Yahoo News Mo'Nique wants Netflix boycott over race & gender bias
Oscar-winning Precious actress Mo'Nique has called for fans to boycott streaming service Netflix over its alleged bias.
Probably best-known for her role as the abusive Mary Lee Johnston in Precious, the 50-year-old has also had big TV parts in the likes of The Parkers and Bessie, andhas had a successful stand-up career.
Taking to Instagram, Mo'Nique called out Netflix for an apparent gender and race bias.
#BOYCOTT#NETFLIX FOR #COLORBIAS AND #GENDERBIAS. PLEASE STAND WITH ME. I LOVE US.
A post shared by Mo'nique (@therealmoworldwide) on Jan 19, 2018 at 5:54am PST
"I was offered a $500,000 deal last week to do a comedy special. However, Amy Schumer was offered $11 million, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, $20 million," she told her fans in a fierce rant at Netflix.
In a separate video, the star demanded that the company readdress its low offers for stars like herself and Wanda Sykes.
Sykes was clearly one of those who listened, tweeting her thanks to Mo'Nique for highlighting the issue.
.@moworldwide, thank you for speaking out. @netflix offered me less than half of your $500k. I was offended but found another home. #EPIX
- Official Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) January 21, 2018
Jada Pinkett Smith has also tweeted her support, writing: "You don't have to like Mo'Nique's approach. You don't have to agree with her boycott but don't allow all of that to make you blind to the fact that non-white women and impoverished white women are underpaid, underrepresented and undervalued EVERYWHERE by EVERYONE."
Digital Spy has reached out to Netflix for comment, with a spokesperson for the company reiterating, "Netflix does not comment on contract negotiations."
You don’t have to like Mo’Nique’s approach. You don’t have to agree with her boycott but don’t allow all of that to make you blind to the fact that non-white women and impoverished white women are underpaid, underrepresented and undervalued EVERYWHERE by EVERYONE.
- Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 23, 2018
Other huge comedy contracts in the past have included Jerry Seinfeld netting $100 million, and Louis CK pulling in $40 million for two specials before allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him.
Regardless of its rights or wrongs, the Netflix stand-up train continues to steam ahead, with Ellen DeGeneres having been picked up by the streaming service last year, as well as British Inbetweeners star Greg Davies.
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