L.A.’s Finest and is also behind the upcoming LGBTQ+ series All Boys Aren’t Blue), her goal is to help fill an industry void "where [she] feels like the voices of marginalized folks have not been traditionally centered or amplified."Following Union’s exit, NBC and production company Fremantle investigated her claims, but earlier this year they announced that they had found no wrongdoing. “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 May 2020 report outlined.A month later Union filed an official complaint in court and alleged that NBC boss Paul Telegdy threatened her for claiming racism on the set. An internal investigation against the executive was launched and a week later, on August 7, he was fired from his position.[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Tyrone finds out where 'Shady Baby' gets her grown looks from[/video_embed]