‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 12 Spoilers: Nick Cannon Leaving NBC Competition Series

Nick Cannon won’t be hosting “America’s Got Talent” when the show returns for Season 12. The multi-hyphenate is said to have butted heads with network executives over a joke made during his Showtime comedy special “Stand Up, Don’t Shoot.”

Cannon addressed his departure in a Facebook post on Monday, telling fans that it was not an easy decision to make. He claimed the NBC wanted to punish him over a controversial joke he made during the stand up special. Cannon said he refused to be silenced by the network and did not appreciate being “treated like a piece of property.” In closing, the 36-year-old said there was “no amount of money” that could convince him to continue hosting “America’s Got Talent.”

“I was to be punished for a joke. This has weighed heavy on my spirit. It was brought to my attention by my ‘team’ that NBC believed that I was in breach of contract because I had disparaged their brand,” Cannon wrote in a Facebook post. “I find myself in a dark place having to make a decision that I wish I didn’t have to, but as a man, an artist, and a voice for my community I will not be silenced, controlled or treated like a piece of property. There is no amount of money worth my dignity or my integrity.”

“Stand Up, Don’t Shoot” aired on Showtime on Friday. During the special, Cannon joked that he lost his “black card” when he signed on to host “America’s Got Talent.” He pointed out older white audience members as proof, claiming they only started attending his stand-up shows after seeing him on the NBC competition series.

Cannon knew before the special aired that NBC was not pleased with it. He spoke about the controversy during an appearance on Howard Stern’s radio show on Feb. 8. At the time, Cannon said that he could “sue them” if he were to be fired for making the joke. He has not mentioned plans to pursue legal action since.