Mo'Nique is still on the outs with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry years after the infamous Precious debacle and their alleged role in her being blackballed in Hollywood. The Academy Award winner opened up about where the three currently stand in her appearance on Turnt Out With TS Madison and cleared the air on some misconceptions that came from their interaction.
According to the comedian, the falling out took place after she finished working on Precious. Per her agreement with director Lee Daniels, she was to receive $50,000 and 5% of the film, according to Atlanta Black Star. After the film's major debut at Sundance, Winfrey and Perry signed on as executive producers of the flick, and shortly after, expected Mo'Nique to do more press work to promote the movie during award season.
She said because she was busy at home managing her two children and enjoying the comfort of her husband, she turned them down.
“My priorities wasn’t that. I’ve already done my part,” the actress, noting that the producers were asking her to do more than what she was “contractually obligated to do,” said.
After she declined the opportunity, she said she and her husband were told that Perry told another director that she was "difficult" to work with based on their previous experience together.
“Well, Tyler Perry, you’ve never worked with me. We never worked together,” she continued. “When we did Precious, [he] came on after we said ‘Cut; that’s a wrap and it’s over.’“
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After a recording surfaced of Perry calling Mo'Nique to apologize for his treatment of her, the filmmaker asked to meet with the actress — but on two conditions.
“Then he calls back and says I will meet with Mo’Nique but not with her husband and then she had to apologize to me and Oprah Winfrey for saying we had anything to do with ruining her career. Now that was recent," she said.
She continued, explaining the reason why she's not backing down.
“Oftentimes when it comes to a Black woman speaking up and speaking out, it goes unheard until she dies," she said. "Then, once she dies, then we go back and say, ‘Well she was right, and let’s make a movie about it.’“
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The comedian also discussed her ongoing lawsuit with Netflix, informing TS Madison, "We're actually still in the midst." Mo'Nique cited pay discrimination after Netflix offered her $500,000 for her comedy special, Vibe reports. (Meanwhile, Amy Shumer was offered $13 million for her comedy special.)
"It's so in our face that we often times get so fearful that we just say, 'Okay, I'll just let this one ride,' because you noticed when I did come out and say something, our sister Wanda Sykes said, 'You know what Mo'Nique, I stand with you because they offered me less than half of what they offered you," she explained.
"So, when we get that, and then she got a special on Netflix because they moved the comma — beautiful. What happens is we're all in a position to always be so afraid, that we just let it ride and we go somewhere else," Mo'Nique continued.
