Mo’Nique recently shared on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast about her long-standing issue with Oprah Winfrey. She revealed feeling betrayed after finding out Oprah exploited her traumatic experiences for ratings. In 2010, Oprah aired an interview about Mo’Nique’s family without her consent, including details of her childhood assault. Despite discussing the interview with Oprah, Mo’Nique felt deceived when her entire family was featured. While she understands Oprah’s decision, Mo’Nique expressed feeling hurt by the use of her personal story. Hence, Mo’Niques feud with Oprah Winfrey.
“See, when I speak about Oprah Winfrey — and let me be clear I love that sister — I speak about that woman because she’s spoken about me,” she clarified on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast Wednesday.
Mo’Nique on Oprah Winfrey during an Interview with Sharpe
“And when you begin to speak about me privately, I’m going to speak about you publicly,” she added.
“You’ve been unfair, you’ve been unjust and you watched a Black woman be thrown under the bus and you said nothing.”
When did Mo’Nique’s feud with Oprah Winfrey all Start?
Mo’Nique, at 56, reflected on the time in 2010 when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “Precious.” According to the “Parkers” alum, her husband Sidney Hicks revealed that Oprah Winfrey, then 70, seemed bothered when the crowd cheered for Mo’Nique over her.
Following that incident, Mo’Nique noticed that movie roles initially offered to her ended up going to Oprah, such as in “The Butler.” Lee Daniels, the film’s director, allegedly confirmed offering her the role, but Oprah’s interest changed the casting decision. Mo’Nique claimed a similar situation occurred in a Richard Pryor biopic where she was offered the role of the grandmother, only for Oprah to express interest later.
Apart from alleged role-taking, Mo’Nique expressed dissatisfaction with Oprah for interviewing her brother Gerald Imes, who admitted to molesting her as a child. Although Oprah offered to cancel the show, Mo’Nique encouraged her to proceed, hoping her brother had changed. However, she later discovered in a commercial that her parents, with whom she had strained relations, were also part of the interview.
Mo’Nique summed up her feelings, stating, “I understand it. But you betrayed me, sister.”
Mo’Nique’s Family Feud
Mo’Nique also disclosed on the podcast that her family initially approached Barbara Walters for an interview. However, Walters declined out of consideration for Mo’Nique’s recent award win.
“‘Mo’Nique, I told your family I can’t do that to you, I wouldn’t do that to you,’” recounted Mo’Nique, quoting Walters. “‘You just won that award, why would I do that to you?’”
In a previous conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Mo’Nique explained her reluctance to involve her mom in the interview. She cited her perception that her mother was attempting to capitalize on the situation.
“I see the show, and I can tell that my mother is trying to make a dollar,” Mo’Nique said. “I know my family.”
Mo’Nique shared with Sharpe that not only was she uneasy about her mom’s conduct on the show. But she also found herself in the awkward position of defending herself from criticism.
“I would be in the store, and I would have elderly women coming up to me, and they would say, ‘Your mama ain’t shit.’ … But still, it’s my mother! … I’m having to defend something. I don’t need nobody seeing my mama being greedy.”
Mo’Nique on Shay Shay Podcast
Mo’Nique had attempted to contact Winfrey after the interview aired but received no response. She eventually confronted Winfrey at a party in 2014. Winfrey claimed Mo’Nique’s brother unexpectedly joined the interview with the other family members – a statement Mo’Nique doubts. Winfrey’s apology, according to Mo’Nique, was not genuine. Along the lines of “something like, ‘If I’ve done anything to offend you, I apologize.’