Mo’Nique is urging Whoopi Goldberg to reconsider an argument they had on The View in 2018. According to Just Jared, the comedian recently penned an open letter to “Sister Whoopi,” which she shared on Instagram on Monday, accusing the talk show host of prioritizing “standing with the ‘right people’” over “standing up for what’s right.” Here’s a look back at the original incident — and what Mo’Nique said in her letter now.
Goldberg said Mo’Nique had an obligation to promote ‘Precious’
During a February 2018 appearance on The View, Mo’Nique spoke about her boycott of Netflix after saying she felt snubbed by the streamer’s $500,000 offer for a comedy special while some of her peers were being paid millions for theirs. The View co-host Joy Behar then asked whether the offer may have been influenced by Hollywood labeling the comedian “difficult” at the time — a reputation that stemmed from her refusal to promote her 2009 film Precious overseas.
“On that film I received $50,000 and that was not my argument or my fight because that’s what I signed up for,” Mo’Nique responded. “They wanted me to come work for free to go over to Cannes and promote this film internationally. I said to them, ‘Guys my deal is with Lee Daniels, and I’ve done my job,’ and they all agreed.”
The comedian went on to recount a specific pay arrangement she made with Daniels that required her to promote the film only in the U.S. To Mo’Nique, that agreement meant that her supporting the movie overseas would have been her working without pay. The comedian said she felt pressured to promote the Oscar-winning film internationally and alleged that when she declined, Lee Daniels and Precious producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry punished her — ultimately harming her career.
Goldberg then stopped her and offered her perspective on the situation.
“When you make a movie, regardless of who you sign the deal with, your job is to go and promote said movie,” she said on the show. “When they wanted you to come, and we’ve had this conversation, I said, ‘If you had called me, I could have schooled you on what was expected.’”
According to Entertainment Weekly, Mo’Nique underscored how much she “suffered,” professionally and personally, because of the Precious promotional cycle.
Mo’Nique suggested Goldberg’s 2018 response may have been tied to her professional relationships with Perry and Oprah
Mo’Nique began the letter, which she addressed to “Sister Whoopi,” by explaining she was reminded of her 2018 disagreement with Goldberg on The View after seeing a clip of the moment that had resurfaced online.
“The tone of the comments today seems different from the energy eight years ago, with many people now agreeing with my sentiments about not working for people or entities I don’t owe anything to,” the comedian wrote. “I wonder, have your feelings changed since that time?”
Mo’Nique went on to call out Goldberg and referenced a 1993 legal case against the talk show host in which she was sued over being contractually obligated to star in the 1995 film Theodore Rex.
“I was also intrigued to learn that in 1993 there was an attempt to sue you regarding Theodore Rex, because it was alleged that you had made a verbal commitment to the film,” she wrote. “Your defense was that you never actually committed. You can imagine how confused I was when I discovered this, especially since when I explained that my only contractual obligation was to Lee Daniels, it didn’t sway your opinion enough to stop you from saying you could have ‘schooled’ me on doing what they expected from me.”
The comedian also addressed how Whoopi Goldberg’s criticism of her stance felt like a betrayal, and took aim at Tyler Perry for refusing to “take responsibility” for his role in the situation.
“The worst part is that another woman chastised me on a platform meant to empower women,” she wrote.
The 58-year-old speculated Goldberg may have been swayed by former The View producer Candi Carter, who worked at the show from 2015 to 2017. Carter previously worked on The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1996 to 2011.
“Now I don’t know if your opinion of my actions was influenced by your former Executive Producer, Candi Carter’s relationship with Oprah, or by your professional ties with Tyler Perry,” Mo’Nique wrote. “But what is interesting is hearing you now speak about the importance of standing up for what’s right. My question is: is your stance truly about standing up against wrongs, or is it about standing with the ‘right people’?”
The comedian also questioned whether Whoopi Goldberg’s professional ties to Tyler Perry played a role in her response in 2018. Whoopi Goldberg and Tyler Perry spent years working together on a new installment of the Sister Act franchise.
Mo’Nique concluded her letter by asking Goldberg, “are you willing to do what’s right for the little girls coming behind us, or is your position still ‘F’ the little girl coming behind us?”
“I look forward to finding out. Because I was the little girl coming behind you,” she added.