Lee Daniel’s Precious won big during awards season years ago, with a ton of praise for supporting actress Mo’Nique. But tensions between her and producer Oprah grew when her estranged family appeared on an episode of her talk show. More than a decade later, Mo’Nique says she still hasn’t forgiven Oprah Winfrey for her family’s appearance on the talk show, while sharing the awkward backstage apology that followed.
Mo’Nique seems like the type of talent who wants to make her own rules in Hollywood. After her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Precious, she said she didn’t become a bigger star, with director Lee Daniels telling her she was “blackballed” for having a reputation for being hard to work with. According The Hollywood Reporterthese accusations could come from when Mo’Nique approached Precious‘ co-producer Oprah Winfrey on why she refused to travel to France to do a promotional tour for the Oscar-nominated film.
As I explained to Oprah Winfrey, I said, “Oprah, I’m doing a talk show.” I’m doing a comedy tour. I have a husband and I have babies. I have some free time and I’m going to take advantage of it. So I’m not going anywhere because I don’t have to go anywhere. I did my part. So we mutually agreed not to agree. That was it. The next thing I know is that I’m considered ‘difficult’ and ‘difficult to work with’.
Oprah Winfrey and Mo’Nique are two Oscar-winning actress also famous for other talents; Winfrey known for her award-winning talk show and Mo’Nique for being a stand-up comedian and sitcom actress. But that didn’t mean they had found common ground regarding their film’s press tour. The Best Supporting Actress winner didn’t feel compelled to go overseas to Precious, with reports indicating that Lionsgate refused to pay the actress for these promotions. She was also unwilling to sacrifice the time she wanted with her family for Hollywood. Just when it looked like Mo’Nique and Winfrey were “mutually” going their separate ways, the drama between the two escalated even further when the Daytime Emmy Award winner brought up Mo’Nique’s brother, Gerald Imes. The Oprah Winfrey Show. During this appearance, he apologized to the Besie actress for the sexual abuse he inflicted on her for years when they were children. While Mo’Nique has previously spoken publicly about sexual abuse while doing press for Preciousshe told Winfrey she didn’t want to come on the show.
Mo’Nique may have given Oprah Winfrey her blessing to have her brother The Oprah Winfrey Showbut what came as a shock to The Parkers The actress was seeing not only Imes, but also her father, another brother and her mother who she was not on “good terms” with while filming the episode. Feeling cheated and seeing her family “play down” the abuse she suffered growing up, she attempted to contact Winfrey about her show’s surprise guests with disappointing results.
I reached out to everyone I could to try to reach Oprah. No nothing. He just died.
However, these two were set to reunite again as they both attended actress Lupita Nyong’o’s party to celebrate the acclaim she received for 12 years of slavery that would result in an Oscar win. After spotting Winfrey, Mo’Nique made sure to approach her.
I said, ‘You know we’re going to have to talk, don’t you?’ She said, ‘Mm-hmm.’ And I just patted her knee and got up.
When this conversation took place, the Mo’Nique Show the host approached Winfrey to explain why she had invited her estranged family on an episode of her show. She claimed the producers only invited her brother on the show and that he showed up with his family without her knowledge – an allegation the comedic actress believed to be a lie. Afterwards, Mo’Nique claims that Winfrey told her, “If I’ve done anything to offend you, I apologize.”
Despite the awkward confrontation, the stand-up comedian still demands and expects a public apology from Oprah Winfrey. As to whether that moment will ever come, only time will tell. You can attend the spectacular performance of Mo’Nique in Precious currently on your HBO Max Subscription. You can also view our Movie releases 2023 to see what else these talented actresses could appear in next.