During an appearance on 'The Daily Show with Trevor Noah', the former judge on 'America's Got Talent' also shares her thought on the ongoing fight against systemic racism.

• Jun 18, 2020

AceShowbiz - Gabrielle Union breaks down her real problems with Simon Cowell. During a discussion of today's ongoing fight against systemic racism, the former judge on "America's Got Talent" called out the show's creator and fellow judge for defying California law by smoking indoors, asking what message he was sending by doing so.

"Day one, Simon Cowell is smoking cigarettes inside," the 47-year-old actress, who is severely allergic to cigarette smoke, began sharing her experience working on "AGT" during an appearance on "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah". She then pointed out, "I've worked a long time. I've worked with all kinds of people. I've never experienced that."

"When your boss - the person who has the ability to determine who gets opportunities and who doesn't - doesn't believe that the law applies to him or the rules apply to him," she went on detailing, "and he does it in full view of NBC, Fremantle and Syco and no one cares about Simon Cowell exposing all of these employees to second hand smoke, that's day one."

Trying to get her message across, the wife of retired NBA star Dwyane Wade asked host Trevor Noah, "What message do you think that sends to anyone that has an issue with the very real racism and the lack of accountability? And it goes on and on and on."

In regards to the investigation commissioned by NBC following her complaints, the "L.A.'s Finest" star confessed, "Silly me, I thought 'independent' was independent." She explained, "But when NBC and [producers] Fremantle and Syco pay for that investigation, they control it." She further alleged, "They turn over what they believe to be inflammatory things, or things that are not advantageous to me."

When asked how the industry can better help black people, the "Being Mary Jane" actress suggested, "There has to be an increase in representation across the board from the top to the bottom. We have to be able to be okay with change that doesn't always benefit us."

"Some people believe that … the only way to lead is to center yourself in every argument. But what I'm learning throughout this whole process is, sometimes the best way to lead is to get out of the way and make room for someone else," she continued. "We have to dismantle the whole thing. We can't put a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound."

In early June, Gabrielle filed a harassment, discrimination and retaliation complaint with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing. In the filing, she allegedly accused NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy of trying to "silence and intimidate" her during investigation into her complaints about the "toxic" working environment behind the scenes.