Mo’Nique has been a trailblazer to women in comedy. She started out as a comic, but she made a giant leap in the television industry, and now she is one of the most revered actors and comedians in the genre. But she faced many tumultuous phases in her life. After the industry ostracized her, she continued her work, and while wanting to fight for pay disparity, she landed in a lawsuit with Netflix.
The streaming giant, Netflix, has been pushing the content from cherry-picked comedians like Chris Rock, Vir Das, and Dave Chappelle through their YouTube channel, ‘Netflix Is A Joke.’ The company has stood by their comedians’ content despite receiving flak, and they have been strengthening its niche by promoting them. Mo’Nique was unhappy with Netflix’s pay disparity based on gender and racism leaving no option but to sue the company.
Related: Mo’Nique And Lee Daniels Have Made Amends After 13 Years
Mo’Nique Sued Netflix For Pay Disparity
In 2018, Mo’Nique accused Netflix of offering low pay to do a stand-up special with a lawsuit and a campaign. It all started in 2017 when Netflix approached her to do a special. The comedian did not like the offer that they proposed. It was a lowball $500,000, with Netflix owning the streaming and content rights.
Netflix walked out of the negotiations when they were accused of systematically exercising pay disparity against Black women. She went on Instagram, asking her fans to boycott Netflix. She posted a video on Instagram, asking fans to support her in boycotting Netflix for “gender and color bias.” The Oscar-winning actress said that comedians like Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, and others are getting paid heavily. But, despite her brilliant résumé, Netflix declined to negotiate further.
The complaint that Mo’Nique filed read, “The offer made to Mo’Nique was merely an ‘opening offer,’ from which there was an expectation—both by Netflix and Mo’Nique—of continued negotiations likely leading to increased compensation being offered to Mo’Nique.”
Netflix agreed to contest the lawsuit. The platform released a statement which read, “We believe our opening offer was fair—which is why we will be fighting this lawsuit.” However, later, both parties later dismissed the lawsuit and agreed to a settlement. The company cited that an employer’s refusal to negotiate further does not translate to “discrimination or retaliation.”
In Case You Missed: Top 25 Stand-Up Comedy Specials To Binge On Netflix
People Criticized The Comedian For Boycotting Netflix
When Mo’Nique started the online campaign urging fans to boycott the platform, she received heavy criticism. It was so brutal that the radio station, ‘The Breakfast Club,’ gave her the ‘Donkey of the Day’ award. Charlemagne tha God, the host, did not think it was the appropriate time or reason to protest.
In April 2023, Mo’Nique did an interview with Vulture, in which she reacted to the retribution she received for raising her voice for herself and her descendants.
She said, “Well if you know the history of us in a place called Hollywood, I wasn’t surprised. I heard some people say, “Oh, girl, just take it.” “Oh, I would’ve taken it.” “Oh, I would’ve handled it this way or that way.” None of those people had done what I had done, and I say that humbly.”
Mo’Nique continued “So I wasn’t surprised at the feedback, or whatever you want to call it. However, I knew that I could not flinch nor waver, and I knew that from the conversations my husband and I had. We had to stand in it.”
You Might Also Like To Read: Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos Responds To Anti-LGBTQIA+ Humor On Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle’s Netflix Special
