Mo’nique has claimed that she was “blackballed” by the movie industry after winning an Oscar in 2010.
The star claimed the Best Supporting Actress for her role in Precious but in an interview with The Hollywood Record says that the reaction to her win was not what she expected.
“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.
“Hattie [McDaniel] said, “After I won that award, it was as if I had done something wrong”. It was the same with me. 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.”
She added that director Lee Daniels later told her that she had been “blackballed” because she “didn’t play the game” but refused to clarify his comment when she asked for an explanation.
However, the 47-year-old said that she believed that her and her husband had been perceived as “difficult” and this had damaged her reputation in the industry.
“One of the networks said to [Lee] that I was “really difficult to work with”. And I said, “Well, that’s funny, because I’ve never even worked with them, but OK. 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,” she said.
“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.”
She later took to Twitter to stand by her comments and urging them to stand up for their beliefs.
To be BLACKBALLED or ostracized 4 ur views is a scary thought, however to say silent about what u see is scarier. #faceyourfears
— Mo'Nique Worldwide (@moworldwide) February 19, 2015
