In a Facebook post yesterday, Nick Cannon said he’s quitting “America’s Got Talent”. . . after NBC threatened to fire him over some racial jokes. Nick’s latest standup special, “Stand Up, Don’t Shoot”, premiered on Showtime Friday night. And it included some bits about how NBC and “AGT” forced him to tone down his personality. But he also talked about what a great job it was, and said he hoped he could do it forever. And then, sometime over the weekend, he heard that NBC was thinking about firing him for breach of contract over what he said.

He said, quote, “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.” He also said this isn’t the first time they’ve tried to put him in his place, but he didn’t elaborate.  (You can read the whole thing here.) The upcoming season would have been Nick’s EIGHTH as host.  Heck, it still might be.  He re-upped his contract last year, so he may not be able to leave just because he wants to.There’s no official word from NBC that they actually thought about firing him, and Nick didn’t give any specifics on where that info came from.