Watch: Lee Daniels Says Mo’Nique Got Herself Blacklisted By Practicing “Reverse Racism”

Published: Thursday 26th Feb 2015 by Rashad
lee-daniels-monique-thatgrapejuice

Mo’nique has been the name on everyone’s lips since she took to The Hollywood Reporter to reveal that she was blackballed from Hollywood.

The actress, whose nearly three decade long career was highlighted by an Academy Award win for “Best Supporting Actress” at the 2010 Academy Awards for her role in ‘Precious,’ found it increasingly difficult to find work after the industry recognition.

‘Empire’ director Lee Daniels believes he knows why and blames the ‘Parkers’ diva’s “reverse racism” as the cause.  Click below to hear him sound off on the unfortunate incident:

Start at 1:57:

“She was making unreasonable demands, and she wasn’t thinking — this was when reverse racism was happening, I think,” he said. “You have to thank the producers of the film, you have to thank the studio, and she didn’t understand that. I love her, I’ve spoken to her. She’s brilliant, and I love working with brilliant people.”

“Sometimes artists get in their own way — I know I certainly do often, I have my own demons. I think that there were demands that were made on the Precious campaign that everyone knows hurt her. I told her that.”

“I don’t like calling the race card; if I buy into it, then it’s real,” he said.  – Lee Daniels, 2015

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  1. arfa February 26, 2015

    She did it to her self

    • Nika February 27, 2015

      True, she was a real b**** during those episode of her life. She let that nomination go to her head.

  2. Blue Ivy Rod (fourfivesecondsofSeethin) February 26, 2015

    What the hell is “Reverse Racism” that statement within itself doesn’t make a lick of sense

    • Citi February 26, 2015

      The producers and people she needed to Thank according to Daniels are white. Monique was too proud to thank them and kiss their ass. In his mind it’s reverse racism because Monique didn’t want to kiss white ass during the campaign which is unfortunately what you have to do according to him.

      • Toohotfortv February 26, 2015

        Right… as Mr. Daniels continues to climb into bed “exclusively” with white twinks, nonsensical terms such as “reverse racism” persist in falling from his mouth. I’m not sure I’m even surprised that something like that should come out of him. Nor am I surprised that Monique is/was difficult. The whole thing is a mess and if race is a factor, it shows that racism is a system. How often does it occur that blacks are excluded from projects because of race? The answer is, often. Yet that has very very rarely hurt a white person’s ascent to success. Smh

  3. the voice February 26, 2015

    What did she do that was “reverse racism”?
    i get the bad attitude part but she needs to call him out on that reverse racism comment…………
    Not ackowledging a producer is now reverse racism? …
    Now understand why there is so much anti-Obama right wing propaganda in his show.
    I’m done with supporting this man.

    • nate February 26, 2015

      Everybody stop talking about what Monique did wrong and take time to analyze what he just said. What the hell is reverse racism? Is this the new “fetch” or something? Why are folks believing this term could ever be real? Unless me and my people ever have the powerer to collectively dictate what schools, neighborhoods, and collective society runs over whites, there could never be a reversed senerio. If Monique were truly practicing reverse racism, then she would have the power to book herself for those movies, she would have the power to fire all the execs who tried to back ball her, and she would have staffed Hollywood the way she say fit. For anyone to have the power to blackball an actress because of 1 MOVIE situation, and then blame her for her own doing, that’s real power, and that’s racism. White actors get to do what they want, how they want to on movie sets, and they get booked for 5 movies every year. But what Monique is suppose to walk a thin line? That’s Racism, and it’s not reversed.

      • jub February 27, 2015

        i think you’re misunderstanding his point. first of all racism isn’t only white hating blacks. racism is hating someone solely becauese of their race an color of their skin.
        HATE doesn’t always come with power. you don’t have to be powerful to be racist. there is no such thing as reverse racism. Its just racism.
        i do agree that sometimes people block their own success.

  4. Stephy Is Messy February 26, 2015

    She needs to humble her fat ass. Her show was cool on BET tho. But, I stopped watching cause she would come out yelling all loud. She gives me Proud Stuck Up Ghetto Fabulous Woman tease. Not cute at all… I Wish Ha The Best Of Luck!

    • FutureCIARA February 26, 2015

      YGJGYHUFKVHEVDGAH

    • Molly February 26, 2015

      Screaming!!!!!

    • TheElusiveLamb February 26, 2015

      LMAOOOOO!

  5. christinastherealtalent February 26, 2015

    I love his new show but if he continues to throw Monqiue under the bus, I will withdraw my interest from Empire. Just focus on your own damn work instead of trying to bring somebody else down. You have all kinds of fortune and success going for you! G’d*amn

  6. FutureCIARA February 26, 2015

    What does her NOT thanking the studio and producers have to do with “Reverse Racism” ? I dont get it… Maybe he needs to expound on his statement a bit more in a FULL interview, instead of throwing bits and pieces out every chance he gets.

  7. Antonio February 26, 2015

    The reverse racism but was pointless to say but the other stuff is true tho. After her Oscar win, she demanded that BET pay her more money, despite her show having average ratings and she also began having ridiculous demands in private as well, without being grateful for the opportunity of a lifetime. Every acceptance speech she gave, she always said thank god for the performance and not the politics, but girl, you clearly didn’t know the politics of the industry. You can’t be given these huge platforms and opportunities and think that’s all good

  8. Blue Ivy Rod (fourfivesecondsofSeethin) February 26, 2015

    Reverse racism statement is saying that only racism comes from whites (which is also false) the term altogether needs to be abolish, just the “black on black crime” foolishness. If the population has more white people then the chances of a white person committing a crime against another white person is higher than the white individual attacking a minority. People you have to use your brains

    (That white people crime thing is an example)

  9. Rated R February 26, 2015

    Waiting , for a Mo’Nique clap back . You can’t say she was blackballed because her career was great before “Precious” but after all of a sudden it went away because of this thing called “Reverse Racism” which encompasses thanking the cast , the crew , “the producers” , etc. But given the fact that he was the director for precious and that he maybe salty that he was not thanked in advanced for her winning that Oscar that has him so hurt to “Blackball” her himself . Those mysterious roles for Mo’ that vanished all by him as director . It seems the blackballing started by him . But not to say that Mo’Nique acceptance speech at the Oscars was acceptable for the Oscars maybe a thank you to the producers , cast and the between people would have stopped this , but no promo tour at festivals in combination with people saying she is Diva-ish and has a attitude – she was destined to be brought down by the powers above , because had she done the rest of the festivals people would have made there own opinion and seen her for her artistry and that’s it not for he say or she say . But at the end of the day Lee can’t try to say, she blackballed herself when he was the one attached to the film he did , the finger pointing may just comeback to him .

    • nate February 26, 2015

      Lee Daniels could never green light his own projects. Studio heads are the big wigs. As talent, he can throw out names, but it’s the studio who says yes or no. He admits he’s playing the game, doing whatever he has to do to get his projects in theaters and in movies. He’s not as powerful as it seems. Hollywood is smoke and mirrors.

  10. TRUTH SERUM February 26, 2015

    People have to realize that in order to be successful in the US, you have to assimilate on some level. Monique didn’t want to play the game which every nominated actor and or actress has to play and it came back to bite her in her big assets. Another case where keeping it real goes wrong; was that BET check worth it?

    • Pat February 26, 2015

      If u ask me he just put her back in the biz with that reverse racism comment. In this day and age (social media, technology) all it takes is a quick semi-educated response!

  11. Pat February 26, 2015

    Sell out!

    • TRUTH SERUM February 26, 2015

      Lol. Smdh. So wrong…

  12. Black power February 26, 2015

    He’s a sell out. Some negros will say and do anything for money, fame and power.

    • TRUTH SERUM February 26, 2015

      I’m a little lost with the whole “sell out” thing. No shade, but please explain if you don’t mind?

      • Blue Ivy Rod (fourfivesecondsofSeethin) February 26, 2015

        He’s basically agreeing with the big bosses so he could secure his show or gain money still. I think he should just not say anything and leave it alone. If you’re not going to support her then you should just be quiet and not bring attention to yourself

      • Pat February 26, 2015

        @Blue, u couldn’t have said it any better. He’s supposed to be her friend. He lost me with the “not calling people out on they’re b*******” comment. Yea he’s a sellout…

  13. Kelendria February 26, 2015

    Yeah right, they just jealous of her success

  14. Molly February 26, 2015

    She has no one to blame but herself, This b**** knows she regrets it now lmfao. #DumbFatBitch

  15. Mark111 February 26, 2015

    I think she was never an actress, yes that role won her an Oscar, but at the end of the day, she was playing herself. Same with J Hud, is she blacklisted? No, she just had that one role that she was perfect for.

  16. Mark111 February 26, 2015

    And can Black gays stop with the boo whoo crap. I think MOST gays have a hard time being accepted. You think being black and gay is not as hard as being a white gay from a church family? Or being gay in Africa or the middle east? Or being a masculine lesbian?

    • Tyler February 26, 2015

      History has proven, that being black is a struggle in and of itself…. Until being “white” and having any connection to europe is viewed by society as negatively as being “black” and having any connection to africa, no being white and gay is not the same as being black and gay.

      • Mark111 February 26, 2015

        I think that’s BS. It’s a being accepted problem more than anything. And that’s has nothing to do with race nor your s**.

  17. TheElusiveLamb February 26, 2015

    Lol. After hearing this, I understand why the roles fried up and the show got canceled in 30 minutes or less. She still can make a comeback though. I think she’s an amazing actress.

  18. Musika February 26, 2015

    She was probably being a ‘diva’ and that created a bad reputation for her in Hollywood. Maybe she failed to show work ethnic by not promoting Precious and that’s not good on your CV regardless of that Oscar win.

  19. Sherry February 26, 2015

    I wouldn’t have kissed Mr White Mans flat ass either, but I would’ve been very graceful about it. At the end of the day my family still has to eat. Her new movie looks really good btw.

  20. Special Delivery February 26, 2015

    He sounds stupid

  21. Paulo February 26, 2015

    maybe I wasn’t paying attention enough as the audio played here but where did he mention reverse racism in this interview? regardless of that… he’s giving me severe Matthew Knowles teas with all the pauses and smiling and s***. He might be a great director but he’s playing Mo’Nique. I can’t believe he’s saying race is not a factor tho when he’s crafted a lot of interesting stories about black people that wouldn’t have been shot if it wasn’t for black artists’ efforts. so contradictory!

  22. Paulo February 26, 2015

    off-topic: his partner is writing on the show too? so he f****** Danny Strong now, is that what he’s saying?

  23. AnnaMaeKeatingsNewWig February 26, 2015

    Not everyone inviting themselves to the tea party, to spill the tea on Mo’Nique

  24. Cough Cough February 26, 2015

    Monique kept it real and so now is Lee Daniels. Funny how this lil thing called life works, huh?

  25. B**** I Can’t Even Spell Welfare February 26, 2015

    Except, “reverse racism” isn’t a thing.

  26. Dossome February 27, 2015

    “reverse racism”….never heard of the term since Nicki won a grammy

  27. MISHKA February 27, 2015

    If Hollywood honchos can call A-lister of all A-listers Angelina Jolie a – I quote- ” minimally talented spoiled brat”, where do Mo’Nique from Parkers thinks she rrrreally stand in their minds?

    Mo’Nique, you’ve been delusional girl. You want your job and the checks back? well go to those parties, kiss some a$$ and keep your sh!t politically correct from now on.

    The same honchos called Kevin Hart a w**** and what did Kevin reply? Nothing. Because – and I quote- “I’m politically correct”. And there he went, presenting at the Oscars.

    Girl that’s your place of work, if you want to stay in, act accordingly or become the Kanye West of movies and start producing critically and commercially acclaimed movies.

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