Recent years have seen comic Mo’Nique speak up and out about the injustices she feels she’s experienced in her career.
And she’s not turning the volume down anytime soon.
Moments ago, the actress/stand-up comedienne took aim at Netflix over what she insists is race and gender bias.
Full story below…
In a short but detailed video, she explains that she recently took a meeting with the streaming giant about an original comedy special for the platform.
However, things took a turn for the worse when money was discussed. Because, according to Mo, she was being shortchanged.
In the clip, she details the lack of viable explanation provided as to why she was offered $500,000 while caucasian comic Amy Schumer netted over $11 million for her deal. She also highlighted Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle, who commanded even more.
All of this, she says, warrants a boycott of Netflix. Her words below…
Oh Mo.
On the surface, the contrast in zeros does raise an eyebrow. And, at a time when famous females are coming forth full throttle to discuss pay discrepancies and demand more, she’s not off-tone when it comes to that conversation.
However, it’s crucial to scratch beyond the surface here.
The reality is that Mo’Nique, perhaps by way of her very public battles with the likes of Tyler Perry and Oprah, hasn’t been the most enticing casting prospect. At least not to the level one would expect after ‘Precious’ and her Oscar win. That in turn seems to have dimmed the intensity of her star and thus her ability to command the type of checks she feels she’s entitled to.
So, while there may be some unavoidable issues when comparing her proposed pay packet to others, the reality is that “present day relevance” is one of the strongest bargaining tools one could place on the table. Because, in today’s world, historic achievements can only carry so far. It’s all about optics.
If were to give Mo some friendly advice at the time, it’d have been to negotiate for more – even if it only meant securing slightly more than offered. And then simply slay the hell out of the special, promote it to the heavens, and then negotiate a higher fee for the next one. Again, it’s all about optics. Because, had she done exactly this, no one would even be enquiring about her pay-packet. They’d be applauding her for “winning” in the eye of the storm.
Now, by going against Netflix, she’s continues to have fewer and fewer platforms to showcase her undeniable talent.
Moral of the story? Yes, ish can be unfair. But sometimes just be humble, understand your current predicament, and establish a strategy to get what you want in the long run.