Terry Crews Apologizes to Gabrielle Union After Problematic 'America's Got Talent' Comments
UPDATE: Terry Crews has offered a public apology for his recent interview in which he denied he knew of Union's issues at America's Got Talent.
Crews took to Twitter to address the recent backlash he's received after expressing his opinion on Gabrielle Union's exit from the popular show, America's Got Talent including an apology. One tweet specifically for Union read:
"I want you to know it was never my intention to invalidate your experience— but that is what I did. I apologize. You have been through a lot in this business, and with that I empathize with the struggle toward fairness and equality in the workplace."
In an additional tweet aimed at Union, he wrote:
"You are a role model to the entire black community and in my desire to be professionally neutral as your co-worker, I should at the very least have understood you just needed my support."
Another tweet read:
I told [Kevin Hart] a while ago, he needed 2 “acknowledge the pain of other people.” Right now I have to do the same thing. I want to apologize for the comments I made. I realize there are a lot of Black women hurt and let down by what I said and also by what I didn’t say.
Read the rest of Crews' tweets below.
Union took to Twitter to express her thoughts on the lack of diversity on set at America's Got Talent and more.
Gabrielle Union recently called out Terry Crews for his positive comments on America's Got Talent amid the show's ongoing investigation.
In a Today interview that debuted yesterday, Crews is claiming he never experienced racism while he was on the show, multiple sources allege racism was rampant. He admitted that he “can't speak for sexism” since he’s not a woman. But he does speak clearly on the issue of racism by sharing, “That was never my experience on America's Got Talent. In fact, it was the most diverse place I have ever been in my 20 years of entertainment.” He went on to say, “The top 10 acts were Asian, women, older, younger, Black, white—it was everything in the gamut.”
During the interview he also said:
“When you look at what the allegations were about, it was given by an unnamed source. My thing is—you know, it's funny, because I believe you should listen to women, you should always believe women, so I asked my wife what I should do. She was like, first of all, if it's coming from an unnamed source—because Gabrielle Union has not made any statement to this day about any of these allegations publicly.”
His tone implies that Union didn’t speak up publicly about her experiences during her time on the show when in fact she did back in November. Her husband also publicly spoke up via social media about her experiences. What’s shocking about Terry’s opinion Union’s situation is the fact that she previously supported Crews in 2017 when he accused former WME agent Adam Venit of sexually assaulting him at a party.
Recently, Gabrielle took to Twitter to address Crews’ comments, but she didn’t name him. This tweet read:
“Truth telling, wanting change & having MULTIPLE witnesses who bravely came forward to let EVERYONE know I didn't lie or exaggerate, really exposes those who enthusiastically will throw you under the bus, forgetting quickly who stepped up 4 THEIR truth.”
Another tweet read, “Why anyone would gleefully get up on TV and tell lies that NO ONE disputed... But we already know.” An additional tweet by Union acknowledges Crews’ comment on diversity, it reads: “Can someone please ask abt what happens to all that diversity folks are talking about BEHIND THE SCENES. Like, legit... where the hell is all that diversity in the production though homie? In the decision making ranks who control the fate of the diversity in front of the camera?” She then goes on to admit that she and other individuals that are a part of the investigation “agreed to let the investigation be completed before speaking.”
Her last tweet addressed the “egregious lack of diversity” on all levels at AGT. She wrote: “Let's also talk about where the diversity is in the hair & makeup dept for contestants that DOES NOT reflect all that diversity that hits the stage. Let's Google the exec's that run the show & ask follow up ?? about THAT egregious lack of diversity. Let's discuss the facts.”