NBC, Union Investigate ‘America’s Got Talent’ Racism Report

Gabrielle Union & Julianne Hough

NBC and the guild that represents television performers said they are investigating Gabrielle Union’s allegation that she was fired as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” because she complained of racism and other on-set issues.

Meanwhile, Howard Stern is pointing fingers in the ongoing "America's Got Talent" drama over Gabrielle Union's controversial exit, reports USAToday.  The former "AGT" judge and radio shock jock says Simon Cowell is to blame for Union not returning to the NBC competition show.

Stern took to his SiriusXM show Monday to call out Cowell after hearing of Union's exit, despite claiming not to have known of the actress prior to the news.

Howard Stern

As Stern talked about seeing the news over the weekend, he suggested Union wasn't returning because of Cowell. "How is it that Simon Cowell has orchestrated this? He has set it up that the men stay, no matter how ugly they are, no matter how old they are, no matter how fat they are, no matter how talentless they are," Stern said.

"What he manages to do on all his shows is he constantly replace the hot chicks with hotter chicks and younger chicks, which is so obvious," Stern said. "Simon (and) Howie get to stay, but the three women had to go: Tyra Banks, Mel B., Heidi Klum, and they find two younger, hotter women."

NBC may have fired Gabrielle Union from “America’s Got Talent” but it certainly hasn’t silenced her, reports The LA Times.

In the weeks since the network announced it would part ways with the actress, who served on the Season 14 judges panel for the long-running reality show, scathing reports have surfaced, detailing a toxic and racist backstage culture that Union allegedly endured — and reported — during production.

Instead of heeding her concerns, producers allegedly rejected them and retaliated by terminating Union’s contract. Now NBC is answering for its alleged actions.

On Nov. 22, when Variety first reported that NBC opted not to extend Unon and fellow celebrity judge Julianne Hough’s contracts for a second season. The pair of women joined the competition program earlier this year, replacing longtime panelists Melanie Brown, of Spice Girls fame, and model Heidi Klum.

Jay Leno

The decision immediately raised eyebrows, as Union and Hough’s male colleagues — executive producer Simon Cowell, comedian Howie Mandel and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Terry Crews — were reported to return, though the circumstances of the terminations of Union and Hough were still unclear.

Initial skepticism turned to outrage when a new report from Variety revealed ahead of the holiday weekend that Union’s split from “America’s Got Talent” wasn’t amicable but forced after the “Bring It On” alum allegedly reported toxic and racist behavior during production.

The most high-profile incident occurred when Jay Leno allegedly made a racist joke about Korean restaurants while taping a segment for the show, prompting Union — an outspoken advocate for minority communities — to file a complaint with producers, who allegedly dismissed her but excluded the joke from the final cut.

The network also reportedly discouraged Union from wearing a variety of hairstyles that it allegedly deemed “too black” for viewers, while Union expressed concerns that a white contestant overstepped while impersonating celebrities of color, such as Beyoncé.