Mo’Nique and Netflix have settled her highly publicized lawsuit where she accused the streamer of discrimination and retaliation after their negotiations for a stand-up comedy special went up in smoke.
In 2017, Netflix began courting Mo’Nique for a stand-up comedy special.
The Oscar-winning actress was insulted when the streamer only offered her $500,000 for a one-hour show that Netflix would have complete control over, including owning the copyright and retaining all audio-only rights.
Mo blasted Netflix accusing them of discrimination and systematically underpaying Black women, especially after the ginormous deals Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock secured for their comedy specials (reportedly $20 million per special.)
I couldn’t accept that low offer because if I did … I couldn’t sleep at night.
If I accepted $500,000, what does Tiffany Haddish have coming?
If I accept that, what does the Black female comedian have coming? Because what they’ll say is, ‘Mo’Nique accepted this and she’s got that.’
So what do they have coming?
Amy Schumer was used as Exhibit C in Mo’Nique’s argument after learning the actress and comedian was initially making $11 million for her special, but after learning of Dave and Chris’ deals, she requested and received a pay increase.
You may recall, that Amy took to Instagram writing:
I believe women deserve equal pay.
However, I don’t believe I deserve equal pay to Chris and Dave. They are legends and [two] of the greatest comics of all time.”
I would like to say that I have been selling out arenas these last couple years.
Something a female comic has never done.
That’s a big deal to me, especially because I know I do my best every night on stage for the audience and they have a good time.
I didn’t ask for the same as my friends. I did ask for more than the initial offer.
At one point, Mo’Nique called for people to boycott Netflix.
A federal judge sided with Mo’Nique saying it wasn’t a good look for Netflix to end negotiations with her when she said the streamer was being discriminatory with their offer.
The judge wrote:
At the very least, Mo’Nique’s allegations permit the plausible inference that, had she not challenged her offer as discriminatory, Netflix would have continued negotiating in good faith with her and increased her offer, consistent with its customary practice in dealing with talent in the entertainment industry.
The lawsuit has been officially settled, but the terms of the deal (the number of zeros and the decimal point) were not disclosed.
Hopefully, Mo’Nique got more than Netflix offered her for her stand-up comedy special.
Your thoughts?
I don’t really know how to feel about this “victory” for Mo’Nique because she’s gonna have to pay lawyer fees, Uncle Sam because it will be public record like her supposed tax liens & Sidney aka “daddy!” The other LEGENDS didn’t negotiate with their awards or a lawsuit. They negotiated with their drawing power & being in high public demand!