Gabrielle Union’s smear campaign against NBC has gotten her quick results. In a statement on Sunday, NBC said they are working with the former America’s Got Talent judge to “hear more about her concerns.”
NBC and America’s Got Talent producers Fremantle and Syco said in a joint statement:
“We remain committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees and take very seriously any questions about workplace culture. We are working with Ms. Union through her representatives to hear more about her concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps may be appropriate.”
Union, 47, and fellow judge Julianne Hough, 31, were let go after Union reportedly became difficult to work with on the set.
Variety.com reported that Union complained about a “toxic workplace culture” on the series. A “source” revealed that Union was offended by an on-camera joke told by guest star Jay Leno.
Leno cracked a joke about a portrait hanging in NBC headquarters that showed producer Simon Cowell and his dogs. Leno said the dogs looked like something on the menu at an Asian restaurant.
Union reportedly asked HR to escalate her complaint about Leno’s joke, which was cut before the episode aired.
The “source” also said Union was pestered with notes from NBC staffers complaining about her various lacefront wigs and hair weave accessories. The staffers reportedly said Union’s hair was “too black” for AGT’s audience.
After NBC released a statement on Sunday, Union retweeted a “covering your own ass” meme by writer Joelle Monique that outlined the three steps to a “solid apology”.
But not everyone is convinced that Union is a victim of workplace harassment. Many are convinced that she is an unlikeable narcissist who would stoop to exploiting an emotionally troubled child to boost her career in Hollywood.
A Variety.com reader writes in the comments section (bold emphasis mine):
[Union] and Hough were fired because they were both horrible. The difference is Hough is a professional and didn’t play the race card when she was fired. If NBC and Cowell were actually racists, they wouldn’t have hired a black man (Terry Crews) for next season. Union is going to find herself unemployable much like Monique because no one will want to deal with her toxic drama.”
