Time’s Up is rallying behind Gabrielle Union, following the ‘Being Mary Jane’ actress exit from ‘America Got Talent’ show.
The organization, which solely support and fight for the rights of women has condemned NBC, organizers of AGT, labeling it as an institution that protects powerful men and retaliates against women who speak out.
Tina Tchen, newly appointed CEO of Time’s Up disclosed in a statement, “Gabrielle Union’s experience at ‘America’s Got Talent’ is exemplary of the double bind that black women face at work. Not only did Union reportedly endure and witness racist and inappropriate behavior including racially insensitive comments and excessive criticism about her physical appearance, but it also appears she was punished for speaking out: the company labeled her as ‘difficult’ before ousting her from the show altogether.”
Tchen continues, ““Union’s story is deeply troubling on its own, but her experience is particularly problematic because it follows a pattern of NBCUniversal protecting the careers of powerful men at the expense of women who speak out. 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.”
Variety reports that, NBC has not responded to the Time’s Up statement, but is planning on a having a sit-down discussion with Union together with a third-party counsel to help gather information about Union’s complaint and find the best solution to it.
Union’s bow-out from AGT judging panel after a season is attributed to mistreatment from the show producers and unwanted comments passed on about the actress’s hair complexion, tagging it as too black for the show. NBC has already had a fair share of roasting on Twitter with trending hashtag #boycottAGT.
