'AGT' Host Terry Crews Speaks Out Against The Show's Racism Claims Amid Gabrielle Union Controversy
'America's Got Talent' is currently under investigation after Gabrielle Union's firing led to claims of racism and sexism on set. Terry Crews has been hosting the reality TV talent competition for the past year. According to PopCulture, Crews has refuted that the show has exhibited any racism and states that there is no validity behind the claims regarding Union. However, Crews is in the minority. Many past judges and guest judges including Heidi Klum and Sharon Osbourne spoke out about the discrimination they witnessed during filming.
Related:
Unexpected Guest 'Drops a Deuce' in Gabrielle Union's Home
Fremantle US Is On The Verge Of Being The Next Scandalous Hashtag
Gabrielle Union Talks About Standing Up To The Man After 'America’s Got Talent' Firing
Gabrielle Union Defends Her Hairstyle Choice On AGT!
Gabrielle Union Shares New Message of Strength Amid 'AGT' Investigation
Crews spoke out against the claims during the third hour of the 'Today Show.'
"First of all, I can't speak for sexism because I'm not a woman," Crews stated. "But I can speak on behalf of any racism comments, that was never my experience. In fact, it has been the most diverse place I've ever been in my 20 years of entertainment. The top 10 acts [this past season] were Asian, women, older, younger, black, white, it was everything in the gamut."
He continued, "If you look at what the allegations were about, it was given by an unnamed source."
The source had approached Variety and explained that Union witnessed and had firsthand experience with prejudice on set. The source claimed producers would give notes on her and co-judge Julianne Hough's appearance. They often told Union that her hairstyles were "too black." Producers also allowed a man impersonating a black woman to audition. The audition-only was cut from the show during editing.
While Crews is claiming there is no validity behind the anonymous source, Union did set down with the network and Simon Cowell's production company specifically speak about the grievances she endured as a host. While no one knows exactly what was said during the meeting, Union claims that the meeting was lengthy yet productive. The meeting also resulted in conducting an investigation on the show. Sounds like Union is in fact standing behind those claims. Union's husband also praised her for standing up against injustice.
"As proud as I were of her being selected as a judge on #AGT — I am even more proud of her standing up for what she stands for and that’s US," Dwayne Wade tweeted after she was fired from the show. "So [cheers] to you [Gabrielle Union] on not losing sight of the lessons we’ve talked about teaching our daughter and for kicking a— while you were on that platform. Number 1 judge on one of the biggest shows in the world‼️"
