About Mo’Nique, Pay Inequality and Her Asking Us to Boycott Netflix
A lot of people do not mess with Mo’Nique. I’m not a huge fan myself but I respect her longevity in the humor game, and tip my hat to the OG. But Mo’Nique has also burned a lot of (powerful) bridges (Oprah, Lee Daniels, Tyler Perry).
With that in mind, it’s easy to see why people have dismissed the latest incident as “here goes Mo’Nique again.” She is asking folks to boycott NetFlix because she was offered $500,000 for a comedy special. In an Instagram post, she compares her offer to the payment Amy Schumer got for hers: $13 million. She is accusing NetFlix of racism and sexism with this pay gap.
And people laughed at her.
I almost did myself because you will pry my NetFlix binge watch sessions from my cold, dead hands. That’s a bold ask. However, her larger point is right. There IS pay inequity for women, and it is especially severe for Black women. Even if we don’t fully agree with some of her arguments or the way she’s fighting this, it is important to note that her tactic doesn’t nullify the very valid point she’s making. It seems that NetFlix is playing bald-headed games and engaging in some shady pay practices that are worth calling out, and we see that in the numbers we now know.
First, Deray Davis comments on Instagram to say he got paid $5 million for his NetFlix special. And then Wanda Sykes tweeted that NetFlix offered her less than $250,000 to do one.
These two gave it more context that warrant chin-stroking.
I wouldn’t expect Mo’Nique and Amy Schumer to be paid the same thing for their specials. Popularity, demand, social currency and recent profitable movies puts Amy’s current earning power over Mo’Nique right now. Amy is currently comedy’s IT girl (even if you don’t find her funny – I definitely do NOT), so her $13 million payday wasn’t going to be Mo’Nique’s. HOWEVER, the $12.5 million pay gap is wildly excessive. Mo’Nique got offered less than 4% what Amy got and that’s cold-blooded. FOUR PERCENT, yall. She got lowballed.
That is confirmed when you compare Mo’Nique’s offer to Deray Davis’ pay. You might have seen the name “Deray Davis” and went “who?” That’s fine. Google him. The fact that you might not know who he is proves a point. How is Deray Davis paid 10 times what an Academy Award-winning actress and comedian is being paid to do the same thing?
And yes, I know Mo’Nique’s Oscar was for a drama (Precious) not a comedy, but still. Awards bring prestige to your whole name/brand, not just in the niche you got them in. And THAT is Hollywood’s biggest award. She’s hosted award shows, been in the game for like 30 years AND has an Oscar but got offered a fraction of what the guy who may be the 2nd most known Deray got paid. AT THE MINIMUM, she should be paid exactly or more than him. $500,000 is a joke. It’s like pennies being thrown at her feet.
And then when Wanda’s piece is thrown in, you realize that NETFLIX IS TRULY OUT OF POCKET. Wanda Sykes is currently bigger than both DeRay AND Mo’Nique put together. She has a recurring role on TV’s biggest comedy (Black-ish), still does amazing stand-up AND has crossover appeal (aka white folks love her). She’s also an OG in this comedy game, with a long ass resumé and her name garners respect. The woman is brilliant and always on point! LOVE me some Wanda! For NetFlix to offer her less than $250,000 is a supreme insult and THAT is what proves to me that they are engaging in bullshit. Wanda should get paid nothing so much more than whatever Deray got.
$250,000 for a Wanda Sykes comedy special. There is no justification for it and it’s completely ridiculous. That’s some serious disrespect/racism/misogynoir right there, and if after all she’s done, she still gets this treatment? It lets you know sometimes our success as Black women isn’t considered enough. It gives validity to what Mo’Nique is saying, and NetFlix got some explaining to do.
Some people are reading this, shaking their heada and disagreeing because they’re thinking “but Mo’Nique keeps letting her mouth get her in trouble. Maybe if she was a nicer person, she’d get paid more.” I challenge that. There are a lot of assholes who are THRIVING in Hollywood.
Even if everything people have said about Mo’Nique is true, that must be noted. Douchebag behavior makes you hard to work with but it seems only time it gets you blackballed is when you’re Black and woman. Shit, Jim Carrey should never work in Hollywood again, just based on how much of a clusterf*ck he caused on the set of his Andy Kaufman biopic.
When have men lost money from “not being nice?” There are men who have literally assaulted people on set, who get to be in blockbusters every year. People always make room and excuses for them.
And people only seem to wanna fight for saints. The ones without blemishes. If the only times we can stand up for people is when they’re faultless in life, or when they speak up in the exact way we want them to, then we’ll forever be sitting. But notice that we even needed Wanda to speak up before we could believe Mo’Nique.
Do I think Mo’Nique needs a better team around her? FOR SURE. I think she’s surrounded by people who are not good at their jobs. Who negotiates her deals? Who is her publicist? Where is her brand manager? Could she consult with a crisis communications team? She does a bad job at framing and her positioning has tanked. She’s too widely regarded as a nuisance, so it is her team’s job to help her figure out how to get her messaging right. And as we all know, positioning is everything, and hers is currently so bad that she cannot command the compensation that someone of her caliber should.
But terrible team and strategy aside, what Mo’Nique is fighting for is worth it. Speaking up about this cannot be easy, and her words made Wanda speak up so they matter. Black women are constantly being underpaid, underappreciated and overworked. We see people get promoted over us all the time. We deal with people being awarded over us constantly.
And we just have to sit there and wait our turn. And we need to be supported when we stand up about it. Yes, we can just go to where we are paid correctly but we can also choose to say when we are being cheated.
Now. Me and NetFlix parting ways ain’t happening. I love NetFlix for keeping us entertained for hours and days and weeks with their programming. But most importantly, they also give people of color a platform in ways other networks didn’t before. I don’t plan on boycotting them, because there are a lot of Black creatives working because of them. However, clearly they also need to do better, and they can be called to the carpet to do so. It’s not just “good brands” and “bad brands.” It’s companies that do well in one way and suck in others, and we can no longer be silent when they do the things that suck.
You don’t have to like Mo’Nique to admit that this situation is wack, she got lowballed, and that it seems comediennes of color are being underpaid for their work. It’s not just an entertainment problem and we shouldn’t be so quick to laugh at it. Folks gotta give us our coins.
P.S. If you are a Wandy Sykes fan, according to this tweet, her comedy special is now streaming on Hulu and Amazon Video.
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65 Comments
Absolutely! Monique needs a better village. I can’t even recall the name of her last movie because her beef with Tyler Perry seemed to overshadow the movies promotion. For the record I believe everything she said about TP black listing her. I just want her to build a team that helps her fight these battles more successfully. Deray got miil? How? I listen to netflix in the car. The only reason I even know who Deray is is because he mentioned a blink and you miss it guest starring role on Empire. I ever did finish the special. It wasn’t funny.
I’m also not a fan of Monique since the whole skinny girls stuff back in the day and then she goes and looses weight and NEVER apologizes and admits she wanted to be healthier(skinnier lol) the whole damn time. And I’m not female AND from her hometown.
That being said, she may be right about this issue BUT….companies can’t be regulated on issues such as this. They pay what they want and all performers can do is not accept it and whine, and all WE can do is watch or not. Either way, things won’t change just like racism everywhere else. Those are the facts!
Companies CAN, and have been, regulated on these issues. Damn, if everyone took your point of view on fairness and change, we would still be picking cotton and having our children sold from under us. Fight happens, and you’ve benefited from it, whether you acknowledge it or not. Hell, a 5 day work week and paid vacation required a fight. If you don’t think it’s worth fighting for, stop accepting the fruit of other’s labor.
Funny thing, it’s been SHOWN that fat people are healthier than skinny people in general. And people wonder why fat people know that skinny people are more privileged than fat people? You and the author (and many others) just provided a SHINING example. Weird that, huh?
Please cite the sources for where anyone reputable states that fat people are healthier than skinny people. That statement was so laughable.
You always come correct; thanks for this coherent and comprehensive write-up.
Everyone was so quick to bash Mo, and not that I’m a stan, but I do appreciate her collective body of work.
Amplifying her voice in other ways will be best, because I just started Black Mirror, and yeah, nah.
Perhaps Sydney needs to simply be her “dadband” (daddy/husband) & she needs to invest in a team/squad. Bet/invest on/in yourself & get the folks who are trained or have put the work in to represent you. Obviously DeRay has! I mean come on. Dude is not THAT talented, but apparently his representation is. Girl, let Sydney, luv the hurt away behind closed doors & preach his soapbox sermons there as well. Make up w/Oprah (ask Iyanla foe tips); befriend Ava or share a coffee w/Shonda. Cop you a squad! Our black is too bright & magical for you NOT to share in this shine!
Man!! This comment is on point. Mo needs to hire you!!
I did not know Mo’Nique was in stand up, nor have I heard of Deray (I googled) but lowballing Wanda like that is obscene. I WANT A WANDA SPECIAL, NETFLIX. Pay the woman what she’s worth.
You didnt know Monique was in stand up? You are clearly new to who she is, considering that is how she grew her name with Queens of Comedy and being on The Parkers.
The larger question of whether there should be salary transparency is answered right here. There was some of this with the Michelle Williams/Wahlberg thing, but that was blamed on the agents. This sheds light on the other side – how the entertainment companies view and value content created by women, especially black women. Wanda Sykes is way more relatable than Amy Schumer – I don’t know anyone who doesn’t laugh at her jokes, at least occasionally. Amy Schumer mostly relies on shock, which I’m too old for, most of the time. Wanda’s the one who should be getting tens of millions. Ugh, Netflix. Pay people what they’re worth, not what you think you can get away with.
Wanda Sykes is the only standup I’ve ever watched that didn’t make me regret my life choices.
Why is it that Oprah and nem are the go to for Black authors. I generally don’t like anything they put out. Halle Berry, Idris Elba and a ton of other actors aren’t running to them for work and are still successful…..
THIS!!! It’s like black Hollywood lives and breaths on their every word, yet they also will screw them over without batting an eyelash if they disgrace them. Mo didnt publicly do anything wrong to that trio (LEE/TP/Oprah) and it took her. YEARS to say any thing at all about being black balled. I love Oprah, but she’s human and has the ability to be wrong, petty and some more mess. Having that type of power to discredit someone’s entire career, and mess up their livelihood off of something petty… is possible.
I’d be interested in how much a fresh new talent like Tiffany Haddish commands. Mo and Wanda are in their 50’s (like me). They are not gonna necessarily appeal to millennials (at least not mine), and that’s the demo I suspect Netflix is seeking. A lot of my contemporaries don’t even have Netflix…ijs
How old do you think Dave Chappelle and Katt Williams are who both got specials? They’re not far behind.
They still resonate with the millenials. There shows and movies from the past are classics. They acted in movies and shows this generation may have watched as kids. I say this to say many are not watching Mo’Nique. They don’t remember The Parkers for her as the mom, but for Countess Vaughn and her messiness for leaving Moesha. I digress. I agree with Luvvie when she states the fact that Netflix has given space for many other Black & Brown creatives from across the world. If the issue is pay inequality, you have the right like Wanda Sykes and Deray Davis to ask for what you think you deserve. You also can create your own space and work within that b/c it seems your voice is falling on deaf ears, Mo’Nique.
Luvvie 4 President! Been trying to put this into words all weekend. ????????✊????
So…forreal…when you breaking into stand-up?
I agree for the most part but from what has been said by others who have worked with Mo’nique is that she and her team have always been professional. Yes, her approach this time was a bit off because no one is giving up that Netflix! Her speaking out against Lee Daniels, Oprah and Tyler Perry was very much warranted and Tyler did apologize to her. Lee Daniels should have after blackballing her and he sheets only got paid $50,000 for Precious. She did him a favor and supported him after he dogged her. She held that stuff for years. Whether you like her comedy or not, she deserves more than all of them combined due to her resume, Oscar win and her recorded professionalism. People are afraid of truth. I hope she gets all of that and more from someone like HBO or Showtime.
I wish people would stop being bandwagon with the drama and get hip to Mo’s side, and look for the truth. I’m all for not working with talent when they are hard to work with, but that kind of rumor about someone is usually one that’s gone around for years, and multiple people can back it up. Not once have we ever heard anyone say (prior to precious/lee daniels) that Monique was difficult, or a bitch. For everyone that hates her for her “skinny women are evil” book, get out your whole feelings because where is the lie? In a world where a term like fatphobic exist, and we have to promote body positivity for y’all to value the lives of fat/plus people… where fat is the butt of many jokes, and NO ONE ever shames comedians for talking about fat people, how are you in your feelings that much? I wish people would leave Monique alone regarding her talking about direct occurrences with thinner women, and exposing some real stuff that happens often for plus size people in this world.
Thank you for this fair, clear-headed comment.
I don’t know where sheets came from! Lol
I respectfully disagree with this particular strategy engaged by Mo’nique. Two different issues here, IMO. While pay gaps and advancement inequities are very, very real, Mo’nique struck out on multiple fronts with this. Let’s be honest, just because black folks are a force to be reckoned with, typically band together when racial slights are observed and lead the field in gathering folks, she tried to use our blackness ,claiming racial (as well as gender) bias, to HER benefit and hers alone. Who, in their right mind, would claim race and gender as the reason for their slight, yet use people doing better with the same gender and race as her own? The ultimate goal of a boycott is to create equity for a broader group, not just one person. Her argument was very poorly presented, not to mention that she’s comparing herself to peers with far broader reach, social currency and current relevance. That’s crazy. I mean, if anyone thought that was a reach, they must not have heard her on Sirius claiming that she is the most decorated comedian alive. That’s just way too much hyperbole like, if one wants to be taken seriously. It’s almost like she has lost her mind or was the last graduate of Trump University. It’s sad, at this point.
Before you say it can her effort can have a broader impact, let’s be real. The entertainment industry is a beast unto itself. I find it difficult to relate to an artist being mad about half a million dollars for an hour or two of work, someone of her current standing, especially. Do I want equity for my people, in general, yes, but this has no potential to impact larger society in the least. This boycott request is self serving. She wants black folks to boycott solely on her behalf. How selfish is that? She didn’t register on my greater good meter, at all.
Finally, I’m sincerely not a Mo’nique fan and never have been. Take my card if necessary, but I’ve never seen not one episode of The Parkers or any other sit com she’s been on. She’s not my style, yet I still wish her success. She just doesn’t have a broad reach, even among her target audience. I’ve never found her loudness funny. I like smart comedy and Monique is not that. I wouldn’t have been watching her special anyway and I’m definitely not supporting something as disingenuous as this. She needs to invest in a fire extinguisher because her bridges are about burned out. She tried it.
I love Monique. Sorry she burned those bridges but she can build new ones. But Not if she continues to destroy her credibility by fighting the wrong fight. Yes Netflix low balled her. Likely b/c they really did not want her or felt this was the price she had to pay to get back in the game.
Pay discrepancy in race and gender are issues that need to be attacked. But this not the hill she wanna die on. Gotta get back in position first.
Monique, is a woman taking a stand. I truly believe that if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. The way she is going about it, to me,is not effective. She needs our support. Back in the day, change began with a movement. Black lives matter started with three Black women, so did the #Me too movement. It burns me up that Rose actress will not give credit to Teyana, a black woman who started the movement. If the woman of today can march from all over the world,then they broaden there cause to include all the injustices women face today.Black women are more than caretakers. We have worth,we are the creators of mankind. Enough is enough! Let the movement continue evolve.
Did she negotiate? Maybe she needs a new manager or agent…
I see what you did here….not allowing your disdain for her to get in the way of reason and rationale….and I like it. Finally, I can relate because I don’t find what you do entertaining, have never understood the allure that other’s see, but on this particular issue I can finally find something to relate and agree with…on the instance of Mo’Nique any way. And while I see you really used this as an opening to make this more about Wanda Sykes, I still appreciate you making note of the fact that Mo’Nique is deserving of better, Wanda is definitely deserving and better and how the hell did DeRay ever get offered that much money for anything. Now back to my regularly schedule program.
I like Wanda and Monique but they haven’t been relevant for a long time. Wanda’s last special on Epix was not that good thats why you haven’t heard about it . Sad to say Monique hasn’t done relevant work in years so I don’t see why she thinks Netflix would spend big money to someone still talking about what they did in 2009.
You can hate on Deray Davis all you want but hes on major comedy tours right now doing MGM in Vegas next month with Marlon Wayans and Jay Pharoah and on the platinum comedy tour with Mike Epps, Sommore, DeRay Davis, and Earthquake while Wanda hasnt done a comedy tour since 2016 and Monique is doing the Improv in San Jose (no joke). DeRay Davis also was just on all def comedy on HBO.
Its not about whose jokes you like best it’s about when you step to the table and are making a case for a comedy special are you talking about 2017 or things you did in 2009 ?
Monique should’ve taken that special as a stepping stone to reestablish herself in the here and now . If she puts on a killer show well now her asking price goes up for a second and she has some buzz worthy current work to get herself into some other projects .
I like them all but Wanda and Monique are nowhere near as relevant on the comedy tour scene right now as DeRay Davis even though. I personally believe Wanda is funnier but I don’t believe Netflix is not paying people on nostalgia.
Monique was just in a hilarious Christmas comedy, called “almost christmas” in 2016, with a spectacular cast. I saw it in theaters and the entire theater was in tears from laughing so hard and so loud. Prior to that, she was in Bessie in 2015 with Queen Latifah, where she gave a great performance. People see what they want, but she is definitely out here booking roles, and producing content. I really feel like people dont want to give her the due credit, simply because Lee Daniels out here slandering her name and she called it out.
So she was in 5 projects since she won an Oscar in 2009 ? one being a tv movie and one being a movie that grossed 40 million at the box office
This is no ones fault but her own . When Schumacher got her deal she was one of the hottest entertainers in the country now mind you I didn’t say good just hottest .
Now at this point Monique has nothing current to sell herself on and instead of taking the deal to get the publicity have a nice showing and then go back to the table ready to pitch her own show or other projects she basically slams shut another door .
Shonda Rhimes just signed a huge Netflix deal now how open do you think Netflix will be to Shonda casting Monique in a lead in any series after she is calling for boycotts .
This is bad business who is her manager ? Oh thats right its her husband and he’s basically tanking her career .
She was blackballed, so she wasn’t able to secure more projects. That’s common sense. Of course she would only have been in very little projects since Precious, as the blackballing happened right after that. I’m tired of people bringing up Shonda Rhimes to discount Mo’s position. Mo is referring to the wage gaps between Black women and white women and men and the that of Black women and Black men. Shonda isn’t a comedienne, so the wage comparison is apples to oranges. Hell, for all we know, Shonda could be getting low balled when compared to white TV producers and screenwriters. We don’t know because she hasn’t addressed it.
Mo does need a new team behind her. With a new, effective team, she’ll be able to bounce back from this and get her dues.
Shonda was low balled to the tune of 100 million dollars. Mo’Nique needs to fire her husband and get someone who doesn’t think flame throwing is negotiating. In any case she needs to do what many fallen stars have done to work their way back to the top. So a few independent films and get some critical acclaim, her herself on a good show, or she just could have taken the 500k, killed it and then asked for more second time around. What you all fail to see is that the entertainment industry isn’t like regular industries. They pay based solely on what you’re doing now, not what you did then and how much money/ prestige will you bring to them.
We needed this fact-checked filled perspective. Thank You!
Excellent points but still a NO for the boycott! Not and if I’m a business, I don’t think I would even offered Monique $500K, definitely not more than Wanda. Fact is Monique probably does not even have a team and if so, she may be underpaying them if this is the best they can do for her. Grow your team and come in as strong negotiators. It’s actually sad that in “everyday people life” a white woman taught me this lesson. She wanted me off her team because I knew way more than her, when she found out I was wavering on a job offer due to being scared to ask for what I knew I was worth, she said all they can do is counteroffer or say no and guess what you still have this job. (we disliked each other, trust me). I asked for my worth and got $5k more than that because the company thought I was worth it. I thanked her on my way out for that one life lesson. Know and ask for what you’re worth!
It is not about female comedians of color, it is about Monique. If Netflix systemically and categorically depreciated female comdeians of color, then she might have a point, however…
And the fact that she is difficult and demanding is true. She is a reputation risk and all she is doing is proving them right. People need to own the EFFECTS that they cause. It is so convenient and predictable to scream ISM and blame your skin color, but maybe, just maybe IT’S YOU!
Monique’s last tour was not successful because the buzz was that she was simply an angry black woman on stage ranting and bitching vs being a comedian. She does not have the juice to bring in the money that she used to and the rate she is offered is conducive to that fact.
AND she and her team clearly do not have good negotiating skills because if she truly thinks that she is worth the money, then she should have negotiated a percentage of the return in addition to the money offered. That would have 1. given Netflix the opportunity to try her out and mitigate their financial risk, 2. given her the opportunity to earn her keep, 3. given her the opportunity to prove them wrong, 4. allowed ENGAGEMENT (relationship is important) to continue and 5. solve the solvable problem.
What she is doing now feeds rhetoric and adds to a tired ass narrative and solves NOTHING!
IMO, she is piggy back pimping a real issue to justify her inadequacies. And by doing so she taints the argument and dilutes the real struggle for pay inequality.
#PrudentProse
The answer is “Social Media”. She hasn’t a piss poor following for “the most decorated comedian alive”. Deray Davis has more followers on twitter than Mo’nique and Wanda Sykes combined. That’s called “potential audience reach” in advertising and marketing. Stop making everything about gender and race. You’re hurting larger arguments on bigger subjects that really are based on gender and race. If you want to help a millionaire make even more millions, maybe you should follow her on social media. That’s part of the Netflix formula.
A lot of y’all sound like the people who say “racism is bad and all but kneeling on the field during the national anthem is inappropriate. They are just whiny millionaires.”
Where is the source/citation that Deray got $5 US millions? I want to share it. I’ve Google’d for it and couldn’t find it anywhere.
Please help, sisters.
All celebrities are overpayed and over glorified in my opinion. She was offered 500000 to tell jokes while people that really matter and work hard are paid nothing. I’m a registered nurse and I think that health care professionals, teachers, soldiers, and law enforcement should be paid a whole lot more. But please, Monique whine some more about your measly 500000 offer to do nothing. GTFO with that. America is such a fucked up country!
Kathina – I so much agree with you!!! Wish someone would offer me $500,000 for 2 hours. Would take it in a heartbeat..But on the real, Monique hasn’t been out here in a while on the comedic circle. I would have looked at that as a way of getting back in…I do see her point, though, but you got to be real…Are people still feeling you like that?
Stop the madness. Shonda Rhimes just got a $100 million dollar deal with Netflix. This aint a race problem. This aint a gender problem. THIS IS A MONIQUE PROBLEM!!!
She needs to hit the road and create demand and stop saying dumb is like “I’m the most decorated comedian alive” as if Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Foxx are dead.
“Stop the madness. Shonda Rhimes just got a $100 million dollar deal with Netflix. This aint a race problem. This aint a gender problem. THIS IS A MONIQUE PROBLEM!!!”
How do you come to this conclusion from one figure without context? How much do others in Shonda’s position get paid by Netflix? Big money to you may very well be little money when compared to Shonda’s peers, her role at Netflix and future responsibilities there.
“the highly educated Negro often grows sour. He becomes too pessimistic to be a constructive force and usually develops into a chronic fault-finder or a complainant at the bar of public opinion. Often when he sees that the fault lies at the door of the white oppressor whom he is afraid to attack, he turns upon the pioneering Negro who is at work doing the best he can to extricate himself from an uncomfortable predicament.”
Excerpt From
The Mis-Education of the Negro
Carter G. Woodson
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-mis-education-of-the-negro/id1130600904?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.
Truth!
Thank you Dishon.
I’m going to need proof DeRay got paid 5 million and boasting on Instagram doesn’t county.
I’m going to need proof DeRay got paid 5 million and boasting on Instagram doesn’t count.
Well if it’s any help to those who are not a fan because of the “skinny bitches” tour, she kicked us fat bitches to the curb when she got the Oscar and lost some weight. She start telling us we weren’t healthy after we spent a year proving to the world we work out and go to the doctors too, and just fine the way we are. LOL Anyway this is how I feel about the situation. You know what gets me, is put aside you knowing what someone else made because basically it’s not your business, this is why stuff like this is usually private. It also just shows that others have better representation such as a damn good agent, you can’t ghetto fabulous a good deal for yourself and if your agent has no clout, then they can’t either. Now to me, for a couple hours of work, I think an offer of 500,000 is a good offer and so would she back when she was starting out. You have to remember why you get started in the business and keep yourself humble. In the business you earn based on popularity and the first thing you’re asked, what have you done lately. Her management or she made the mistake of not riding the tide of her other successes when they happen. They have new people blazing trails now, that will do the same for less. Do anyone know what kind of standup she has right now as a comedian. The last time she did it, it was the “skinny bitch” tour. So why you think you worth 13 million against a comedian that has never stop doing standup for a movie break or whatever. I just think if she had took the offer did the work and proved she still has it and still has a following she could better the next deal.
Great article! I still think Mo’Noque is being extra but I appreciate this point of view. Also in the actual interview where Mo’Nique calls for a boycott, she also calls herself “the most decorated comedian alive” which calls for a big LOL.
As a screenwriter, I personally know that Netflix has given an amazing platform to women, POC, and other marginalized and has supported them in telling stories that traditional networks would never do. So labeling them as racist and sexist for low-balling two women is disingenuous to all the work they do.
Let’s be honest, Mo’Nique has lost popularity in recent years. After being blackballed by Oprah, Netflix was actually cool for even giving her a special. A smart move would have been to take the 500k, do a great job, and use that as leverage for a larger payout the second time IMO. Sadly, the industry is not based on what you’ve done in the past but what you’re doing now…I read another comment that said its like Lil Kim getting mad at Cardi B for making more money per show lol.
I have to say I disagree that Mo’Nique DESERVES more than what was offered. I was shocked when I saw what Amy Schumer thought she DESERVED, especially because (IMO) she in no way, shape or form EARNED that much, but I’m not a network executive so that isn’t my call to make. Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle have shut cities down. Both of them have, for better or worse, transcended the parameters of entertainment, especially considering their ethnicity. They were underpaid. Amy Schumer thinks she’s Bette Midler or Barbara Streisand level, she’s not even Ellen Degeneres level. Trainwreck was alright and the show was funny but Chappelle and Rock are cultural icons. If we can be honest, Mo’Nique wasn’t relevant to the game when Precious came out and hasn’t done much as far as comedy since. Everyone knows talent can only get you so far. Mo’Nique is talented, so is Wanda, but nobody is going to a movie because of their presence. That may be because of racism/sexism but then we’re having a different argument. I heard that she mentioned Tiffany Haddish aka The Hottest Ticket Out in 2018. Tiffany Haddish clowned in Girl’s Trip and is on her way to at least a one-hit wonder fortune. She EARNED a 7-figure deal with Netflix, of course timing helps, and we’ll see how she lasts. Deray Davis is still on Wanda Sykes/Mo’Nique level in my opinion but again, that male/female argument is slightly different than what’s at hand. This is about being in demand. Mo’Nique is not in demand.
Im not against her argument that she maybe getting lowballed. but she says names like Amy Shcumer and Dave and Chris like she thinks she deserves that kind of money. She doesnt. There is no part of my body that is wondering that. So maybe if she said they offered me 500k when im atleast worth a few mill, i might have been like ok that maybe realistic. Depending on where the special was held, she may have gotten a big crowd to come see her and some great buzz from it before the special hit Netflix, but over all she doesn’t have anywhere near the buzz to sell Netflix subscriptions. I think this is what hit everyone. her description of the event doesnt really tell us what she thinks she is worth. It only shows what she compares her offer to with others, who in my opinion are in another lane from her.
I need to see receipts on Deray’s offer.
people seriously got upset and are still upset over Monique’s skinny bashing? lol. it was COMEDY, an act, it obviously had a tongue in cheek “i wish i was thinner too” sour grapes attitude.
and you all STILL tripping?
i’ll say it again and again: people are entirely too sensitive and take things way too personally these days. not good.
having said that though, she is right about the ongoing pay diss for black women and others. the only exception? Dave Chappelle…and he had sense enough to walk away from what they offered him (and what they wanted in return).
Boycotting is not gonna do much good. Since the 60’s and the bus boycott, when is the last time black folks successfully boycotted ANYthing? Netflix will continue cause EVERYONE else will continue to tune in..there’s something for e’ry body there, and we all screen addicted.
Thank you Luvvie! You articulated this in a way that truly explains why we NEED to pay attention to the bigger issue of how Black women are consistently treated in comparison to others.
Thank you for bringing awareness to an institutional/systemic problem, Luvvie! The stance so many have taken against Mo’Nique and Wanda is hypocritical AF, especially after this past weekend’s Women’s Marches. I thought we were supposed to be standing by our sisters.
I agree Luvvie. Monique should be able to speak up and out against injustices in the industry. I wonder where are all the white women who should be sticking up for her. If Monique was a white woman instead of a “mouthy fat black woman” white folks would be marching in the streets and starting a hashtag campaign. Judging from some of these comments here we are devaluing a black woman because she is BLACK. Give Monique her money because she knows what she is worth. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. She is worth it, she does deserve it, and she KNOWS it. End of story.
At this point the only thing that we know for fact is what Monique said in her video. While she may have had a valid point in the inequities about male and female salaries, her presentation was combative and self indulgent. Is Monique funny? She can be, she has been in the past, but has she crossed over to main stream, or is she just known in the African-American community? Right now women are in the forefront fighting for equal pay, against sexual harassment, and other issues that have been problems for eons. I saw many celebrities at the Women’s March. Viola Davis gave an impassioned speech, but I didn’t see Monique. When you are fighting a battle that you imply is for the many, then you need to represent yourself accordingly. You don’t toss other people’s salaries out, and use that as your argument. Make yourself relevant and marketable again, and the money will come. Being a legend in your own mind will never help the situation. Let others see what you can be, and that’s always the best argument. FYI…. all the salaries on the film Precious were very low. It was an independent movie, that’s standard.
Hmmm so she is askin ya’ll in the states to Boycott Netflix , yet here in the UK on Netflix she accepted their cash and has two shows running…………. she happy to take their cash and then try to boycott them…………….. will leave that thought right there.
Thank you for this. Every single word of it.
Although Netflix provides a platform for blacks filmakers. I can only think about how they’re screwing over those same black female filmmakers and performers. So who’s really winning?!? This is just like the boycott aginist football. It’s like you all will die without Netflix or the NFL. We’re so counterproductive is shameful. In 1955 black people boycotted the Montgomery Bus System for a year. Black men and women walked home after working an underpaid job. You fools can’t even cancel Netflix! Y’all irritating!
I DON’t subscribe to Netflix…easy enough to borrow or steal 🙂 but I find it AMAZING that NOBODY is supporting this Black woman. We still get behind ALL the “cheating” lowlife comedians …no,they’re not heroes, but are YOU the one paying MONIQUE’S salary? Can a sister EVER get some support? From somewhere? No wonder we are where we are with the person who is in the WH in the WH! Crabs in a barrel Indeed. While not a huge fan, I support her request for compensation, b/c when could black women NOT relate to that one in THIS country? We’re the first to sell OUR very souls for cheap plastic goods from China(Hello Walmart), that $43.99 TV is fabulous!
I ain’t here for Tyler Perry so for real, that’s a PLUS in my book.
Let Tyler’s tiny balls blackball her. Let’s get some women of color out there creating for her. She does great comedy and was great in Bessie too.
Mo DEFINITELY needs a real team helping her steer her career in the right direction, although I’m not sure it would be much help after all of the recent rants. But I must say I am curious as to the rumors coming out now that it was actually Monique who went to Netflix with an idea to jumpstart her comedy career, not the other way around. The rumor, which is supposedly coming from an anonymous source at Netflix,, also goes on to say that Netflix was prepared to ink a $3 million dollar deal with Mo, but wanted her to audition her idea, to which she got offended, so they offered her $500K sight unseen and she got mad and started all this boycott talk. I’m also curious as to how her case could be valid after Netflix offered Shonda Rhimes $100 million over four years to come up with multiple original series exclusively for Netflix?? They know Shinda is a bankable source, just like they figured with Will Smith. Reports show that with the announcement of Will’s movie Bright, Netflix added more than 8 million subscribers. Imagine how many they will add once Shonda’s first Netflix series is announced, especially if it stars Kerry Washington! If the rumors are accurate, Mo should’ve shown them what they wanted to see and taken the $3 million…would’ve probably had a better result than these rant videos are getting.
Why can’t the journalist write a story without bashing and constantly stating personal opinion? Just facts please.. You sound like a big ass hater bitch
Wrong post and place, sir. This is Luvvie’s blog where she can (and does) say what SHE feels. You are welcome to exit – stage left – at your earliest convenience! If you actually read this article – there was no bashing – just opinion stating – which in case you are unclear – is what a BLOG is all about. AND – be honest – Mo’Nique is not relevant right now…that is all the fact that matters (and I actually loved The Parkers, thought she was great in Precious, and would pay a few coins to see her live – but by few – I do mean less that $20!) Oh, am I bashing her still???