Mo’Nique has been all over the front pages for the past week, after she revealed that producer and director Lee Daniels told her that she’d been blackballed by Hollywood. Since then, the two have gone back and forth in the press with subtle responses to each other’s clams, but now Mo’Nique is boldly calling out Daniels for his “blackballed” comments.
In a new interview with “Good Morning America,” Mo’Nique addressed claims that she was blackballed in the industry for choosing to spend time with her family over campaigning for the movie Precious during Oscar season. However, Mo’Nique claims that it’s not Hollywood that thinks she’s difficult; it’s Daniels who she thinks is angry with her for not thanking him during her Oscar acceptance speech.
“People were saying, ‘Someone needs to teach Mo’Nique a lesson because she’s not playing the game, and she’s gonna get in her own way of winning this award, because it seems like she’s choosing her family over Hollywood.’ I don’t think Hollywood has turned its nose up to me. I think that those are feelings that Mr. Daniels is having. And then he said, ‘You know, there were things that Mo’Nique – she didn’t thank the producers, and she didn’t thank the studio, and that’s just not things that you do.’ Well, it had nothing to do with the producers, nor the studio. Mr. Daniels had a problem that I didn’t say his name the night of the Oscar awards,” Mo’Nique explained.
Although Mo’Nique agreed with Daniels that there’s a game that must be played in Hollywood, she disagreed that she had to sacrifice her integrity to be successful.
“I appreciate that comment because he’s absolutely right – it is show business. A game does have to be played. But why can’t we play the fair game? Why can’t we play the right game? If you’re asking, am I willing to put my integrity on the line for Hollywood? No,” she said.
We won’t be surprised if Daniels fires back at Mo’Nique over her accusations about him, but it’s unfortunate that these two film and TV titans can’t work together and make creative magic instead of tabloid drama.
