America’s Got Talent is shaking up the judge’s table once again. Despite stellar ratings for its lastest summer run, Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough will not be returning for another season of the hit talent show. Union and Hough join the show in season 14.
Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel will be returning for the next season, set for the summer of 2020. Cowell is the show’s creator and executive producer while Mandel has been the show since its start. This marks only the second time in the history of the show that a judge has exited after a single season. The first time occurred during its first run when original judge Brandy Norwood was replaced by Sharon Osbourne.
There is a big rumor circulating that Union was fired for speaking out against the series for its problematic racism and sexism behind the scenes. The rumor, reported by “LoveBScoot, is very similar to when host Nick Cannon left the show as host when NBC took issue with racial related jokes he made during a stand-up routine, not related to show. Cannon decided to leave rather than apologize and is now the host of the hit competition series, The Masked Singer. Here is the blind item from “LoveBScott”:
“Union’s contract was not renewed after being the No. 1 talent on the show, NBA and network TV. She set the record for her Golden Buzzer. They only replace women and blacks at Simon Cowell’s whim. She wouldn’t walk away from $12 million because she’s “busy.” Based on weekly interactions on social media, by the time the AGT finale aired, Gabrielle was the No. 1 talent on network TV for 2019. Why pick up someone’s option in extreme success?”
Gabrielle Union has not issued a comment since this story broke and reasons for Hough’s exit are even more unclear. It should be noted that both Union and Hough were both higher ranked/engaged on various platforms when compared to Cowell and Mandel.
It’s unclear what two judges will be replacing the departing Union and Hough. A spinoff series, AGT: Champions has Cowell and Mandel sitting with Heidi Klum and Alesha Dixon but it hasn’t been announced if they will transition to the main show.
AGT, after 14 seasons, is one of the most-watched shows on television, summer or otherwise. Season 15 hasn’t officially been announced for renewal but it’s a no brainer that NBC will definitely bring the show back, albeit, with new faces.
