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UPDATE: Mo’Nique’s publicist just issued the following statement:

Contrary to the rumors, I did not quit. Mo’Nique is one of the most talented actors in hollywood. It was an honor to work with her and to get to know her as a human being. She’s at a point in her life where her achievements should be heralded.

Mo’Nique Is First Black Female Late-Night Host

Monique has been subject of serious side eyes ever since she refused to do any promo for the film Precious based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire unless she was paid. According to the NY Daily News, as expected Monique was a no-show for the Friday night premiere in NY, but everybody else was there. By all accounts this is Monique’s break-out role and could even earn her an Oscar, but according to her big mouth pal, Monique says, “When people say, ‘You care more about money than winning an Oscar,’ well, what does an Oscar mean? An Oscar means more work when you win it, and that means more money! I couldn’t eat that Oscar. Everybody needs money, baby. That’s how we survive, right?”

Unfortunately for her, those in the know say the film’s producers, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry have instructed the studio stop campaigning for Monique and instead put their Oscar efforts behind Mariah Carey.

Monique may want to lose the attitude…After promising she’d be there, BET talk show host and comedienne Mo’Nique will not be attending Saturday’s New York Film Festival premiere of “Precious.” And her publicist of two weeks has just quit as well. According to Roger Friedman of The Hollywood Reporter, Mo’Nique has “a reputation for demanding money for showing up” to promote the film.

Allegedly even her publicist Tresa Sanders — whose experience includes Mary J. Blige and other hip hop divas — couldn’t take the actress’ demands and quit right after announcing her client wouldn’t be making it to the film festival.

GIRLFIGHT: Mo’Nique vs Keri Hilson

When ‘Precious’ first debuted, insiders buzzed about her performance — stating she’d likely get an Oscar nomination for her role as Mary in the film.

But Mo’Nique missed the Cannes and Toronto film festivals and has done virtually no press for ‘Precious’ since she appeared at the Sundance Film Festival last January.

Take a look at Mo’Nique below:

Mo’Nique, a Scorpio on a mission

For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.