In an eye-opening interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mo’Nique has revealed that she was “blackballed” after winning an Academy Award for her supporting role in “Precious.”
The interviewer assumes — as most of us would — that an Oscar win would lead to more money, clout, and job offers in the industry. But Mo’Nique’s experience hasn’t been quite so positive: “What I understood was that when I won that Oscar, things would change in all the ways you’re saying: It should come with more respect, more choices, and more money. It should, and it normally does…. I thought, once you won the award, that’s the top prize — and so you’re supposed to be treated as if you got the top prize. I got a phone call from [‘Precious’ director] Lee Daniels maybe six or seven months ago. And he said to me, ‘Mo’Nique, you’ve been blackballed.’ And I said, ‘I’ve been blackballed? Why have I been blackballed?’ And he said, ‘Because you didn’t play the game.’ And I said, ‘Well, what game is that?’ And he gave me no response.”
Back in the 2010 awards season, Mo’Nique was criticized for not campaigning hard enough, though she went on to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar nonetheless.
Mo’Nique also responded to her reputation for being “difficult”: “Whoever those people are who say, ‘Mo’Nique is difficult,’ those people are either heartless, ruthless, or treat people like they’re worthless. And that’s unacceptable. They’re set to say, ‘Mo’Nique is tactless, she’s tacky.’ That’s why I have my beautiful husband [actor and producer Sidney Hicks], because he’s so full of tact, ’cause I’m a girl from Baltimore. I come from a blue-collar town — and being from that place, you learn not to let anybody take advantage of you. You don’t let people mistreat you. You stand up for what’s right. So I can’t answer why he said I was blackballed.”
It’s no secret that women are all-too-often labeled “difficult” when they speak their mind and know their worth. And let’s face it: Hollywood is full of very difficult dudes whose agents, lawyers and PR reps are busy all day long making deals and cashing checks on their behalf. We don’t yet know the whole story behind Mo’Nique’s post-Oscar reputation, but we hope the talented actress will be able to get the comeback she deserves soon.
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[via The Hollywood Reporter]
