Gabrielle Union reportedly filed a harassment, discrimination and retaliation complaint with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
, Union said the problems started right from her first moments on set, when show creator and judge Cowell smoked in front of her even though she's severely allergic. She claimed she addressed it with producers, who said that nothing was going to be done -- even though it directly affected her ability to do her job.
"[I was] coming on to a set and you are literally met with the very definition of a toxic work environment, and it's being carried out by the most powerful person on the production," Union said of Cowell's smoking."I couldn't escape. I ended up staying sick for two months straight. It was a cold that lingered, and turned into bronchitis, because I couldn't shake it. It impacted my voice, which affects my ability to do my job."Cowell's spokesperson said that when he was made aware of the smoking complaint during the first couple of days of the season, he"immediately changed his behavior and the issue was never raised again.", including her shock when she said guest judge Jay Leno made a racist joke. According tothe comedian made the joke when referring to a painting of Cowell and his dogs, saying the animals looked like food items at a Korean restaurant. Additionally, Union described her dismay during another incident, when a white male contestant -- whose talent was to transform into famous singers, including costume changes -- put on black gloves to imitate a black singer. The actress said she was shocked that the audition was allowed to happen. "I had to look at myself and say, 'Do you want to keep it easy? Or do you want to be you, and stand up?'" she recalled. "Because I'm not the only one being poisoned at work." "At the end of all this, my goal is real change -- and not just on this show but for the larger parent company," Union added. "It starts from the top down. My goal is to create the happiest, most high-functioning, inclusive, protected and healthy example of a workplace.""The duration long-term of a brand comes with the ebbs and flows of who comes, who goes and we proudly embrace making shows better. What we also proudly embrace at NBC Entertainment is the notion that we can always be a better workplace. So, what we are is in the middle of an investigation. That's really serious, I can't deny it. I've never had one before so... that will be handled by lawyers," Telegdy said. "We're very confident that if we learn something... we'll put new practices in place if that's what's necessary and take anyone's critique of what it means to come to work here incredibly seriously," he added.
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