‘Don’t allow them to call you angry.’ Gabrielle Union publicly addresses ‘AGT’ firing
Gabrielle Union is done being silent.
The actress spoke on a panel in New York Monday morning where she addressed her recent firing from “America’s Got Talent.” Although she never mentioned ‘AGT’ by name, a great man once said “what’s understood ain’t got to be explained.”
“Don’t be the happy negro that does the bidding of the status quo because you’re afraid,” she said, per Variety. “Don’t allow them to call you angry when someone else is called passionate.”
Union later added, “It’s terrifying. There’s a solid chance you’ll lose your job … I speak from experience.”
The news of Union’s firing first broke around Thanksgiving. Variety first reported the “We’re Going to Need More Wine” author had internally vocalized her issues with the show’s “toxic culture,” a racist joke told by guest judge Jay Leno and Simon Cowell’s smoking habits. It was unclear whether her outspokenness led to her firing, however, entertainment writer B. Scott indicated as such.
Since then, Union has been relatively silent on the issue, save for a few social media posts. Monday’s panel, entitled “Power of Inclusivity and the Women Leading the Charge,” marked her first public statement.
In addition to alluding to her current situation, Union gave some insight as to why she decided to speak out.
“There are a lot of people who are only interested in filling their own plate,” Union told the crowd. “I can’t enjoy my food if everyone else is starving.”
She also indicated that her daily battles with “anxiety, depression, fear and terror” eventually moved her from silence.
“Eventually, I couldn’t sleep. I knew I obsessed about every single time in my life where I didn’t say anything. And it got to the point where I was like, ‘That’s not right!’ And every time I chose to speak up and the world didn’t end and I could speak a little bit better, I knew I was doing the right thing,” Union said.
According to Variety, NBCUniversal has hired a third party to investigate accusations detailed in the showbiz magazine’s report.
While it’s too soon to know how this ordeal will end, it’s safe to say that Union will not lack support.
