Mo’Nique called out Oprah Winfrey in an open letter for staying quiet about Harvey Weinstein‘s predatory behavior with Hollywood starlets such as Lupita Nyong’o.
Oprah has repeatedly said she knew nothing about Weinstein’s rapey behavior, but Mo’Nique isn’t buying her denials.
Mo’Nique took to social media to call out the media mogul for staying quiet about the disgraced Hollywood producer who is accused of raping dozens of women who willingly visited his hotel rooms for sexual favors in return for starring roles in his films.
His casting couch style of auditions were an open secret in Tinseltown, and many believe Oprah should’ve known about him.
Mo’Nique took issue with Oprah producing a documentary about Russell Simmons‘ alleged rapey behavior with younger women. Oprah cancelled the documentary after a massive blowback on social media.
“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. “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.'”
The comedienne questioned why Oprah planned to make documentaries about Michael Jackson and Simmons. “How is that not making it all about them?” she asked.
Mo’Nique added:
“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 liming for both like you said you did for H.W.?”
Mo’Nique accused Oprah of playing it safe by producing documentaries about Black men who are accused of rapey behavior.
“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…
When I was sixteen and I meet 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’.”
