Report: Simon Cowell labeled Gabrielle Union "difficult" after her America's Got Talent complaints

Vulture

Union "is exploring her legal options against" NBC after she was let go from AGT after one season following her complaints about the show's toxic culture, reports Vulture's Yashar Ali. Multiple sources tell Ali that Cowell and his team of producers labeled Union as being "difficult" after she made several grievances, starting with her complaints over him smoking indoors in the theater where they filmed. "Union, who is allergic to cigarette smoke, was repeatedly rebuffed when she asked other staff members to request that Cowell stop smoking inside," reports Ali. "Sources say Union was told by an NBC executive and production staff on the program that no one could stop Cowell from smoking and that previous attempts by a fire marshal and NBC executives had been unsuccessful." Ali reports that Union "further solidified" her "difficult" reputation in Cowell's eyes by complaining about Jay Leno telling a Korean dog-eating joke and a contestant using "blackface hands," as Variety reported Tuesday. Ali also reports Union annoyed producers by asking contestants dressed in drag what their preferred pronouns were and by pushing back on producers who were pulling for a dance group from Texas made up of white contestants over a 10-year-old black rapper. "The situation was so tense that Union was pushed by Cowell and his agents at CAA (which also represents Union) to meet with Cowell privately, along with her manager, in an attempt to patch things up, which sources told Vulture she did at his home last May," reports Ali. "It’s unclear how their conversation went, but the show then went on hiatus, and Union was let go ahead of filming for season 15. Now, Union is exploring her legal options against the network, according to sources close to the actress and producer." Ali also reports that Union had a three-year contract with the show, but NBC had the option to drop her after the first season.

ALSO:

• UPDATE: Gabrielle Union apparently addresses her America's Got Talent ouster: "So many tears, so much gratitude," she tweeted Wednesday night. "THANK YOU! Just when you feel lost, adrift, alone... you got me up off the ground. Humbled and thankful, forever."
• NBC is reportedly "puzzled" over stories of Union's alleged terrible experience on the show: A Variety story reported Tuesday that Union's contract wasn't renewed after she complained about a Jay Leno Korean dog-eating joke and after producers sent her notes that her hair was "too black." An NBC source tells Page Six, however, that “a half-dozen AGT employees were asked (about the ‘too black’ notes) and no one had heard this. I would honestly be shocked. Ensuring a safe environment is so important to the show. Anytime someone comes forward and has issues, we take things very seriously.” The source says the comments were only about about “hair continuity” for both Union and Julianne Hough. Another NBC insider tells Page Six that Union had a “productive conversation” with producers about the Leno incident at the time and was surprised that it was coming up again.
• Dwyane Wade defends wife Gabrielle Union, says she was "fired" from America's Got Talent: "So when i got the news that my wife was being fired—my first question was obviously why!? Iam still waiting on a good answer to that question," Wade said in one of a series of tweets Wednesday. "But if anyone knows @itsgabrielleu or have heard of her you know she’s an advocate for our community and culture."
• Wade's comments prompted #BoycottAGT hashtag on Twitter