By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Mo’Nique made headlines when she claimed in an interview that “Empire” creator Lee Daniels told her she had been blacklisted from Hollywood and some suspected the real reason is her husband has a reputation of being hard to work with, and it poses a huge problem for her career since he’s her manager.
Now Lee Daniels is telling his side of the story and he says Mo’Nique’s refusal to play the Hollywood game and insane demands hurt her tremendously.
He tells CNN’s Don Lemon:
“During the [Oscar] campaign, she was making unreasonable demands, and I remember thinking ‘this is when reverse racism happens.
“You have to thank the producers of the film, you have to thank the studio, and she didn’t understand that. People aren’t going to respond well. I love her, I’ve spoken to her. She’s brilliant, and I love working with brilliant people.
“I think that there were demands that were made on the ‘Precious’ campaign that everyone knows hurt her. I told her that. You’ve gotta play ball. This is not just show — it is show business.”
Don Lemon then told Lee that some would view him as a sellout for his comments and Lee responds:
“I guess I’m a sell out then! Call it what it is. I am not going to not work, I am not going to not tell my truth… I’ll see you in the theaters!”
Check out the video below:
Lawd I need Lee to shut up so I can enjoy Empire in peace.
I think Mo only made things worse by bringing this up.
You’re right. Instead of even telling us she was blacklisted, she should have fired her husband and worked on her humility. Then she could have gotten a better manager and started working on those broken relationships. Prove herself to people, show them she’s changed and get work again like all the other snotty actors who got backlisted for their attitude. When the opportunities dried up, they had to change and revamp their images to get work again. She could so the same but she was silly and did an interview and still hasn’t owned up to what she did. Now people know she hasn’t changed.
*standing ovation*
I mean what he is saying is exactly how you have to play the game to get ahead in Hollywood especially if you’re black. But I don’t like Lee Daniels he has said some shady a-s stuff and isn’t innocent.
His comments aren’t a good look. By now I think most of us can see Mo’Nique and her husband are responsible for her blacklisting. So there’s no need to keep talking about it.
Her Oscar speech was the last nail in her coffin. I don’t know why people just won’t say that. Even Sam Jackson had a look on his face that said it all. He knew she was done.
Look I still don’t feel any sympathy for Mo’Nique. That looney b-tch let her milk dud head having husband cost her some money, and then obliged when he told her he needs to be able to f-ck other women while they are married. And to top it off her Oscar speech was stank as hell. She did herself in because she’s dumb as sh-t. Now let’s move on the black actresses who have some f-cking sense.
Rude but real. Cosign.
But everyone has to play the game to be honest. That’s all we do in corporate america, and we do it to pay bills and keep roofs over our heads. Those of us who are too prideful end up unemployed or start their own business, but you still have to play the game when you own a business too. That Dave Chapelle sketch comes to mind because usually when people go out their way to keep it real, they end up losing badly in the end.
A mess. Lee talks too much.
He should have just made it short and sweet and said her attitude did her in. All this talk of reverse racism and race cards makes him look ignorant.
I’m glad he said it, because some folks like me were putting it all on the husband and saying “Poor Monique…” But it’s interesting to hear her role in it as well. She’s no innocent, and I’m glad Lee put it out there!
Lee told her in privacy she is the one who made this public by doing interview in The Hollywood Reporter.
I still say her husband and her ego were the true problem.
Well at least Lee can admit he’s a sellout. Most will deny until they end up in the grave. You have to play the game to have longevity in Hollywood.
I agree to some extent with the comments Sheryl Lee Ralph made regarding the situation. Lee telling her she was blackballed was his way of saying he will not work with her again, which is why Oprah got all the roles she was supposed to get i.e. The Butler. Not to mention Lee probably saw it more lucrative to cozy up to Oprah over Monique any day. I’m not sure what was so offensive about her Oscar acceptance speech. I saw no fault, but Lee was upset at her behavior during the time of Precious and more than likely put the word out there. Who’s employing most black actresses nowadays but Lee, Tyler, Shonda and very few others. Sometimes our attitudes can be our downfalls and in Monique’s case it was hers. Like Sheryl said the same butt you kick today may very well be the same butt you have to kiss tomorrow. Hope Mo learns from this.
I bet Don Lemon got all excited when Lee didn’t mind being referred to as a sellout. He’s probably feeling like “yes!!!! I’m not alone!” …loser. As for the interview tho, I’d like Lee to stop talking about this. We get it. Why not be more consumed with your hit show than this mess? smh