Breaking down the beef, the history, and why I think Mo’Nique is aiming at the wrong target
Mo’Nique is back and she said she ain't letting up!
She claims she was blackballed after speaking out against Tyler Perry neglecting to advocate for higher pay, and for being asked to promote her 2009 Oscar winning film Precious, for free. When she refused, she says Tyler Perry put a stamp on her that labeled her DIFFICULT.
It’s no secret that she’s a very head strong woman with a lot of attitude.
That’s not to say she is difficult to work with, but long before the beef with Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels, and a handful of other members of the Hollyweird Society, people were already talking.
In 2005 controversy surrounded her show Fat Chance.
Some viewers enjoyed the art of plus sized women showing the world who’s boss. While other viewers complained about Mo’Nique’s influence on health, and questioned whether she was in it for the actual empowerment of her plus sized sisters, or if she was just getting to the bag.
The show was meant to teach the ladies who were desperate for a chance at love with the clock man, Flavor Flav, how to use proper etiquette and present themselves as respectable black women. And while it did entertain the audience it was meant to entertain, other people had problems with it.
Viewers and contestants questioned whether Mo’Nique was the best host for the show due to her outspoken, vulgar nature, and her heavy Baltimore, Maryland twang.
The expectation of the show was to showcase the growth and redemption of black women who gravitated a little too far to the left. Sadly, it sparked more bad criticism than good.
Mo’Nique, being a woman perceived as a certain demographic herself, could have been the perfect candidate to execute the job. Unfortunately, some of her class-mates alleged that she was too harsh and abusive.
It's been reported that contestants overheard the director say she was hard to work with.
Specifically, Larissa Hodge, known as Bootz from Flavor of Love, accused Mo'Nique of being the reason she was blacklisted in Hollyweird.
In 2009, two years after Charm School came to an end, Bootz accused Mo’Nique of using her power in the industry to keep her out of a celebrity spa event, and that cost her a boost in her career.
"If she here, I won't be here."
It’s speculated that Mo’Nique didn’t like the fact that Bootz had a platform of her own and was very vocal about Mo’Nique’s hostile approach on the show.
2009 was the turning point in the comedy legend’s career.
After being paid only $50,000 for a movie that made millions, Mo'Nique was outraged.
Since calling out Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, and Lee Daniels as a staff, executive label, and a motherf**** crew, Mo’Nique has also stepped into the ring of fire with comedians like D.L. Hughley, Kevin Hart, and Tiffany Haddish.
Mo’Nique feels like D.L. should have stood with her in her fight for higher pay. Especially since they’re from the same era of comedy. While her issues with Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish stem mostly from pay discrimination, and Tiffany continuing to work with her enemies.
She wants justice. She wants accountability. And she wants higher pay!
Let’s be real—reality TV pays. But only if you market yourself right.
It’s strict, there are protocols, and you have to follow the rules—no shot calling unless negotiated.
In hindsight, Mo’Nique’s transition from comedy and movies to reality TV, just may have been the start of her downfall.
The world got to see her reality. How she communicates. Her ego.
The world got to see her reality. How she communicates. Her ego.
After 2007, when Charm School came to an end, Mo’Nique only appeared in one movie, until 2009 when she rocked the Hollyweird screen with her Oscar winning performance in Precious.
Prior to 2007, Mo’Nique starred in a total of nine films, sometimes executing two films a year.
In 2019, Mo'Nique filed a lawsuit against Netflix for racial and gender discrimination, and in 2023 she went on to sue Paramount for unpaid royalties.
Yet in 2025, she holds true to her claim that Tyler Perry is the reason for the decline in her career, while the film he helped produce is the film that won her an Oscar.
Timelines suggest the dip in Mo’Nique’s career started with reality TV and continued to decline as she lashed out and expressed her frustration.
We stand with Mo’ for fairness and equality, but we also stand for accountability.
What we believe to be a bad marketing tactic from her team has caused such a rift between her and some heavy hitters in the industry.
What are your thoughts? Leave them in the comments, and thank you for reading.
1 Comments
I’m all for equality and fair pay however, your demeanor also plays a part in your pay. We can’t go to work refusing to do things and expect the same pay as our coworkers who do the things we refuse so why would she think she can?