Gabrielle Union Files Discrimination Complaint Against NBC, Simon Cowell, More Over ‘AGT’ Departure

Gabrielle Union has filed a discrimination complaint over her “America’s Got Talent” exit.

The former “AGT” judge is continuing her battle against NBC after her departure from the American talent show competition. According to Deadline, on Thursday (June 4), Union filed a discrimination complaint against several high-profile individuals involved in the show including Simon Cowell, Fremantle and NBC to California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Union alleged that NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy intervened and tried to “silence and intimidate her.”

“Telegdy contradicted his statements to the media and personally disregarded NBC’s ‘Principles of Business Conduct’ (hereinafter, ‘Code of Conduct’) mandating confidentiality for workplace investigations by contacting Union’s agent and disclosing confidential information obtained during the ongoing investigation into Union’s concerns in an attempt to silence and intimidate Union from providing information to the investigator about her experiences,” the 38-page complaint prepared by Hollywood lawyer Bryan Freedman read.

On Feb. 4, 2020, Telegedly allegedly threatened the “Bring It On” star through her agent by warning the latter that she better stop pursuing her claims of racism while filming “AGT.” The chairman’s move shocked Union’s agent.

“Union’s agent was shocked that the Chairman of NBC Entertainment was attempting to threaten and intimidate Union. Union’s agent could not recall another instance in his career when a senior executive at a network had threatened and intimidated an employee during an ongoing workplace investigation.”

In a recent interview with Variety, the actress explained why she joined the reality show and what prompted her to leave after one season.

“I signed up for the experience of being a part of a show that hails itself as the biggest stage in the world. Super diverse, and one about giving people an opportunity to shine where they otherwise probably wouldn’t,” Union explained.

She also recalled how toxic the working environment was due to Cowell’s smoking habit. She said she got sick for two months straight. Moreover, her condition bothered Howie Mandel, who sat beside her, because he was struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder and germophobia.

“It was challenging to tend to my illness without being made to feel like I’m responsible for my own sickness,” she continued. “It put me in a position from day one where I felt othered. I felt isolated. I felt singled out as being difficult, when I’m asking for basic laws to be followed. I want to come to work and be healthy and safe and listened to.”