Nick Cannon has announced he's leaving America's Got Talent due to being "publicly reprimanded and ridiculed" by his NBC bosses over a joke made in a recent TV comedy special.

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After hosting America's Got Talent for eight seasons, Cannon said although it "hurts tremendously" to walk away from a show he loves, he must go through with it for the sake of his self respect.

"I wish AGT and NBC the best in its upcoming season but I can not see myself returning... 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... NBC believed that I was in breach of contract because I had disparaged their brand," Cannon wrote in a lengthy statement on Facebook, which he also shared in part on Instagram.

He continued, "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. There is no amount of money worth my dignity or my integrity."

Cannon's joke that allegedly "disparaged" the AGT and NBC brand has not been confirmed; however, Cannon joked during the Showtime comedy special "Stand Up, Don't Shoot," which aired Friday, that fans would see a different side to him than his onstage persona as host of America's Got Talent.

"This is going to be a little bit different tonight," Cannon said in the comedy special, according to CNN. "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."

Cannon then jokingly replaced 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 stated doing America's Got Talent, they took my real n----r card," Cannon said.

NBC got wind of the comment when Cannon promoted the special on The Howard Stern Show, TMZ reported. The network reportedly viewed his skit as a violation of his contract since he's not allowed to talk about NBC without approval, and the website claimed he was "nearly fired" for it.

"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. Not to get too detailed but this isn't the first time executives have attempted to 'put me in my place' for so called unruly actions. I will not stand for it. My moral principles will easily walk away from the millions of dollars they hang over my head," Cannon wrote in his statement on Facebook.

Cannon added that it was "completely wrong" for his bosses to punish him and so he had "to do something about it."

"As of lately I have even questioned if I want to even be apart of an industry who ultimately treats artists in this manner," he wrote.

Read Cannon's full statement about quitting America's Got Talent before Season 11 below:

I write this from a deeply saddened and dolorous mindset. 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. 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. 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 to loud about it. I had no idea that it all would hit so close to home.

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. There is no amount of money worth my dignity or my integrity. I have loved hosting AMERICAS GOT TALENT for the last 8 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. Not to get too detailed but this isn't the first time executives have attempted to 'put me in my place' for so called unruly actions. I will not stand for it. My moral principles will easily walk away from the millions of dollars they hang over my head.

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 felt like I was apart of the fabric of our great nation every summer, representing every culture, age, gender, and demographic. 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 have fought many battles in my career and have never been afraid to go up against the system. I have mulled over my process for days and felt it was best to once again speak my mind about an unjust infrastructure that treat talent like they own them. 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. 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 can not see myself returning. As of lately I have even questioned if I want to even be apart of an industry who ultimately treats artists in this manner. Most of us don't realize that there are 6 major corporations that control 90 percent of media in America and the amount of minority executives is dismal. With this being the case, true equality in our industry is impossible. There will always be a 'do as I say' mentality that mirrors society's perception of women and minorities, and only a few will stand up against it. I proudly stand as one of those few, and will gladly take on whatever repercussions that come with it. I love art and entertainment too much to watch it be ruined by controlling corporations and big business. I believe It's our duty as artists to make a difference and create change even if it's one act at a time. Dr. King said it best, 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.'  


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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