News Every Day | 31 January 2020, 23:55

Terry Crews Apologizes to Gabrielle Union for Defending ‘America’s Got Talent’

Terry Crews has issued a public apology to Gabrielle Union over comments he made regarding the former “America’s Got Talent” judge’s exit from the reality competition series.

“I told @KevinHart4real 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,” Crews tweeted Friday.

“I hear you, I respect you and understand you. I am sorry and I am here to support you. I spoke from my own personal point of view without first taking into consideration someone else’s experience,” he continued. “I allowed disrespectful comments directed at me and my family to cause me to react angrily instead of responding thoughtfully. This certainly caused more harm, and it is my hope that I can amend any pain I have caused to those who were hurt by my words.”

Also Read: Terry Crews Weighs in on Gabrielle Union Ouster, Says He's 'Never' Experienced Racism at 'AGT' (Video)

The “AGT” host went on to address Union directly.

“@itsgabrielleu, 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,” he continued.

“You are a role model to the entire black community and In my desire to be professionally neutral as your co-worker, I should have at the very least understood you just needed my support.”

The comments Crews refers to were said last week during an interview he did on the “Today” show.

Also Read: 'America's Got Talent': Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough Not Returning as Judges for Season 15

“First of all, I can’t speak for sexism because I’m not a woman, but I can speak on behalf of any racism comments,” Crews said at the time. “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… The Top 10 acts were Asian, women, older, younger, Black, white — it was everything in the gamut.”

The “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star added: “Now I have to say this too. 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–” he said.

Crews was interrupted by “The 3rd Hour of Today” hosts and asked if he had spoken to Union amid the controversy to which he responded, “I have not. I haven’t reached out, but I haven’t heard anything.”

Also Read: Julianne Hough Commends Gabrielle Union for 'Speaking Her Truth' on 'AGT' Culture (Video)

He then said that his wife told him, “Well if she hasn’t made a statement, why would you?”

You can watch the original video of Crews’ comments here.

It was announced on Nov. 22 that Union, along with fellow “AGT” judge Julianne Hough, would not be returning for next year’s Season 15. Union’s contract was not renewed following several behind-the-scenes incidents and what showrunners described as “difficult” behavior, Vulture reported. For more background on Union’s exit, read here.

I told @KevinHart4real 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.

— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 31, 2020