It’s no secret that Nick Cannon has become increasingly more political over the past few years and it seems that his personal stance help him solidify a decision in his professional life.
According to published reports, the comedian released a statement on Monday (Feb. 13) revealing that he intends to vacate his position as host on the popular talent show, America’s Got Talent, after being “threatened with termination” by executives at NBC as a result of jokes made at the show’s expense on his Showtime comedy special.
“I find myself in a dark place having to make a decision that I wish I didn’t have to, but as a man, an artist, and a voice for my community I will not be silenced, controlled or treated like a piece of property,” Cannon wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. “There is no amount of money worth my dignity or my integrity.”
In the statement, Cannon alleges that his “team” informed him that NBC executives intended to argue that Cannon was in breach of contract for disparaging the network’s name during his Showtime special, “Stand Up, Don’t Shoot.”
“I have loved hosting America’s Got Talent for the last eight seasons, watching talented, brave, and courageous Americans accomplish their dreams in front of millions has been nothing but a joy, and everyone has been a pleasure to work with but my soul won’t allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices.”
Although Cannon did not say which joke or jokes NBC took issue with, during the hour-long special Cannon addressed the issue of his differing comedic style to three Caucasian audience members and jokingly apologized that the comedy show would be a departure from his America’s Got Talent persona.
“We’re over here talking about b—–s and players and stuff and you think this is America’s Got Talent. This is going to be a little bit different tonight,” he said. “You thought you were going to get the tight suits with the shiny shoes….I’m going to use some different language than what you’re used to hearing on the show.”
He went on to jokingly replace the N in the acronym for NBC with the N-word and quipped that his hosting gig on the show hurt his credibility in the black community.
“I grew up like a real n—-r, all that stuff, but I honestly believe once I started doing ‘America’s Got Talent’, they took my real n—-r card,” he said.
Cannon said in his statement that NBC’s threats to discipline him were “just another way to silence and control an outspoken voice who often battles the establishment.”
In the post, Cannon also alleges this incident was not “the first time executives have attempted to ‘put [him] in [his] place.’
“I will not stand for it. My moral principles will easily walk away from the millions of dollars they hang over my head,” he wrote. “It’s never been about the money for me, what is difficult to walk away from is the fans, the people who love me on the show. This hurts tremendously. I wish AGT and NBC the best in its upcoming season but I can not see myself returning,” he said. “As of lately I have even questioned if I want to even be apart of an industry who ultimately treats artists in this manner.”
NBC has not issued a statement as of yet regarding the allegations or departure. Check out the full post and comedy show preview below.
