Union-Cowell feud may be headed for a judge
Gabrielle Union and Simon Cowell apparently have not kissed and made up.
Union on Thursday filed a harassment complaint against the producers of “America’s Got Talent” — including creator Simon Cowell — alleging that she encountered racism on set. Union filed the complaint with California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing. In the filing, she claimed she witnessed “racist jokes, racist performances, sexual orientation discrimination, and excessive focus on female judges’ appearances.”
Cowell, NBCUniversal, Fremantle Productions and Syco Entertainment were named in the complaint. Union departed the talent competition in controversial fashion last November after just one season.
During her time on “AGT,” she reportedly had voiced concerns about a “toxic” culture on the show, including her hairstyle choices being called “too black” for the show’s audience. Union, who grew up in Pleasanton, also accused NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy of threatening her when she spoke out against the racism that she allegedly experienced on set.
Just last week, NBC, Fremantle and Syco announced that an investigation into the matter did not unearth any blatant misconduct on the part of the show. “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,” they said in a joint statement. “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.”
Union has detailed her issues with “AGT” in various interviews. In one incident, Union became rankled over an offensive joke made by guest judge Jay Leno, who allegedly referred to Cowell’s dogs as being “on the menu at a Korean restaurant.” “You cannot edit out what we just experienced. There is not an edit button in my brain or in my soul,” she told Variety. “To experience this kind of racism at my job and there be nothing done about it, no discipline, no company-wide email, no reminder of what is appropriate in the workplace?”