MO’NIQUE SPEAKS OUT ON THE OSCARS AND PRECIOUS
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.
Image courtesy of vibe.com
(*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.)
love this woman. Get off of her back. Always somebody talking shit. Get a life people.
I don’t know! Something is missing. Now Oprah and Tyler Produce it, but I don’t see them together promoting it. Something ain’t right. LOL LOL I love Mo’Nique, but I think that she is not going to speak about what is going on behind close doors because that is the type of person she is, “CLASSY”
I like Moe and I will just take her word for it. She has a great show….
well it doesnt sound like she isnt trying to promote the movie, she was on two major television shows and a major newspaper , If thats not promoting a movie than I dont know what is, I like Monique, she is talented, Im so glad to see her doing her thing!
I havn’t seen the movie “Precious” but I did read the book “Push” a long time ago. I was very dissappointed in the role of the mother and father. I really don’t care to see Mo’nique playing the role of “Precious” mother. Reading the book which gives more details is so graphic I can’t imagine Mo’nique as the character being played.
Saw ‘Precious’ this weekend and I have to say that it was one of the most complex and compelling films i’ve seen in a long time. Mo’nique lived up to, and surpassed, the hype she’s been getting. IMO she shouldn’t be doing a lot of press for this film because her performance speaks for itself.
Also, my understanding is that Oprah and Tyler didn’t produce the film on the content side, but they were instrumental on the distribution side.
I give this film my highest recommendation. Just, please, leave the little ones at home (yes, there were kids of about 7 or 8 years old there with adults… completely inappropriate).
It’ll be interesting to hear what other folks think of the film.
AP
These are another group of horrible BLACK actors! That OVER act and under act and come off as plain STUPID! Lincoln Heights is plain STUPID and unnecessary. So many black stupid demeaning stereotype I lost count. White people love to demean blacks in sitcom . The black husband and wife seem seem like they hate each other. The children don’t seem like brothers and sisters. The episode that really piss me off was when the cop shot the thug idiot with a gun. Given the fact that in real life UNARMED blacks are shot and the cops are back to work before the body in the grounds. Lincoln Heights lies to the public by making out like cops really give a shit about a black person. The sitcom could tell the public the TRUTH! It could tell how the police force see all black people as criminals. And could careless about shoting unarmed or arm blacks.
ENTERTAINMENT OR THE LACK OF!
I am constandly wondering who the hell is BET serving? As a 50 year old black father of 4 grandfather of 4. BET gives nothing to my children and grandchildren. Music video” christian music video” reality shows” paid programming ! Where is the programs that shines a light on police butality in the black community. Or programs on education so needed in the black communites. When Robert L. Johnson was incharge what was he thiknking? I thought there was some hope for BET, the network began to diversify its program offerings and image. By its tenth anniversary in 1990, the network had initiated several original programs/projects, including: For the Record, featuring members of the Congressional Black Caucus; Teen Summit, a Saturday noon show for youth; Black Agenda 2000, a series of forums on issues of interest to the black community; Conversation with Ed Gordon, an interview program with contemporary newsmakers; Inside Studio A, concerts and interviews taped before a live audience; Personal Diary, one-on-one interviews with prominent blacks; On Stage, plays written and performed by blacks; and Our Voices, a daily talk show. ”That didn’t last!
WHITE MEN GET A PASS
I watch many espisole of COPS and I have seen white suspect point guns and fire at white cops and maybe three shot are fire back by white officer at white suspects.With unarmed blacks as many as 50 bullets are fire by white. In one espisole a white man refuse the order to leave and was spayed. He turn around and sue the police department and won $65,000. Thne incident was caught on camera showing his refusal to comply with the Mayor and the Police Chief and a officer order to leave. This shows two types of justice one for whites and none for blacks.White on white crime is never explain to the public by the white control media! 95% of crime in white community is white on white!
THE BOOGIE MAN
In order to destory a people you must demean that people.
Boo! Are you scare ? Does a darker skin people scare you? Do you understand The Boogie Man mentality? READ ON:After two decades of contentious debate regarding the federal sentencing disparities between crack cocaine and powder cocaine, unprecedented momentum to reform current policy has emerged. In 2007 the United States Sentencing Commission lowered the sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine offenses and recommended that Congress finally address the lengthy racist mandatory minimum sentences for low-level crack cocaine offenses. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that judges may consider the excessive nature of penalties for crack cocaine offenses for purposes of sentencing defendants below the recommended sentencing guidelines. Seven crack cocaine sentencing reform bills were introduced during the 110th Congress, including bills in the Senate and House of Representatives that would equalize penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses without increasing mandatory sentences. In 2009, President Obama declared that “the disparity between sentencing crack and powder-based cocaine is wrong and should be completely eliminated.” The likelihood of legislative reform in the 111th Congress is the strongest it has ever been.
Over the years newspapers across the country have published commentary highlighting the bias associated with federal crack penalties and the federal government’s concentrated prosecution of street-level dealers of crack cocaine, instead of drug kingpins and importers. The overwhelming consensus among federal judges, the civil rights community and legal experts is that now is the time for reform. I think what happen is that the same stupid white men and women in Congress that pass the stupid bias bill in the first place. Now know that young and old white are involve in selling and purchasing crack cocaine. Not just their Boogie Man! Morgan Freeman was recently criticized for declaring Black History Month ridiculous. While I’m probably at risk for having my Black card revoked, I must admit that I’m so glad someone finally said it. I hate Black History Month. Surprise! It’s the one month out of the year when white people feel comfortable asking me all sorts of strange, inappropriate questions and treating me as if I’m the spokesperson for the black race. What I notice over the years the same white people asked the same question. It’s their way of playing “they don’t understand black people! That why I’m officially declearing March as “White History Month”! Then we can question whites about their history and behavoir. From birth to death for most human being in America is about 69 to72 years! Between that time (birth to death) some Americans waist their time hating people because of the color of skin. If everybody stops and think about their hate. We all will be dust in a box one day (DEAD!)
Tyrone, while I realize that you are dropping some serious knowledge and appreciate it, this is not the forum for it, we all get pissed off at how this world operates but we gotta keep our noses clean and go for ours, wasting time complaining about it is non productive and brings negativity. Now bring it down a level and have a nice day
Keep on keeping it real Tyrone….we need to hear the truth.
Okay, did I miss something, was the post about Moe? I get a little confused when people come on talking about stuff that has nothing to do with The Topic.
Please try and stay on topic. It’s not that hard to do…
Tyrone,
Brother everything is going to be alright. I understand, life do get overwhelming and we do sometimes lose focus. You are not alone.
Try a support group or going to church to get some of those burdens lifted. Don’t stay home alone,or watch the news ,and read the newspapers for a while. Even try not to get on any of the websites.
Again, try to stay on topic people. I have seen this movie. I think everyone in this film will have a lot celebrating to do once it hits nation wide. Mo, has always been a person that commands attention. With the cast she has in this film it doesn’t need the heavy promotion that the average film may need. Fanf#%&ingtastic job!!!!!
I saw the movie Precious and although it was a good movie and Monique did her thing…it was not what I expected. The movie was not compelling nor was it over the top. That is just my opinion. The ending could have been better too..but to each his own we all like different things.
Don’t you just love how Mo states she isn’t a politician but gives the most politically correct answer…gotta love hollywood, they should have known she would never toss the Academy under the table while she still pulling in those nods. I love how while validating that, yes, she is promoting precious, never did she deny requesting an appearance fee. I love it I swear…only in Hellywierd!
tyrone IS ANGRY CAUSE HIS MALE,LOONEY TUNES BOYFRIEND karen c HAVEN’T BOUGHT HIM SOME SCOPE,AND CREST TOOTHPASTE.THESE DUM DRAGONS BE REALLY GETTING ANGRY WHEN THEY CAN’T GET NO SCOPE FOR THEIR DRAGON BREATHS,BOY MONSTER karen c IS TRYING TO CALM IS RETARTED BOYFRIEND DOWN,HURRY UP MALE karen c AND GIVE YOUR OLD,DUM,MALE,BOYFRIEND HIS WELFARE CHECK SO HE CAN STOP ALL HIS CRYING,CAUSE YOU karen c AIN’T DOING YOUR MANLY DUTIES,THATS tyrone IS SO UPSET.MONSTER karen c HAS JUMP ON HIS WITCHES BROOM TO THIS PAGE,PLUS karen c and tyrone ARE REALLY 2 GAY GUYS.
MONSTER karen c HAS TRIED TO CALM HIS BOYFRIEND DOWN WITH ALOT OF SCOPE.THAT’S WHY tyrone IS UPSET.PRECIOUS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD MOVIE.T.V.ONE YA’LL NEED TO PROTEST AGAINST THESE SICK MONSTERS THAT KEEPS ON GETTING ON YA’LL PAGES,WE KNOW T.V.ONE THAT YA’LL ARE SO FED UP WITH THESE MONSTERS.MONSTER karen c LIED ABOUT LEAVING THIS WEB SITE INSTEAD,MONSTER karen c BOYFRIEND tyrone GETS ON HERE CRYING ABOUT A WELFARE CHECK HIS DUM,OLD,BOYFRIEND karen c HAVEN’T GAVE TO HIM YET.
H- Double ll SH–.
HA,HA, HA, US MEXICANS WE ARE LAUGHING RIGHT NOW.
I really Can’t wait to see Mo’nique play her role in precious. I wish that I will find the time before its gone of the big movie screen.
Tyler and Oprah are on the most important side of production - distribution. Without distribution the film is toast. They probably won’t come out together to promote it until it’s Golden Globes, Oscar and other awards lobbying time. And plus the movie isn’t scheduled for major distribution until December when it counts.
One fact down.
Mo’Nique is a great actress on the screen but her answers were shady. If she is like a lot of black celebs, they put a dollar valuation on showing up at McDonald’s for a Big Mac. Missing Toronto and other big film festivals to promote a film is a big deal and speaks volumes. She didn’t have to go to promote the film but she should have been there to promote herself. That Oscar could mean more for her in the end than someone paying or not paying for her expenses. A smart actress/actor would have hitchhiked there. Sometimes we have to move out of the “hook-up” mentality and invest in ourselves. We’ll know next month if being interviewed in the NYT was enough. It’s not. The interviewer knew all too well that politics are everything with the Oscars. Mo’Nique didn’t.
There’s a lot of truth to what tyrone was saying, I will not go see the movie and didn’t like the way monique look advertising the movie. this stuff is happening every day and its not a movie, its real. We need to try helping people in this situation instead of saying if its award worthy or not. Monique show is good, I think, but she need to save the profanity and screaming for her stand-up not her talk show. Still enjoyed “The Parkers” more.
I can’t wait to see precious when it comes out here.
I agree with you Lizz. Her talk show is ok but that screaming gets to me.
WHATEVER….JUST HOPE SHE DON’T GET THE BIG HEAD…
I think Mo, already has “The BIG HEAD”. For a long time I didn’t really care for her. Comedy-funny!!!! The Parkers-O.K. Author-Not My kind of material. So when I heard she was starring in a movie with a host of others worth checking out, I was like cool, I’mma do that. I watched a esposide of her show dedicated to the movie. The way she presents herself on t.v. to me is fake. She just don’t give me, this is Mo’nique. It all seemed very rehersuled and staged. Her set looks very cheap. Its B.E.T and I know that they can do better. 106 & Park is lavish compared to her set. That is neither here/nor there right now. Just an example of what I ‘m saying.
I am glad that Mo’ Nique granted this interview to put her voice out their against the negative media voice. I am very glad that we live in a country where everyone can state their own unique thoughts, opinions and ideas publicly without censorship. I am prayerful that more of us can help uplift, inspire and educate those who need the boost to his or her self-esteem and personal effectiveness.
Everyone have a POSITIVE WEEK and try to THINK proactively versus reactively. Never any need nor enough TIME to tear down a soul.
I saw the movie and felt short changed. I heard great reviews before watching the film and was left with a sense of “wanting”. The story line is super with room to affect change/awareness, however, there were numerous disjointed portrayals throughtout. Also, I can definitely see Mo’s concern for fair compensation; she was paid to play a role and obviously, through her limited receipt of industry awards, had no idea of the ramifications of the “Oscar” game. She is a comedy genre based artist that has grown in her career that enabled her to flaunt with the Academy. In other words, she is a sister from Baltimore that seized an opportunity and is still learning…certainly she will make some more bad calls before it is over but should be given an opportunity to mature in this new found place. God bless everyone and may we continue to embrace human-ness.
I really like Mo’Nique, but must wonder who’s advising her. I work in the entertainment industry and I’ve never known any actors (A list or not) who is paid to promote a movie in which they’ve already been paid for. I’ve seen actors obtain the use of the studio’s private jet to accommodate a publicity appearance for the movie, but that’s the extent of it. I’ve seen Gabby promoting ‘Precious’ more than I’ve seen Mo’Nique which I found odd. There was a article in the Hollywood Reporter about Mo’Nique’s behavior, and it even said Oprah had tried talking Mo’Nique of requesting money for appearances. Maybe Mo’Nique still thinks she’s in Baltimore performing at the local bar where you can tell the owner you want to paid each night, money in envelopes. Well, two words Mo’Nique: Show Business. You’re no longer in ‘Baltimore’ Mo’Nique.