Gabrielle Union has involving the actor’s union SAG-AFTRA in her dispute with NBC network over her controversial departure as a judge on America’s Got Talent.
According to reports, Union and her fellow judge Julianne Hough were let go after just one season for underperforming as judges on the popular series.
While Hough, 31, expressed her gratitude to NBC for the opportunity, Union launched a smear campaign against NBC hoping to get her job back.
The 47-year-old Bring It On star asked the actor’s union to investigate reports of racism and sexism on the set of Simon Cowell’s talent competition series – reports that never surfaced publicly until after she was let go.
Union was given the boot amid reports that she made multiple complaints to TV bosses about the “toxic” workplace culture on the set.
But NBC staffers are baffled, particularly about a Variety.com report that suggests they passed notes to Union about her ever-changing hair weave. A source told Variety that staffers complained to Union that her hair was “too Black” for the audience.
But NBC staffers vigorously denied the reports. They say they only mentioned “continuity” issues related to Union’s often-changing hairstyles.
In a statement sent to Variety on Sunday, a spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA, the main union representing performers and actors, said they would investigate any alleged mistreatment of Union.
“We take issues of workplace health and safety very seriously. We immediately reached out to Ms. Union’s representatives when these reports came to light. It is our practice to work closely with members who reach out to us and their representatives in instances like this, as that usually affords the best protection and best resolution for the affected member.”
They added: “While we have taken steps to investigate this matter, we have nothing to report now.”
Earlier on Sunday, America’s Got Talent producers and NBC bosses issued a statement saying that they 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.”
But Union was not impressed with the statement after retweeting a note about what a “solid apology” should look like by writer Joelle Monique.
