Gabrielle Union Files Discrimination Complaint, Alleges NBC Chairman Threatened Her

Union's lawyer Bryan Freedman released an expansive statement noting NBC Chairman Paul Telegdy threatened her for sharing stories of on-set racism.

Gabrielle Union has filed a harassment complaint against the producers and the network responsible for America’s Got Talent. Simon Cowell’s Syco, FremantleMedia and NBCUniversal are included in the complaint. 

According to a Variety report, Union has also come forward with an accusation that NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy threatened her for speaking publicly about the racism she experienced on-set. 

Union expressed in a recent Variety feature that she felt discriminated against numerous times during her first season at America's Got Talent. In a statement, NBCUniversal shared the threat by Telegdy never happened. Union’s attorney Bryan Freedman says her complaint stated on February 4, 2020 that Telegdy threatened her through her agent. "When Gabrielle Union informed NBC of racially offensive conduct during the taping of Americas Got Talent, NBC did not 'stand' with her in 'outrage at acts of racism.”

Freedman’s statement also read:

“To hide behind the fact that Telegdy did not call her directly but her agent instead does not absolve him from his wrongful conduct. Should Mr. Telegdy wish to see phone records or call sheets from the date of his threat, we can make those available for the world to see. It is frankly sad but not surprising that, rather than addressing its own racial discrimination, NBC wants to try and avoid the systemic issues that permeate its company.”

NBC unveiled a statement in the wake of the nationwide protests declaring they stand behind black employees, creators, and more. Freedman’s statement addresses this is tone-deaf since Union experienced issues while employed by the network. 

He also added, “There is no place for this type of racial bullying in the workplace, and it is going to take more than a Tweet from NBC to demonstrate that NBC intends to create an environment free from racism.”

Freedman filed the complaint with California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). This could potentially be the precursor to a larger lawsuit.

Union's husband Dwyane Wade shared his family experienced being watched and followed during the America's Got Talent controversy.