Nick Cannon is certainly coming into his wokeness, sporting a turban and all.

But the businessman has come to a major fork in his road, in which he has to choose between staying true to what he believes in, or continuing his predominantly White audience gigs, like hosting America’s Got Talent.

TMZ reports that NBC execs considered firing Nick over a racial joke he told in a recent comedy special. The network claims he disparaged them and breached his contract by joking they were taking his “black card.” The host was not here for the news and spoke out to Howard Stern about it, saying that he loved hosting AGT 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. I can not see myself returning.”

Cannon also took to IG to speak out about his decision not to return to the hit show, writing: “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?”

He added, “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.”

Although NBC agreed to let the joke slide, Nick Cannon has clearly made up his mind. Thoughts?

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