Gabrielle Union Says Her Firing From ‘America’s Got Talent’ Was “Heartbreaking,” “Frustrating” And “The Hardest Part” Of Her Career

Gabrielle Union is speaking out again about her controversial firing from America’s Got Talent.

The actress sat down for the “Minding Her Business” panel at the American Black Film Festival, where she called her experience as the talent show judge, “frustrating” and “heartbreaking.”

“Probably the AGT of it all was so surprising and so heartbreaking and so frustrating and so unnecessary,” she shared, according to USA Today. “That would be probably the hardest part [of my time working in the industry].”

“That whole process was really brutal, and knowing that I brought my team into that, it just sucked,” she added.

In November, it was announced that Gabrielle and Julianne Hough would not return as judges for the 15th season. Just days later, it was reported that Gabrielle had previously expressed concerns over racial insensitivity on the set.

Both Gabrielle and Julianne said the environment felt sexist, and there were “excessive notes” on their physical appearance.

On the panel, Gabrielle said the drama on the show left her feeling like she went through a “public flogging” as she tried “standing in my truth and standing on the side of employee rights and knowing there’s a better way of doing business.”

Her exit from the show sparked an internal investigation at NBC and production companies Fremantle and Syco Entertainment. Gabrielle has also taken legal action against the production companies, NBC and the show’s creator Simon Cowell over her dismissal and alleged discrimination.