It appears Mo’Nique is stirring up some serious controversy by calling out Oprah and Taraji P. Henson. She didn’t hold back, especially towards Taraji, accusing her of trying to defend Oprah despite previously criticizing her for underpaying and mistreating actresses on the set of Color Purple. Mo’Nique suggested that Taraji’s attempts to support Oprah may have damaged her own reputation. Given Mo’Nique’s longstanding issues with Oprah, she didn’t mince words, highlighting Oprah’s alleged mistreatment of black women over the years. Mo’Nique’s revelations, shared in an interview with Shannon Sharp, are causing quite a stir, reminiscent of the chaos that ensued after Sharp’s previous interview with Cat Williams, where Hollywood secrets were laid bare. Just when we thought things couldn’t get any messier, Mo’Nique added fuel to the fire.
Sure, there are few individuals in Hollywood who harbor as much disdain for the industry as Cat and Mo’Nique. Their grievances stem from a particularly sour episode involving Mo’Nique’s fallout with Oprah, which sheds light on their sentiments toward the industry at large.
Back in 2009, Mo’Nique and Oprah’s relationship soured after the production of the film “Precious,” which was directed by Oprah and Tyler Perry and starred Mo’Nique. Following Mo’Nique’s completion of her contractual obligations, Oprah and Tyler decided to embark on a promotional tour. Despite initial reluctance to leave her family, Mo’Nique eventually agreed to participate. However, tensions arose when Oprah informed her that she wouldn’t be compensated for the tour and would have to cover all travel expenses herself. This was particularly contentious considering Mo’Nique’s already meager payment for her role—reportedly as low as $50,000 before deductions. Understandably, Mo’Nique refused to foot the bill for the tour, considering it a financial loss. However, Oprah reportedly took a hard stance, leading to allegations that she blacklisted Mo’Nique from the industry. Despite Mo’Nique’s acclaimed performance in “Precious,” which earned her an Oscar and other prestigious awards, she found herself shunned by industry insiders thereafter.
To be equitable to Mo’Nique, she bravely spoke out in the past, confronting Oprah not only for sidelining her but also for undervaluing her role. Regrettably, her outcry went largely unnoticed, lacking industry-wide support. Fast forward 13 years to 2023, and Taraji P. Henson echoed similar grievances, revealing that Oprah had subjected her to comparable treatment, almost dissuading her from accepting a role in “The Color Purple” due to inadequate compensation. “I’ve seen no increase in my earnings since ‘Proud Mary,’ and I nearly had to decline ‘Color Purple,'” she disclosed. Unlike Mo’Nique, Taraji garnered substantial backing, leading to Oprah facing severe criticism.
During her interview with Shannon Sharp, Mo’Nique revisited the Taraji situation, recalling a conversation they had years ago about the underpayment of black women in Hollywood. She recounted their exchange in her trailer during her time on the Mo’Nique show, where Taraji suggested waiting for their turn, to which Mo’Nique challenged the notion, insisting they should demand fair treatment now rather than wait indefinitely. Mo’Nique expressed frustration that while she had been advocating for change for years, her efforts often went unnoticed. She questioned why her earlier statements didn’t receive the same attention as Taraji’s recent remarks, despite conveying similar sentiments over a decade ago. Mo’Nique speculated that perhaps her message lacked traction due to her identity as a black woman, and the audacity of speaking out against injustice. She noted the dismissive attitudes she encountered, being labeled as ungrateful or too outspoken, particularly in contrast to societal expectations.
You’re mentioning Oprah, Tyler, Lee, and Lion’s Gate directly. That’s not how we usually refer to them. We typically use pronouns or general terms like “they,” “the people,” “the studio,” or “the producers.” It’s disrespectful to call out our heroes by name like that. How could you be so specific? These individuals are our heroes, and you’re addressing them so openly.
Furthermore, she criticized Taraji for continuing to defend Oprah despite Oprah mistreating her during The Color Purple. There seems to be a lot of tension between Oprah and Taraji, as evident from a video where fans noticed awkwardness between them at a movie publicity event.
Mo’Nique accused Oprah of trying to teach Taraji a lesson and sending a warning to other actresses not to challenge her. According to Mo’Nique, they planned to discredit her publicly, which had severe financial consequences for her family. It’s troubling to witness such treatment towards our sister, especially when Oprah’s behavior towards Taraji during The Color Purple promotion was evident to all.
In my humble view, observing her approach, one could sense the tension, an unfolding of events. Then, witnessing Taraji’s expression of support through a love letter, it’s akin to asserting, “We must stand firm on what’s right and just. You were wronged, and it’s unjust.” Yet, then to turn around and endorse Oprah’s handling of the situation? That’s where I take issue. It perpetuates the cycle, granting Lady O continued carte blanche, while we, possibly out of fear, remain silent witnesses, despite the clear example with Mo’Nique. And by “love letter,” it refers to Taraji’s public accolade post-event, applauding Oprah’s influence. She articulated, “Unity among black women and women of color is vital. Equally crucial is the presence of women of color in pivotal roles across all sectors. Oprah has been a steadfast beacon of support for The Color Purple cast, offering guidance and encouragement. She personally extended her support to me, and one interaction with this empowered woman made me feel heard and valued.”
Thank you, Miss Oprah, for your contributions. Even Stevie Wonder could see that Taraji’s post was motivated by fear, not love as she claimed. Mo’Nique continued her critique, pointing out how Oprah’s action of handpicking Taraji for a role and then making her audition was a power move, suggesting Taraji fell into the trap. Typically, actors don’t audition for roles they’ve been handpicked for; it’s a sign of confidence in their abilities. Oprah’s decision to have Taraji audition despite being chosen sent a message of control. Mo’Nique highlighted the significance of this, questioning why Taraji would audition if she was already handpicked, suggesting it gave the producers the upper hand to mistreat her. The mistreatment led to Taraji having to address it formally, raising questions about the integrity of the handpicking process.
“That’s why they’re able to get away with it,” she exclaimed. She argued that Taraji did a disservice to the other actresses on the show by indirectly subjecting them to mistreatment. “It’s not about how many times you say yes, ma’am; it’s about how many times you say no. The moment our colleagues auditioned, they were set up without trailers, without food, without drivers because now, in their minds, they’re perceived as desperate, right? So when Oprah did the one-on-one with Taraji and praised her credits, ‘The great Taraji P. Henson,’ then why allow the audition to happen? Why not intervene? Why not say, ‘She doesn’t have to audition. I handpicked them’?” So either our sister isn’t as powerful as we believe, or that’s not the concern she portrays it to be. I know it might be difficult to hear, but Mo’Nique made solid arguments because Taraji essentially sacrificed herself for Oprah’s benefit, only to be thrown under the bus by Oprah to save herself, distancing from the drama and claiming no involvement in the actors’ paychecks. “I’d like to address this situation,” Oprah responded. “I heard I was trending because people said I wasn’t supporting Taraji. Taraji herself can attest that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film, advocating not only for behind-the-scenes production but also for everyone’s needs. When I heard people needed something, I couldn’t control the budget; that’s Warner Brothers. That’s how the studio system operates, and as producers, everyone gets their negotiated salary.” Mo’Nique was also accurate about how Taraji’s actions exposed the other actresses to mistreatment because a lot happened during the filming of that movie.
“During filming, they weren’t even provided transportation from their hotels to the set, let alone given lunch. Individual dressing rooms were out of the question, as they were all crowded into one space. What’s disheartening is that Mo’Nique is speaking out about this after the narrative shifted from the underpayment of black actresses to accusations against Taraji for being unprofessional and expressing dissatisfaction with the pay while promoting the movie. The blame was unfairly pinned on Taraji.
Fans are rallying behind Mo’Nique, citing her directness in addressing mistreatment, her naming of names without hesitation, and her refusal to back down. They note the lack of support for her and how, unfortunately, assertiveness from black women often gets misconstrued as anger. Mo’Nique’s criticism of Oprah is hitting hard, raising questions about Oprah’s motives and trustworthiness. Many now doubt the authenticity of their public personas, seeing Oprah as performative.
Regarding Taraji, some argue that her silence during Mo’Nique’s public ordeal contrasts with her expectation for support now that the roles have reversed. The hypocrisy of selectively advocating for black women’s protection isn’t lost on observers.
There’s a lot to dissect here. What are your thoughts on the situation? Share your opinions in the comments below, and don’t forget to watch the next revealing video.”