Mo’Nique to Oprah: ‘Consider Standing By the People Who Are Right and Not Just the ‘Right People”
Academy Award-winning actress and comedian Mo’Nique recently took to Instagram to pen an open letter to Oprah. Late Monday evening (Feb. 3), the comedian expressed her grievances with the media mogul, asking Oprah to “Please, consider standing by people who are right and not just the ‘right people.'”
“I felt compelled to write you this open letter after observing the disparity in the way that you seem to treat people, who were accused of the same allegations,” Mo’Nique wrote referencing Russell Simmons’s recent accusations of sexual assault and rape.
“You did an interview on the CBS Morning Show and were asked about Harvey Weinstein by Norah O’Donnell, and you said as it pertained to him that you ‘always try to look at the Rainbow in the clouds, whatever is the “silver lining’. You also said ‘if we make this all about Harvey Weinstein then we have lost the moment.'”
“When you either are or were going to be a part of the documentary on Michael Jackson and Russell Simmons, how is that not making it all about them? Interestingly, Brother M.J. was acquitted, and deceased, so how is he not off-limits? Russell and Harvey are accused of the same thing so in fairness how do you not ‘support’ the accusers of both as you said you did with R.S. or you look for the silver lining for both like you said you did for H.W.?,” Mo’Nique continued.
“The only difference between the two is their skin color and doesn’t H.W. have way more accusers? My personal experience with you is you’ve watched me as a black woman be accused of being difficult for not promoting Precious internationally for Lions Gate, at Lions Gate, Tyler Perry, and your request, despite the fact my deal was with Lee Daniels Entertainment. And, how are you for black women when you hear Tyler on audio saying I was right and he was going to speak up but you or him still haven’t said a word?”
“When I was sixteen and I met you at your local show in Baltimore, I told you I wanted to be just like you when I grew up. You responded, ‘you have to work really really hard’. My sixteen-year-old self didn’t know that you in your silence in the face of wrongdoing, would make my life ‘harder.’ Lastly, please consider standing by the people who are right and not just the ‘right people.’ Love you to life, Mo’Nique,” she concluded.
