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 persona lfe and professional career.
This complex story of friendship, rust and betrayal reveals a deeper layer of
emotions between two prominent women in the entertainment industry, each with
er 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 carly age, describing herself as a litle black, fat gil
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 Mo’Nique’s career blossomed, their bond
‘appeared to strengthen. Mo’Nique’s performance in the movie Precious gamered
critical acclaim, and she found herself surrounded by influential figures like Oprah
and director Lee Daniels, whom she had worked with on the film.
However, tensions arose when Mo’Nique refused to promote Precious
intemationally, despite studio pressure to do so. Her decision to prioritize her family
over her career obligations created a rift 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 after going
through two failed marriages and finally setting into a happy life with her husband
‘and children. Mo’Nique’s refusal to “play bal” in the high-stakes world of
Hollywood eared her the label of being “dificult” which, in tum, led to a backlash
from powerful figures lie 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 MoNique’s trust in Oprah, however, was a deeply personal
incident involving her family. Oprah invited MoNique’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
‘episade, 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 Mo’Nique 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 Netfix. She sued the streaming giant or discrimination.
standing firm in hor belief that her race and gender played a rol in the low offor
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 fai 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.
