CountEva LongoriaamongGabrielle Union‘s supporters after she wasfiredfromAmerica’s Got Talentlast month.
“What@gabunionexperienced on set at@NBC’s#AmericasGotTalentis unacceptable,” Longoria, 44,wrote on InstagramMonday, followingreportslast week claiming that Union expressed concerns over racially insensitive situations during her time as a judge before she was fired.
“It’s time for@NBCUniversalto commit to long-term, concrete action to fix its toxic workplace culture and ensure safety and equity for all its workers. Add your name through@timesupnowInstagram story.#TimeUpon the imbalance of power. ✊?” Longoria added.
Eva Longoria, Gabrielle Union.Vivien Killilea/Getty Image
Time’s Up, the organization created in the wake of theMe Too movement, haslaunched a petitioncalling “for NBC to stop protecting powerful men at the expense of its workers and address its toxic workplace culture, once and for all.”
“TIME’S UP applauds Union for her courage and once again calls on NBC to take these allegations seriously and take concrete steps to foster a safe and equitable workplace,” the advocacy group said in a statement along with the petition.
“Union’s experience shows that NBCUniversal still has a lot of work to do to change its culture, so discrimination, harassment, and retaliation are no longer tolerated at the company.”
Then on Nov. 26,Varietypublished a reportclaiming that in addition to Union, 47, expressing concerns over racially insensitive situations on the show, she and Hough, 31, were both subjected to “excessive notes” on their physical appearance, sources alleged to the outlet.
Hough has since denied having a negative experience working onAGT, saying she had a “wonderful time” on the show. She is appearing in two upcoming holiday specials on the network.
Trae Patton/NBC
The report also alleged that guest judgeJay Lenomade an inappropriate joke that was later edited out of his episode.
Leno, 69, addressed the allegations for the first time on Monday, telling TMZ, “I love Gabrielle Union. She’s a great girl. I really enjoyed working with her. She’s really good.”
When the comedian was asked if Union was treated fairly on the hit competition series, Leno said, “I don’t know … but I think she’s a great girl.”
On Sunday, Union shared atweetfrom freelance writer and host Joelle Monique that commented on the proper way to apologize — a move that was seemingly a comment on a joint statement from Simon Cowell’s company, Syco Entertainment, NBC and production company Fremantle released on the situation earlier in the day.
Monique’s tweet outlined what makes for a “solid apology”: “1. Sincerely admit wrong doing directly to the offended party. 2. Be twice as loud correcting your mistake as you were making the mistake. 3. Lay out steps to correct your behavior in the future. Anything less is covering your own a–.”
Unionretweetedthe post, writing, “This! This! AND THIIISSSSSSS!!!!!!”
The joint statement that was released earlier on Sunday said that NBC and the production companies were “working with Ms. Union” in order to take steps to rectify the situation.
Last week, Union spoke out on Twitter one day afterVariety’sreport on the toxic atmosphere she allegedly experienced atAGT.
“So many tears, so much gratitude,”she said in her tweet. “THANK YOU! Just when you feel lost, adrift, alone… you got me up off the ground. Humbled and thankful, forever.”
“When the world feels like it’s falling apart. Try to find your peace,” she added on her Instagram Story the same day, with a video of herself working out alongside husbandDwyane Wade.
Representatives for Hough, Union, Cowell and Leno have not responded to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
source: people.com
