Nick Cannon has come a long way since making his musical debut as one third of the 2000s rap group Da G4 Dope Bomb Squad, dabbling in everything from music to acting and hosting. While his successes have been remarkable, the 42-year-old has also had his fair share of controversial moments.
Up until 2016, Cannon and the reality show America’s Got Talent were virtually inextricable. The father of twelve had hosted the iconic reality series for seven years before his abrupt departure in 2017.
Cannon incurred NBC’s wrath after making multiple disparaging comments about the cable network in his stand-up special, Stand Up, Don’t Shoot.
Consequently, NBC accused the Wild N’ Out star of breaching his contract and threatened to fire him. Here’s why Cannon was so enraged by the NBC’s allegations and thought it best to permanently sever ties with the network.
Nick Cannon And NBC Had A Falling Out Back In 2017
Nick Cannon and NBC had a falling out back in 2017 after the Wild N’ Out host made multiple of disparaging comments about the network in his Showtime stand-up special, Stand Up, Don’t Shoot. In the special, Cannon accused NBC of limiting his creativity to maintain a white fanbase.
“That's what NBC is gonna stand for tonight: 'Better come on, 'cuz n— be cussin', so be careful,” Cannon said. “Cuz y’all see me on the show. I mean, sometimes I wish I could say the stuff that I want to say. … But I can’t say that. I can’t talk like that ‘cuz that would mess up the white money. It will.”
The Masked Singer host also made some racially charged jokes in the special, accusing the network of interfering with his racial identity.
“I honestly believe, once I started doing America’s Got Talent, they took my real n— card. They did! Because then like these type of people started showing up to my shows,” he said, gesturing at three elderly white men in the audience. “I can’t do the real stuff no more, because then they’ll put me on TMZ.”
Nick Cannon Was Outraged After NBC Accused Him Of Breaching His AGT Contract
Following the controversial remarks, NBC accused Cannon of breaching his America’s Got Talent contract, which presumably contained a non-disparagement clause, and threatened to fire him.
The Drumline actor was outraged by the network’s accusations, and immediately took to social media to voice his discontent.
“I write this from a deeply saddened and dolorous mindset,” he wrote on Facebook. “After days of deliberating over some extremely disappointing news that I was being threatened with termination by Executives because of a comedy special that was only intended to bring communities closer together, I was to be punished for a joke."
He continued, "This has weighed heavy on my spirit. It was brought to my attention by my "team" that NBC believed that I was in breach of contract because I had disparaged their brand. In my defense, I would ask how so? Or is this just another way to silence and control an outspoken voice who often battles the establishment.”
Although Cannon initially thought NBC would not take issue with the comments, he later claimed that the network’s retaliation was far from unexpected.
“Recently many of my mentors have cautioned me that soon "The System" would come down on me because I was speaking too many truths and being too loud about it,” Cannon’s lengthy Facebook post read. “I had no idea that it all would hit so close to home.”
Nick Cannon Ultimately Resigned From America’s Got Talent
Owing to the fallout, Cannon resigned from America’s Got Talent, effectively walking away from a $4.5 million deal with NBC.
“Maybe it was my mistake for signing the contract in the first place, in which I will take full responsibility and have already taken action to restructure my own team of advisors,” his Facebook post read.
“I now have to set out on a journey of freedom as an artist. As I was quoted in a recent interview, "You can't fire a Boss!" and that is the essence that I possess. So, I wish AGT and NBC the best in its upcoming season, but I cannot see myself returning.”
Despite Cannon's abrupt resignation, America’s Got Talent’s 12th season kicked off without a hitch, with former high fashion model Tyra Banks as host. Cannon went on to host yet another singing competition, The Masked Singer, whose eighth season premiered on Fox on September 21, 2022.
