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Simon Cowells companies and Americas Got Talent probed amid Gabrielle Unions racism claims

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SIMON Cowell’s production company Syco Entertainment and Fremantle, and NBC, which broadcasts America’s Got Talent, are being investigated.

It comes after the controversial departure of Gabrielle Union, 47, as a judge on America’s Got Talent after she raised concerns about the discriminatory workplace culture of the show.

Gabrielle Union left America’s Got Talent and claims that it was after she complained about a ‘toxic culture’ on the show, which is now being investigated

The agency which represents actors and performers, SAG-AFTRA, has launched a probe on Tuesday, into the claims she has made against the show.

A spokesperson for the performers union said on Sunday, While we have taken steps to investigate this matter, we have nothing to report now.

Variety reported that Union had urged producers to report an offensive joke made by Jay Leno while filming the show.

Union also reportedly received “excessive notes” on her appearance, including being told that her hair styles were “too black” more than a dozen times, amid a “toxic culture”.

Howie Mandel, Terry Crews and Simon Cowell will reportedly return – while the agency which represents actors and performers, SAG-AFTRA, has launched a probe on Tuesday, into the claims Union has made against the show

Julianne Hough, 31, whose contract was also not renewed, is also alleged to have received excessive critiques of her personal appearance including hair, make up and wardrobe.

Insiders claimed this had a detrimental impact on her morale – though Hough has denied this to Variety.

Gabrielle believes there is a toxicity that has become normalized at Talent, an insider told Deadline on Monday. She wants to help fix that, because she loved a lot of her time on the show last season, even with the issues with Simon and what have you. But she could never go back, even if they did a [180] and asked her to for another season no.

Jay Leno was a guest judge on America’s Got Talent when the alleged incident happened

At the end of America’s Go Talent’s 14th series, Grabrielle was axed alongside Hough.

NBC and series producer Fremantle said in a joint statement: Americas Got Talent has a long history of inclusivity and diversity in both our talent and the acts championed by the show.

The judging and host line-up has been regularly refreshed over the years and that is one of the reasons for AGTs enduring popularity.

“NBC and the producers take any issues on set seriously.

While Gabrielle and Julianne’s contracts were not renewed, their fellow cast members Howie Mandel, Terry Crews and Simon Cowell are all expected to return to the next series.

Simon Cowell is America’s Got Talent’s show executive

Union will speak to the lawyers hired by Syco, NBC and producers Freemantle this week to discuss her time on Americas Got Talentaccording to Page Six.

Cowells company Syco has brought in outside counsel amid the scandal.

A source confirmed to Page Six: The companies are retaining outside counsel to assist us in learning more about the facts in this matter, starting with hearing from Gabrielle, which we expect to happen this week.

NBC, Fremantle and Syco released a joint statement on Sunday.

It said: “We remain committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees and take very seriously any questions about workplace culture. We are working with Ms Union through her representatives to hear more about her concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps may be appropriate.”

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