As a child, Mo’Nique knew she wanted to see her name in lights. When she saw how the Jacksons were admired by millions and wherever they went was met by screaming fans, little Mo’Nique wanted to grow up to be someone adored by the masses. The Oscar-winning actress is appreciative of her entertainment industry journey, but during her visit to The David Banner Podcast, she admitted that she used to put fame over everything in her life, including her family. 

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In the late 1990s, Mo’Nique was married to Mark Jackson for four years. The former couple share a son, Shalon Jackson, and the comedian told The David Banner Podcast that in those early days of her career, relishing in fame and all that came with it was her priority. “[There was a] time that, when he was a little boy, I wasn’t interested in being a mother,” Mo’Nique admitted. “I was interested in being a star. I was interested in being famous. And I wasn’t interested in being a wife.”

She added, “I was interested in taking pictures and red carpets and signing autographs and traveling the world. So, I didn’t really put the focus in. Now that I’m 52 and he’ll be 30, I pay for that. There’s a price you have to pay for that and I had to apologize to my son because I said to him, “I don’t want you to think that your story is not valid ’cause I didn’t tuck you in. I didn’t read you those stories. I didn’t show up at sporting events.'”

Mo’Nique believed that because she was bringing in money and give him anything he asked for, she was being a good parent. “You see this big house? You see that basketball court out back? You see that pool? Don’t you come complaining about nothing!” Mo’Nique recalled telling her son. “There was a time when this entertainment was a priority because as a little girl I wanted to be famous… I craved that… When that moment happened, that’s all that it was.” Check out Mo’Nique on The David Banner Podcast below.

It’s believed that Oprah Winfrey and Toni Braxton have put their previous feud to bed, but Mo’Nique revisited a tense moment between the two ladies on Thursday (February 13). Back in 2012, Toni was featured on Behind The Music where the series took an intimate look into the development of her career. At one point, Toni discussed a turning point that occurred after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1998 following unfavorable news about her bankruptcy.

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“She was so frickin’ mean to me,” Toni said in the 2012 series. “I was in shock… I couldn’t believe it ’cause I loved her so much. I admired her and looked up to her and she pretty much reprimanded me.” The singer goes on to detail the uncomfortable interview where Oprah reportedly questioned her “Gucci flatware” because she’s “Oprah Winfrey and I don’t have Gucci flatware.”

“Immediately, she made me feel this big,” Toni continued, highlighting that Oprah’s comments demeaned her. “That moment completely changed my career. It made people look down on me.” Actress Mo’Nique, who has been calling out Oprah for quite some time now, used this clip to further emphasize why Oprah allegedly targets black men and tears down black women.

“IF YOU THINK @oprah ONLY DEMEANS BLACK MEN IT’S BECAUSE THE BLACK WOMEN HAS BEEN MADE VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE!!!” Mo’Nique wrote in the caption of the clip. “SEE FOR YOURSELF WITH OUR SISTER TONI B. IN CASE YOU FORGOT OR NEVER KNEW!!! LOVE US 2 LIFE!” Watch the clip and the full episode of Toni Braxton’s Behind The Music episode below.

Oprah Winfrey has been taking some hard hits from her fellow entertainment industry professionals. She faced heavy backlash over her After Neverland special with Michael Jackson’s Leaving Neverland accusers. Then, most recently, her inclusion with the Russell Simmons documentary where a number of women who accused the Def Jam mogul of sexual assault and/or misconduct was called into question.

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Of the latter, Oprah recently shared that she was removing herself from the film, not because of the pressure she says Simmons put on her, but because she didn’t agree with the creative direction of the documentary. The disagreement with the filmmakers reportedly caused her to split from the production, but whatever the reason, 50 Cent still applauded the OWN mogul for disbanding from the film.

Actress Mo’Nique Hicks has been at odds with Oprah for quite some time as she aired out Oprah, Tyler Perry, and Lee Daniels for allegedly coming against her. On Monday (February 3), Mo’Nique wrote a lengthy message directed to Oprah where she once again called out the media mogul’s actions, this time she targeted Oprah’s involvement in #MeToo while accusing the mogul of making her life “harder.”

Her message in full:

I felt compelled to write you this open letter after observing the disparity in the way that you seem to treat people, who were accused of the same allegations. You did an interview on the CBS Morning Show and were asked about Harvey Weinstein by Norah O’Donnell, and you said as it pertained to him that you “always try to look at the Rainbow in the clouds, whatever is the “silver lining”. You also said “if we make this all about Harvey Weinstein then we have lost the moment”. When you either are, or were going to be a part of documentary on Michael Jackson, and Russell Simmons, how is that not making it all about them? Interestingly, Brother M.J. was acquitted, and deceased, so how is he not off limits? Russell and Harvey are accused of the same thing so in fairness how do you not “support” the accusers of both as you said you did with R.S. or you look for the silver lining for both like you said you did for H.W.?

The only difference between the two is there skin color and doesn’t H.W. have way more accusers? My personal experience with you is you’ve watched me as a black women be accused of being difficult for not promoting “Precious” internationally for Lions Gate, at Lions Gate, Tyler Perry and your request, despite the fact my deal was with Lee Daniels Entertainment. And, how are you for black women when you hear Tyler on audio saying I was right and he was going to speak up but you or him still haven’t said a word? When I was sixteen and I meet you at your local show in Baltimore, I told you I wanted to be just like you when I grew up. You responded, “ you have to work really really hard”. My sixteen year old self didn’t know that you in your silence in the face of wrongdoing, would make my life “harder”. Lastly, please consider standing by the people who are right and not just the “right people”. Love you to life.

In 2018, Oscar-winning actress, Mo’Nique revealed that she was suing the highly-popularized movie-streaming service, Netflix, for racial and gender discrimination after only being offered $500,000 for a standup special and claiming that her male/white counterparts received millions for their work.

Now, a new development in the lawsuit has risen with the streaming platform claiming that they have evidence that Mo’Nique was not discriminated against. In court documents obtained by The Blast, Netflix is asking the court to dismiss Mo’Nique’s claims. The documentation reads:

“Plaintiff fails, however, to allege any facts showing that the compensation offered her was the product of discrimination. To the contrary, her Complaint contradicts its core premise by noting that other persons of color, other women, and another African- American woman (like Plaintiff) have been paid substantially more money to create comedy specials for Netflix’s streaming service than what was offered to Plaintiff. And Plaintiff fails to explain why she was entitled to be offered what the stars to whom she compares herself were offered for creating such comedy specials.”

Mo’Nique’s original lawsuit stated, “Despite Mo’Nique’s extensive résumé when presented with an opportunity to do an exclusive stand-up comedy special for Netflix, she was given a low-ball offer that was only a fraction of what Netflix paid other comedians.”

Mo’Nique’s original claim detailed Jerry Seinfeld’s $100 million deal with Netflix for two stand-up specials as well as Amy Schumer’s $11 million offer and Dave Chappelle’s $60 million offer for three specials. It also added, “When the talent was not a Black woman, Netflix offered to pay, and did pay, astronomically more than it pays to Black women like it offered to Mo’Nique.”

Throughout Mo’Nique’s debacle with Netflix, she’s gained the support of fellow entertainers in the business and earned a Las Vegas residency out of the conflict. With some of Mo’Nique’s evidence being public knowledge and Netflix pushing back, these future court proceedings are going to be intriguing. Stick with HNHH as details unfold in the Mo’Nique vs. Netflix saga.