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Mo’Nique Reveals She Was ‘Blackballed’ From The Industry

After Mo’Nique took home an Academy Award for her role in “Precious,” we thought the roles would just start rolling in. However, unlike mainstream Hollywood actresses, the roles immensely slowed.

In a new interview with HollywoodReporter, Mo’Nique revealed she was “blackballed” from the industry.

“What I understood was that when I won that Oscar, things would change in all the ways you’re saying: It should come with more respect, more choices and more money. It should, and it normally does,” she said. “Hattie said, ‘After I won that award, it was as if I had done something wrong.’ It was the same with me. I thought, once you won the award, that’s the top prize — and so you’re supposed to be treated as if you got the top prize.”

She says Lee Daniels, who directed “Precious” broke the news to her.

“I got a phone call from Lee Daniels maybe six or seven months ago. And he said to me,’Mo’Nique, you’ve been blackballed.’ And I said, ‘I’ve been blackballed? Why have I been blackballed?’ And he said, ‘Because you didn’t play the game.’ And I said, ‘Well, what game is that?’ And he gave me no response. The next thing he said to me was, ‘Your husband is outbidding you.’ But he never asked me what [salary] we were asking for. You know, my husband and I had to change things so we wouldn’t have to depend on [others]. So we do it independently. We’re very proud of taking the independent route, and we have a movie coming out on April 24 called Blackbird.”

According to Mo, industry people have complained about her, saying she can be “difficult” and “tacky.”

Her response?

“Whoever those people are who say, “Mo’Nique is difficult,” those people are either heartless, ruthless or treat people like they’re worthless. And that’s unacceptable. They’re set to say, “Mo’Nique is tactless, she’s tacky.” That’s why I have my beautiful husband, because he’s so full of tact, ’cause I’m a girl from Baltimore. I come from a blue-collar town — and being from that place, you learn not to let anybody take advantage of you. You don’t let people mistreat you. You stand up for what’s right.”

Bloop.

 

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