The public image of Oprah Winfrey as a loving, compassionate media mogul has
‘come under scrutiny, particularly in light of her strained relationship with actress
and comedian Mo’Nique. While Oprah is generally seen as a figure of positivity and
‘empowerment, Mo’Nique has accused her of betrayal and emotional harm, which
has caused significant damage to both her personal life and professional career.
This complex story of friendship, trust, and betrayal reveals a deeper layer of
‘emotions between two prominent women in the entertainment industry, each with
her own history of personal struggle.
Mo’Nique and Oprah first bonded over their shared experiences of growing up in
‘abusive households. Mo’Nique. having long admired Oprah, saw her as a role
model—a reflection of the success she herself hoped to achieve. She recalls her
‘admiration for Oprah from an early age, describing herself as a “litle black. fat girl
from Baltimore” who dreamed of following in Oprah’s footsteps. This connection
‘was more than just professional; it was deeply personal, rooted in their similar
childhood traumas. Over the years, as MoNique’s career blossomed, their bond
‘appeared to strengthen. Mo’Nique’s performance in the movie Precious gamered
ritical acclaim, and she found herself surrounded by influential figures ike Oprah
‘and director Lee Daniels, whom she had worked with on the film.
However, tensions arose when Mo’Nique refused to promote Precious
internationally, despite studio pressure to do so. Her decision to prioritize her family
‘over her career obligations created a ift between her and key industry figures,
including Oprah. The actress explained that she had fulfilled all her contractual
obligations but simply wanted to spend time with her family, especially ater going
through two failed marriages and finally settling into a happy life with her husband
‘and children. Mo’Nique’s refusal to “play ball” in the high-stakes world of
Hollywood earned her the label of being “dificult” which, in tum, led to a backlash
from powerful figures like Oprah, Tyler Perry, and Lionsgate. Mo’Nique believed she
was being punished for standing up for herself with her livelihood being
threatened as a result
What truly shattered Mo’Nique’s trust in Oprah, however, was a deeply personal
incident involving her family. Oprah invited Mo’Nique’s brother, whom she had
publicly described as a “monster” for sexually abusing her as a child, onto her talk
show. According to Mo’Nique, Oprah called her beforehand, asking if she was
comfortable with her brother appearing on the show. Oprah even offered to cancel
the episode if Mo’Nique objected. Although Mo’Nique did not explicitly forbid her
brother’s appearance, she trusted that Oprah would respect the sensitive nature of
their conversation.
However, Mo’Nique was blindsided when she saw commercials promoting the
episode, which not only featured her brother but also her mother and other family
members. This betrayal was particularly painful because, in earlier conversations,
Oprah and MoiNique had confided in each other about their complicated
relationships with their parents. Mo’Nique felt that Oprah, having shared similar
experiences of trauma and abuse, should have understood how devastating it
would be to see her mother—a figure of emotional pain—on national television
without her consent.
Despite MoNique’s attempts to confront Oprah, the media mogul’s response was.
far from what she had hoped for. At a party, Mo’Nique finally had the chance to ask
Oprah why she had allowed her family on the show without warning. Oprah’s reply,
“If you think | did something wrong, | want to apologize, did not sit well with
Mo’Nique, who fet that Oprah had full intentions of having her family on the show
without telling her. Oprah, however, has largely remained silent on the matter,
‘except for stating in interviews that meating negativity with negativity only leads to
more negative energy.
The fallout from this incident marked the beginning of a long and painful battle for
Mo’Nique. She was fed up with powerful figures in the entertainment industry using
their influence to silence or marginalize her. This frustration reached a boiling point
when she was offered a deal by Netflix for a comedy special, but the offer was a
fraction of what her peers, such as Amy Schumer, were being paid. While Schumer
reportedly received an offer in the millions, Mo’Nique was offered only $500,000,
which she found insulting, especially considering her long and successful career,
which included an Academy Award win for her role in Precious.
Unwilling to accept what she saw as blatant discrimination, Mo’Nique decided to
take legal action against Netflix. She sued the streaming giant for discrimination,
standing fim in her belief that her race and gender played a role in the low offer
Eventually, the two parties settled, and Mo’Nique was able to secure both a comedy
special and a film project with Lee Daniels, who apologized for any role he played in
her career struggles.
Throughout her journey, Mo’Nique has remained unapologetic and unwavering in
her fight for far treatment. She has consistently spoken out against what she views
as injustice, not just for herself but for future generations of women in the.
entertainment industry. Her battle, she insists, is about more than just money—it’s
about respect, dignity, and changing the system for those who come after her.
Mo’Nique’s story is one of perseverance, courage, and standing up to power, even
when it comes at a personal and professional cost. Despite the betrayal and
challenges she has faced, she continues to fight for what she believes is ight;
determined to ensure that others are treated fairly in an industry notorious for its
inequities.
