Gabrielle Unionis breaking her silence.
In the wake of herrecent and controversial departurefrom America’s Got Talent, the actress, 47, sent a message to her Twitter followers and thanked them for their support during this difficult time.
“So many tears, so much gratitude,”she tweeted on Wednesday night. “THANK YOU! Just when you feel lost, adrift, alone… you got me up off the ground. Humbled and thankful, forever.”
Union also seemingly referenced the ordeal on her Instagram Stories earlier in the day with a video of herself working out alongside husbandDwyane Wade.
“When the world feels like it’s falling apart. Try to find your peace,” she captioned the clip.
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Union’s message on Twitter came several hours after her husband, who shemarried in 2014, publiclydefended her in a series of tweets on his own account.
“So when i got the news that my wife was being fired—my first question was obviously why!?” Wade continued. “I am still waiting on a good answer to that question. But if anyone knows @itsgabrielleu or have heard of her you know she’s an advocate for our community and culture.”
In a third tweet, Wade said he was proud of Union for “standing up for what she stands for” and practicing what she preaches totheir 1-year-old daughter Kaavia.
“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,” he wrote, before adding, “So [cheers] to you @itsgabrielleu on not losing sight of the lessons we’ve talked about teaching our daughter and for kicking ass while you were on that platform. Number 1 judge on one of the biggest shows in the world.”
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On Monday, blogLove B Scottreported Union had allegedly spoken out about “problematic” situations on set before her departure.
She and Hough, 31, were also both subject to “excessive notes” on their physical appearance, sources alleged inVariety‘s report.
Representatives for Hough, Union, Leno, andSimon Cowell‘s Syco Entertainment, which producesAGT,did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Trae Patton/NBC
Sources on the series told the outlet that Leno allegedly joked the dogs looked like something one would find “on the menu at a Korean restaurant,” alluding to the stereotype that all Asian people eat dog meat.
In another instance, sources toldVarietythat Union found herself again speaking up against racial insensitivity when a white male contestant auditioned with an act where he portrayed people of color and impersonated singers through multiple quick costume changes.
During his performance, the man impersonatedBeyoncéand, according toVariety‘s sources, emerged with black hands. The audition didn’t sit well with Union and she allegedly addressed the matter with a segment producer and an executive producer, explaining that the audience should not have to watch something so “racially insensitive.”
After the actress requested that they remove the audition from the show, the producers allegedly told her, “We’ll take it out later.” Like Leno’s dog joke, the contestant’s audition was also reportedly cut from the show.
Variety‘s report went on to describe claims that Union was allegedly told that her ever-changing hairstyles were “too black” forAGT‘s audience, while Hough reportedly received constant criticism on her hair, makeup, and wardrobe.
However, in a statement toVariety, the dancer/actress denied that she had a negative experience working on the show.
“I had a wonderful time onAmerica’s Got Talent, I loved working with the cast, crew, and producers. I am happy to continue my working relationship with NBC,” said Hough, who is set to star in two upcoming NBC Christmas specials. “I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”
It has yet to be announced who will replace Hough and Union for the upcoming season.
source: people.com
