American comedian Mo’Nique has reopened old wounds in her years-long feud with media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
The comedian alleged that Winfrey took movie roles offered to her and blindsided her by interviewing her estranged parents on her show without prior consent.
The feud between Mo’Nique and Winfrey dates back to 2019 when Mo’Nique accused Winfrey, Tyler Perry, and Lee Daniels of blacklisting her in Hollywood after she declined to participate in the Oscar campaign for the movie “Precious,” for which she won the best supporting actress Oscar.
In a recent episode of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with Shannon Sharpe, Mo’Nique addressed the feud and claimed that Winfrey took leading roles that were originally offered to her after the Oscar controversy.
She cited examples such as “The Butler” and an unreleased Richard Pryor biopic.
Despite reconciling with Daniels in 2022, Mo’Nique demanded an apology from Winfrey and called for her and Tyler Perry to address her claims on the podcast.
She accused Winfrey of being unfair and unjust, claiming that Winfrey stood by while Mo’Nique was thrown under the bus.
Mo’Nique also addressed the painful episode involving her family’s appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2010, where her eldest brother admitted to molesting her when she was seven years old.
Mo’Nique revealed that Winfrey had assured her only her brother would be on the show, not her estranged parents. However, both parents appeared unexpectedly, leading to a confrontation between Mo’Nique and Winfrey at a party later on.
Mo’Nique recounted a conversation with the late Barbara Walters, who rejected her family’s request to appear on “The View” before they approached Winfrey’s show.
According to Mo’Nique, Walters expressed disbelief at the idea of having Mo’Nique’s family appear on television after her Oscar win.
Mo’Nique emphasised that Winfrey’s decision to include her estranged parents on the show without her knowledge was a betrayal of trust, especially considering their private conversations about family matters.
She expressed her regret and frustration over Winfrey’s actions, stating that she would have objected had she been aware of her mother’s involvement.
The ongoing feud between Mo’Nique and Winfrey is one of over a decade that centres on issues of power, betrayal, and personal integrity. Oprah Winfrey is yet to respond to Mo’nique’s comments.
