Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough Exit ‘America’s Got Talent’

Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union on America's Got Talent. (Credit: NBC)

America’s Got Talent judges Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough are leaving the NBC competition series after one season.

The two were hired in a casting shakeup earlier this year, and replaced Melanie Brown and Heidi Klum for season 14 of the series.

It’s unclear why Union and Hough are leaving the popular show, but according to some published reports their departures may not have been by choice.

The website LoveBScott alleged Union was let go for speaking up about “problematic” situations, including racism and sexism. While she and Hough were popular with fans, especially on social media, the site said show producers decided not to bring them back.

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Neither Union nor Hough has publicly commented on their departures.

Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and host Terry Crews are all expected to return for season 15 in 2020. Cowell co-created America’s Got Talent and produces the series with Fremantle and Syco Entertainment.

Union currently co-stars with Jessica Alba and serves as a producer on L.A.’s Finest, a spinoff of the Bad Boys film franchise.

Actress and former Dancing With the Stars pro Hough will next be seen in the Netflix original series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, based on classic songs from the country music legend.