Mo’Nique Pens Open Letter To Oprah: “I Felt Compelled To Write You This Open Letter After Observing The Disparity In The Way That You Seem To Treat People”

For the past few years, comedienne Mo’Nique has been very vocal about being blackballed in Hollywood by Oprah, Tyler Perry, and Lee Daniels.

Mo’Nique recently took to Instagram to pen a letter to the former talk-show host and question her motives behind jumping at the chance to work on documentaries supporting accusers of Russell Simmons and the late Michael Jackson.

“Dear @oprah,” she wrote. “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,”

Mo’Nique explained that Oprah didn’t treat the Harvey Weinstein case the same way she handled the allegations of Simmons and Jackson, mentioning that the color of their skin played a part in the disparity.

During an interview with CBS Morning Show, Oprah stated that “if we make this all about Weinstein, then we have lost the moment,” which caused Mo’Nique to question whether Oprah understood she was doing the same with Simmons and Jackson.

“When you either are or were going to be a part of the documentary on Michael Jackson and Russell Simmons, how is that not making it all about them,” Mo’Nique questioned. “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?”

Mo’Nique went on to question Oprah’s morals and integrity by bringing up the fact that she is the reason, along with Daniels and Perry, that she’s blackballed in Hollywood.

“My personal experience with you is you’ve watched me as a black woman, 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,” Mo’Nique said.

“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,” she continued.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Mo’Nique finished the letter with a memory of her very first encounter with Oprah, that turned out to be a foreshadowing moment for the two.

“My sixteen-year-old self didn’t know that you in your silence in the face of wrongdoing, would make my life “harder,” she said. “Lastly, please consider standing by the people who are right and not just the “right people.” Love you to life.”

 

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Dear @oprah, 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, Mo’Nique

A post shared by Mo’nique (@therealmoworldwide) on Feb 3, 2020 at 4:08pm PST