Nick Cannon’s decision to quit ‘America’s Got Talent’ was "calculated".
The 36-year-old star decided to stand down as host of the talent show after finding out executives had "threatened him with termination" for a joke he made on a comedy special, which they claimed could damage their brand but insists his decision was never "emotional".
He said: "When people start to put restraints on my creativity, as an artist, I just have to stand on my square and stand for something. I’ve never operated for monetary gain. Money isn’t one of the things that moves me or inspires me.
"I love [money]. I embrace it the way everyone else does on this planet, but I don’t make decisions based off of it. [The decision wasn’t emotional;] everything I do is calculated."
And Nick is positive about the future and wishes everyone the best.
He added to Entertainment Tonight: "I feel like change is growth. I wish everyone the best. I wish all the new people involved the best.
"I wish the brand to continue to flourish. I’ve got love for the network, I’ve got love for the production, and I feel like I’m growing as an artist, and as a human being, to bigger and better things."
Nick announced the decision in a lengthy message on Facebook last month.
He wrote: "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 defence, I would ask how so? …
"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."
Nick Cannon’s ‘calculated’ decision
