THE FACTS
In an interview with MovieFone, Mo’Nique responds to reports that she’s been refusing to help promote her role in Precious without compensation.

THE SPIN
For months now, Mo’Nique has been made out to be a money hungry diva who doesn’t understand the significance of what an Oscar nomination could mean for her career. Or at least, that’s how you could interpret it given she’s been said to refuse to show up to any movie festival (and has) to promote the highly-buzzed film Precious if not given a $100,000 appearance fee.

But is there more to this story?

I’ll let you decide as Mo’Nique finally speaks out on all of the rumors:

What would earning an Oscar nomination mean to you?

Any nomination would be appreciative, but we’ve already won it. We’ve already won. Because when you get an Asian brother that comes up to you and says, “Mo’Nique, what I’m going to say to you is going to sound really weird, but I have to say it. I am Mary Jones, and I was Mary Jones to my brother and my sister.” And now he’s sobbing and we’re embracing and I said, “Congratulations for your honesty, now go get you some help.” We’ve already won.

Are you game for the whole campaigning process that the Oscar race sometimes demands?

Well, honestly, I think that the Academy has been given a bad rap. I really do. Because when people say, “It’s political,” well, I’m not a politician. I really think that the Academy has been given a bad rap. They’re humans beings too, and they want to judge the performance. I can’t imagine them judging anything else. What else would you be judging? Do you know?

It’s unfortunate, but there are obviously politics involved in the Oscars. Otherwise there wouldn’t be all the campaigning and marketing.

I’ll say this, I’m very comfortable with what I did on that screen. And I really believe that the Academy are human beings that say, “We’re going to judge the performance, because that’s what we give this academy for, the performance.” That’s what I believe.

There’s been a lot written in the media about you missing a couple movie premieres and not doing enough to promote the film. Do you think that coverage has been fair?

Well, who’s saying that? Because no one can tell me who, Kevin, do you know who they are [laughs]? Because I want to meet them! Who are “they”? Baby, people gonna talk. It comes with the territory. But didn’t they talk about Jesus? Then they killed him. So, what makes me think I’m so special that they’re not gonna talk about me?

What would you say to the people spreading those reports?

I would ask them, did they see this show? And, I don’t know, maybe they haven’t, because this may not be the show you go on when you want to promote something, but it’s called ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ I don’t know, Kevin, I’m not sure. And then I would say, there’s another show that’s an institution, it’s been around for so long and it’s called ‘The Today Show.’ I did that show, too. Then I did this amazing show with my Italian sister Rachael Ray. Then I did The New York Times, which is supposed to be the biggest print organization in the world. So, what I would say to whoever “they” are is, stop reporting the wrong thing, it’s unfair to the readers.

Source

YOUR SPIN: What do you think about what Mo is saying and do you plan to see Precious?  Tell us here.

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(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One. TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)

 
THE FACTS
Video of Beyonce attempting to prevent Lil’ Mama from jumping on stage at the ‘09 VMAs has surfaced.

THE SPIN


I’m sure by this point some of you are so tired of Lil’ Mama you’re ready to push anyone who brings up “the incident” again off the stage – including me.

Well, I get it, but hey, I didn’t know Beyonce tried to stop Lil’ Mama from embarrassing herself on stage, did you? Didn’t think so.

Bless Bey’s heart for trying to pull Lil’ Mama to the side before she went and disrespected her fellow entertainers by jumping on stage like she was on there. If Beyonce had ever reached out for me I probably would’ve instantly bowed out of gratitude. But I guess Lil’ Mama was so “high” on adrenaline nothing could stop her from playing the fool

Beyonce should’ve tripped her.

YOUR SPIN: What would you have done if you were Bey’?  Tell us here.

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(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One. TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)

THE FACTS
Mo’Nique’s publicist quits amid rumors that the Precious star has become too egoistical to work with.

THE SPIN
Roger Friedman says Mo’Nique’s publicist of two weeks quit on her because she’s reportedly too difficult to work with.

Apparently Mo’Nique – who is enjoying Oscar buzz for her role in the film, Precious – was supposed to attend last Saturday’s New York Film Festival premiere of the movie.

Now, if you’re trying to get an Oscar you do press. You meet film folks, you smile and wave at the media people. That is, if you know how this works. Mo’Nique is rumored not to,and has missed both the Cannes and Toronto film festivals.

Oh and she skipped out on the NY premiere of the film last weekend, too.

Team Mo’Nique says this is due to the comedian working hard on her BET talk show. Others don’t buy that, and there have been rumors in recent months that Mo’Nique has been demanding $100,000 per public appearance.

Freidman talked to one of her reps who said, “It’s just supporting actress. It’s not lead, is it?”

Yeah, who cares? It’s not like that whole “Best Supporting Actress” Oscar does nothing for an actor’s career. Isn’t that right Whoopi and J.Hud?

Now there are rumors that the film’s producers, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry have instructed the studio stop campaigning for Monique and reshift their Oscar efforts behind Mariah Carey.

Let’s start a prayer circle just in case this is true. I’m going to need someone to remind members from her camp that only a couple of years ago was she known as Nikki Parker from UPN. You can’t be a black actress and have both Oprah and Tyler Perry mad at you.

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YOUR SPIN: Do you think Mo’Nique might be ego tripping now?  Tell us here. 

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(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One. TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)