Mo'Nique Slams Oprah Amid Taraji P. Henson's "The Color Purple" Complaints

BYCaroline Fisher4.8K Views
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Mo'Nique at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on November 1, 2009. (Photo by Munawar Hosain/Fotos International/Getty Images) Reproduction by American tabloids is absolutely forbidden.

"Those women should have been taken care of from the moment go," Mo'Nique says.

Taraji P. Henson has been making headlines in recent weeks for raising issues with the way cast members were treated while working on The Color Purple. Countless fans and peers have chimed into the conversation, noting how Black women in the entertainment industry have always been treated unfairly, and undervalued by their white and male counterparts. Amid the discourse, various users have also noted how Mo'Nique raised similar concerns to Henson's years back, though hers weren't recognized nearly enough at the time.

During a recent Golden Globes interview, Oprah Winfrey chimed in on the controversy surrounding The Color Purple, which she co-produced. “Everything got handled,” she said of issues on set. “It’s so disturbing to me because why is my name even in this conversation? I’ve been the champion for everybody.” Mo'Nique has now responded to Oprah's comments, however, and she thinks otherwise.

Read More: Oprah Will Interview Taraji P. Henson Amid Complaints About "The Color Purple"

Mo'Nique Claims Oprah "Didn't Champion" For The Color Purple Cast

Oprah Winfrey speaks on stage during The Robin Hood Foundation's 2018 benefit at Jacob Javitz Center on May 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Robin Hood)

“Everything was, ‘Didn’t I champion for y’all?’ I was like, ‘Stop it. You didn’t champion for those Black women, for our sisters,” Mo’Nique told The Root this week. “What [she] did was, ‘We can treat them like we always treat them, who gon’ check me boo? I’m Oprah Winfrey.'" She went on, noting how the issues raised should have been handled before the women stepped on set. “You know everything should have been done when you showed up…Now when you hear our beautiful sisters saying, ‘yeah but it got fixed,’ it’s like we’re making it worse.”

“So, when Oprah Winfrey sits at the helm and Taraji P. Henson says, ‘It’s an honor that we were hand-picked for this movie,’ Well, if they were hand-picked for that movie, those women should have been taken care of from the moment go.” What do you think of Mo'Nique finally speaking out following Taraji P. Henson's complaints about working on The Color Purple? Do you agree with her? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: 50 Cent Doubles Down On Taraji P. Henson Offer, Brags About Getting Mary J. Blige Paid For "Power"

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About The Author
Caroline Fisher is a News Writer at HotNewHipHop from Chicago, Illinois. She started at HNHH this year, and has since spent her time writing about all that is newsworthy in the world of hip-hop. With a drive for hunting down the hottest stories, she enjoys documenting new developments in culture and entertainment. She also has an appreciation for hip-hop and seeks to cover the most important trends and shifts. She has a Bachelor of Arts which she received at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Having graduated in 2022, she majored in English with a concentration in Media, Rhetoric and Cultural Studies. Specializing all things music, pop culture and entertainment, some of her favorite musical artists include Snoop Dogg, OutKast, and Nicki Minaj. When she’s not writing about music she’s also a fan of attending shows, watching the latest movies, staying up-to-date with current events, photography, and poetry.