In an industry often criticized for its superficiality, Gabrielle Union stands as a beacon of fearless advocacy. From raising voice against the discrimination done to female black athletes in the WNBA to supporting her close ones through sensitive issues or achievements, the 51-year-old has made her name for being the most supportive woman in the industry. And now the star is again making waves for her latest act of support for a fellow artist.

The “Bring It On” star’s recent Instagram story celebrating Keke Palmer’s upcoming film “One of Them Days” with SZA, accompanied by an enthusiastic “can’t wait,” is just the latest example of her consistent support for fellow artists and her commitment to amplifying important voices in the entertainment industry.

Union and Palmer’s connection runs deeper than mere Hollywood pleasantries. In 2020, the duo made waves with their powerful collaboration through ‘GLAMOUR’, addressing Black hair discrimination, a video that garnered millions of views and sparked crucial conversations about workplace prejudice. Union said she’s been told, “When I first started I was told by many to never let my hair be natural for competition,” whereas Palmer had revealed that, “HR told me my hair looked more professional pulled back and in the bun than it did out curly.” The discussion highlighted their personal experiences with hair discrimination and the broader implications of the CROWN Act, legislation designed to prohibit race-based hair discrimination in schools and workplaces.

However, Union’s advocacy doesn’t end with hair discrimination. One of Hollywood’s most vocal voices, she’s always said that the time for stumbling when it comes to inequities in the entertainment industry is over. The 2019 high-profile departure from ‘America’s Got Talent‘ gave rise to a formal complaint against NBC for racism and a toxic work environment. It prompted an industry-wide conversation about workplace culture in television and followed by NBC making revisions to its reporting procedures for discrimination complaints.

In the realm of representation, Union’s own production company, “I’ll Have Another”, has become a powerhouse in the business of diverse storytelling, developing projects with marginalized soul and experiences at their heart. She produced “The Inspection,” a powerful gay Marine recruit drama, plus “Truth Be Told,” which takes on the themes of justice and media responsibility.

Union’s support of Palmer’s latest project with SZA demonstrates her commitment to uplifting fellow Black artists by pushing creative boundaries. “One of Them Days,” a film collaboration between Palmer and SZA, promises to be an innovative exploration of two Black women’s experiences in the world of unemployment. However, despite raising voices against discrimination for such a long time, the actress was once a victim of backlash.

When Gabrielle Union sparked controversy

Union who has always been known for her outspoken nature and advocacy for social justice, once found herself embroiled in controversy after revealing her and husband Dwyane Wade’s unique approach to managing their finances: a strict 50/50 split of all expenses.

During an episode of the “Idea Generation” podcast shared by Black Millionaires on X, Union shared that she and Wade have always been with the idea of splitting the finances equally. “It’s weird to say I’m head of household because in this household, we split everything 50/50. But in the other households that each of us have to support. There’s always this like gorilla on your back, that’s like, ‘You better work, b-, you better work. Oh, you’re going to sleep in?’ You know, somebody might not eat,” said Union during the podcast.

The fans were however not buying what Union had said and even questioned the ethics followed by the couple. However few days later Wade during his appearance on Club Shay Shay podcast, cleared the air by stating that the only three things that they shared were their house, and expenses for their 4-year-old daughter Kaavia. This incident shed light on the fact that even after doing so much for the community, the stars can also be a target of controversy.