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The subject of equality in race and gender the forefront of many conversations in our society right now.
Actress and comedian Mo’nique brought that conversation back to the forefront with an Instagram video asking fans and the larger community to boycott Netflix.
The reason she wants us to protest is due to what she felt was a lowball offer of $500,000 for a comedy special.
This is why she is outraged, and has a point.
Chris Rock agreed to a $40 million deal for two comedy specials. Dave Chappelle agreed to a $60 million for three comedy specials. Those two specials average to $20 million a special. A big price for two comedy legends.
Amy Schumer was initially offered $11 million for her special. She then negotiated for a higher payday after the offers for Chappelle and Rock were released.
Rock and Chappelle are undoubtedly legends and special situations due to that status. Can it be argued that Mo’nique has earned a better offer than she received?
While yes it can be argued Schumer was hot at the time of her deal, is it fair to say that Mo’Nique has earned just over 4{fa92a30527d29ecc121cef8c329a312c84dbcc0bdfd8bcb1602d658145182926} of the salary Schumer has made over the years?
Where did it all go wrong?
The argument is simple. Mo’nique as a Queen of Comedy over her career has earned that she is worth more than just over 4{fa92a30527d29ecc121cef8c329a312c84dbcc0bdfd8bcb1602d658145182926} that was offered to Shumer. The approach can be worked on though.
As Rosenberg points out in the interview, saying I was offered way less than other comedians would have resonated. The normal fan can’t relate to “i deserve more than $500,000.” Instead it could have been packaged as “I was offered less than $10 million more than a comedian whom talented, I have the same credentials for.”
As Ebro points out, another argument is calling for people to boycott Netflix is essentially asking many people to change the way they enjoy entertainment in 2018. Many use Netflix as an alternative to cable. Also, the platform is known to have be a place where lots of content created by african-americans and latinos are being showcased where it may not be otherwise.
This is not the first time she has called out people who what she says was her being “blackballed.”
According to Page Six in May 2017, she said the following during a stand up show.
“Thank you, Mr. Lee Daniels. Thank you, Mr. Tyler Perry. Thank you, Ms. Oprah Winfrey,” she continued. “I know they like to say, ‘Mo’Nique, you talk too motherf**kin’ much.’ It would kill me not to say the real s**t … You are not paying me equally. You are not treating me fairly, so you can suck my d**k if I had one.”
Mo’nique has a point. She deserves more than what was offered. Yet, there is still more about the story that needs to be heard. What were the details of the negotiations? Was $500,000 their highest offer? Why? Are there negotiations with other networks? What are they offering? And more.
Listen to her make her point during a recent interview with Ebro in the Morning below.