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MoNique believed she deserved that kind of money; Netflix did not.
When the Oscar winner brought up her resume, Netflix told MoNique that they didnt pay based on resumes.
Since the films release, MoNique has appeared in fewer movies and shows than before she won her Oscar.
Last year, you called on your fans to boycott Netflix.
This came after you claimed in 2015 that you had been blackballed by the industry.
Do you have any regrets on how you handled things in 2018?No.
Ive had absolutely no regrets whatsoever.
If I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same way.
WithPrecious, I knew these people personally.
I knew Lee Daniels personally.
I had a conversation with Tyler Perry personally my husband and I both.
My husband and I had a conversation with Oprah Winfrey personally, with Lee Daniels personally.
All three of these people said the same thing: Youre right.
So if yall know that Im right, why ever wouldnt yall say anything?
Tyler Perry, Oprah, andLee Danielsare regarded as gatekeepers for a lot of black actors who want work.
So when I think of those three people, thats the feeling I get.
Because you know something is wrong, but you say absolutely nothing.
Did any of those things Tyler said he was going to do happen?Did you hear it?
I did not.Heres the thing: Hes never done it.
We had given Tyler Perry a year to keep his word.
Brother, you said you were going to come out and say something.
Well, you never came out and said anything.
And what was disheartening was people who were saying, How could you tape him?
But, they werent saying, Oh my God, did you hear what he said?
He said she wasnt wrong.
He said he was going to say she wasnt wrong.
Now you also hear Tyler Perry offering me money …
Did that ever happen?No.
There was never any.
We didnt accept any money.
We just said, Tyler, clear my name.
Give me back my reputation.
No ones ever heard of me being difficult, being a problem, being nothing, until this moviePreciouscame.
Until MoNique said some words that sound like no.
Then its, Oh my God, youre a problem.
What happened exactly when you were negotiating with Netflix?They never negotiated.
They werent willing to negotiate.
They sent over a $500,000 offer.
I believe it was that we had to use $200,000 for production.
Then it was [that] I couldnt use the material for two years.
Like, it was absolutely ridiculous.
Thats what it is.
We forget the role skin color plays and also the role of being skinny or heavyset.
I had empathy for my sister Whoopi Goldberg.
Because what youre saying to me is, You must work for free.
I couldve schooled you.
Well, I was there the whole show.
When I look at this woman you say is our icon and our legend she is.
But, how many things has Whoopi Goldberg executive produced?
Whoopi Goldberg has always been the help, and I say that humbly.
So what is it that youre going to school me on?
Ive been doing it for almost 30 years.
So oftentimes, we do it to ourselves.
But, I just cant.
Understand, I love my sister.
Was there ever an opportunity to address Whoopi privately?
I feel like a lot of these things kept happening publicly.Whoopi and I did have a conversation after that.
I was up in Whoopi Goldbergs dressing room and youre the first person Im telling this to.
I said to Whoopi Goldberg, Listen, sister.
Because she said, MoNique, you gotta let that go.
You gotta move on.
People just wanna see whats going to happen to you next.
I said, Whoopi, I cant let it go.
I gotta think about the little sister whos not here yet.
In that moment I knew I was looking at a woman who didnt give a damn about me.
When my people are dying, thats when you gonna catch me protesting.
Im not gonna protest because somebody got offered not the amount of money they wanted to get offered.
Did you feel hurt by that?I understood it.
And what I wont do is throw my sister under the bus.
What she wrote on her Instagram page and on mine was, I love you, MoNique.
I understand the business.
This business is set up for us to go against one another.
Im not going to go against Tiffany Haddish.
They set us up to do this to one another.
But what I wont do is, I wont feed into it.
Im not the first one.
Im just vocal with it.
My mouth is big.
But Im not the first one.
Some people have the attitude.
These are people who look like me.
Not only are you a black woman, but you fat.
You should just be glad you got invited to the table.
Sit down and shut up.
It feels like black women arent allowed to make mistakes.
We saw it with Tiffany Haddish and herNew Years Eveset that left many disappointed.
Even then, a lot of black male comics use black women as props in their movies and shows.
Tell me about all the money they spoke about Marsha Warfield, Thea Vidale making.
These are stand-up comedians.
See, Rosie ODonnell never has to work again if she dont want to.
Roseanne Barr, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey, Melissa McCarthy, the list goes on.
Tell me about the black ones.
Tell me about the black ones.
When actors win Oscars, usually we see them working more and getting more roles.
With you, it was almost the exact opposite.
It dissipated.Again, baby, when you know the history … Matter of fact, we gon pay her less so she know she aint that special.
I was unwilling to do that.
So it wasnt like the calls didnt come they did come.
But they were coming like I just got to Hollywood.
They were calling as if they were doing me a favor.
Because once again, thats the same thing Hattie McDaniel did.
As long as we keep having those niggas that will, we keep being paid unfairly.
Youre on tour with thisresidency in Vegas.
Im going to enjoy that, baby, and my babies baseball season coming up.
Thats what Imma enjoy.
Whats going to come tomorrow will come tomorrow.
If I get focused on the business of tomorrow, I lose focus on my family of today.
When I walk in my closet, theres a picture of me and my grandmother.
Remember when Mama Mimi …?
The legacy that woman left is her grandbabies and her great-grandbabies.
Yall are gonna think of me whatever youre going to think of me.
For the ones who have beautiful thoughts, I thank you.
I cried so hard because I couldnt understand why she wouldnt come get me.
And my father came up in that room drunk, and he said, Let me tell you something.
Dont nobody owe you shit.
I never forgot that.
They dont owe me a phone call.
They dont owe me anything, and I still love them.
I dont know their dynamics or what theyre walking through.
My husband had to say, Mama, this shit aint never personal.
Thats how I can still love them.
Dont you walk around with that shit in your heart.
