Nick Cannon appears to be eliminating himself from “America’s Got Talent.”
The 36-year-old host is irate after NBC execs apparently discussed firing himover a racially charged joke he told during a recent stand-up set — so much so that Cannon can no longer envision himself returning to emcee “America’s Got Talent” ever again.
“This hurts tremendously,” Cannon fumed in long-winded Facebook and Instagram posts Monday, adding, “Now for the rug to be pulled from underneath me and to be publicly reprimanded and ridiculed over a joke about my own race is completely wrong and I have to do something about it.
“I wish AGT and NBC the best in its upcoming season but I can not see myself returning,” he continued. “As of lately I have even questioned if I want to even be apart of an industry who ultimately treats artists in this manner.”
Cannon apparently infuriated several members of NBC’s corporate team when he implied during the comedy special that the network wanted him to tone down his swagger on the reality talent competition, according to TMZ. He reportedly said the network was forcing him to lose his “black card” in the segment filmed over a month ago.
The joke inspired discussion among the execs to potentially terminate Cannon, but they ultimately decided to let it go, according to the gossip site.
But Cannon is furious they even considered cutting ties.
“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,” he wrote Monday. “There is no amount of money worth my dignity or my integrity.”
