Since leaving behind his hosting duties at America’s Got Talent, Nick Cannon has moved on to FOX’s The Masked Singer; however, the issues that took place on the set of his previous gig remain of his concern.
In a new interview with Variety, Nick discussed his decision to leave ‘AGT,’ as well as former ‘AGT’ judge Gabrielle Union‘s recent claims that she dealt with racism and an overall toxic environment on the set of the show. (This led her to file a harassment, discrimination and retaliation complaint against NBC and ‘AGT’ producers earlier this month.)
Nick told Variety he remains “unapologetic” about his decision to leave the show. He did go on to say, though, that he “was never upset with any individual at NBC,” and that he still “loves ‘AGT.’”
As fans of the show may recall, Nick quit ‘AGT’ in 2017 after NBC threatened to fire him over some jokes he made in his Showtime comedy special Stand Up, Don’t Shoot. At the time Nick announced his departure from the show on Facebook, he called it a decision he wished he didn’t have to make.
“ … as a man, an artist and a voice for my community I will not be silenced, controlled or treated like a piece of property,” he said at the time. “There is no amount of money worth my dignity or my integrity. I have loved hosting ‘America’s Got Talent’ for the last 8 seasons, watching talented, brave and courageous Americans accomplish their dreams in front of millions has been nothing but a joy, and everyone has been a pleasure to work with but my soul won’t allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices.”
(Nick’s hosting position went on to be filled by Tyra Banks and later, Terry Crews, who currently still hosts the show.)
When asked by Variety about Gabrielle’s recent claims regarding the working conditions on ‘AGT,’ Nick stated that he believes the complaints addressed by Gabrielle reflect “a truly systemic issue in my mind.”
“Sometimes it takes a Gabrielle Union to remind people, ‘Yo, there’s humanity going on here,'” he said.
Speaking of humanity, Nick revealed that he was often disturbed by how contestants were treated after they were voted off of ‘America’s Got Talent.’
“Everybody’s so caught up in making this massive great television show that they forget there are humans and feelings and cultural concerns,” he said. “In making a show that big a lot of times the machine can get a little too big and people forget that there are people involved. Once you hit them with those four X-es, they’re shattered.”
Nick said he would often try to give some post-performance emotional support to contestants by telling them about his own story of breaking into Hollywood as a teenager working as a warm-up comic.
“I would tell them, ‘Don’t let that effect you. Don’t let that stop you. This is just one moment. This doesn’t mean anything about you or your gifts or your talents,’” he said.
(Photos: Rich Fury/Getty Images; NBC)
8 Responses
I guess I wouldn’t hold back making complaints about a company I worked for if I was already a millionaire…it’s not they brave to make these kind of claims without any evidence with nothing to lose …
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Caucasians have a big, big problems with people of color. We are like Mebas kick me, shoot me, oh well I am back. We laid in our feces our pee on the boats that you brought us over here in America. Some of us murdered throne overboard. They look up and we still here. We threaten them because they know their power is soon coming to an end. Angry because some
Caucasians marry blacks their race is becoming small no more pure WHITES. Blacks are millionaires too. Blacks built America. The Bible says do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I know you never read that in the scriptures. So we are here and will never give up the fight. May die but the Bible says it is once appointed unto man Black or White to die we all must face this fact.
Whatever it takes to stop bias behavior do it.Marginalized groups they feel you should have toleration for being missed treated.This has to go.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF MISS UNIONS CLAIMS WITH NBC/AGT THIS TAKES COURAGE TO TAKE A STAND AS A HUMAN BEING. THANK YOU GABRIELLE STAY STRONG WITH YOUR MULTI TALENTED SELF .
You are a man and a beautiful black strong man and you deserve the BEST Nick. I’m proud of you and me and my family love you and all that you do to support your beliefs. Thanks for standing up for your self and the contestants.
Im glad someone has revealed the racism on Agt and it also need to be revealed on The Voice it was about to be revealed on the Voice but Adam stepped down to prevent it and it the same way on American Idol,watch the show and check them out you can see it for yourself,we all know that those judges has the last say.Thanks Gabby for bringing it to the light
Im glad someone has has revealed the racism on Agt and it also need to be revealed on The Voice it was about to be revealedon the Voice bu Adam steppeddown to prevent it and it the same way on American Idol,watch the show and check them out you can see it for yourself,we all know that those judges has the last say.Thanks Gabby for bringing it to the light
This is the pot calling the kettle black(no pun intended). According to the young adults working at Disney, Nick should recheck his attitude.
They said Mariah was the polite one. She’s the diva, so how rude is he. Anybody that’s in Hollywood seems to take advantage all situations. When things don’t go their way the complaining starts.