Mo’Nique and Taraji P. Henson are two formidable black actresses who have recently raised issues with pay disparities affecting women of color in Hollywood.
During a recent interview on the Club ShayShay Podcast, actress and comedian Mo’Nique discussed the current state of toxic wage discrimination she faced.
Similarly, Taraji P. Henson has also shed light on her struggles of being consistently underpaid, despite her significant contributions to the film industry.
Mo’Nique Calls out Netflix
In early 2018, Mo’Nique was offered $500,000 to do her comedy special on Netflix. However, she quickly noticed that she was being low-balled based on gender bias and color bias.
Mo’Nique pointed out that comedian Amy Schumer was offered $11 million and both Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle were offered $20 million.
She also pointed out that she was aware of the stigma that her appearance as a shapely woman of color carries and that many people think she should’ve just settled for whatever she was offered.
Not only would Mo’Nique not accept this kind of treatment, but she took legal action.
Mo’Nique filed a lawsuit and asked fans to boycott the streaming service causing Netflix to rescind their offer and fight the case.
Amidst the lawsuit, Netflix’s legal team made the statement,
“We care deeply about inclusion, equity, and diversity and take any accusations of discrimination very seriously.”
“We believe our opening offer to Mo’Nique was fair – which is why we will be fighting this lawsuit.”
In June 2022 the lawsuit was settled, “amicably,” and “My Name Is Mo’Nique” was filmed later that year and aired by Netflix in 2023.
Taraji Takes a Stand
In December of 2023 Taraji P. Henson, another notable African American woman in the Television and Film industry, vocalized her frustrations of being underpaid as well!
While being interviewed by Gayle King on her show SiriusXm, in discussing her role in the newest remake of the historic Black film, “The Color Purple,” Taraji grew teary-eyed at the matter.
At one point in the interview, she said, “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do… Getting paid a fraction of the cost.”
“It seems every time I do something and I break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate I’m at the bottom again like I never did what I just did and I’m just tired!”
This moment was even further soured by the notion that Taraji had been hearing rumors that she was planning on retiring and that there was some truth that she did at one point consider it.
Ultimately, Taraji had decided that although it was hard, her best bet was to continue to fight for those young Black aspiring actresses to come behind her.
The Common Denominator
With both Taraji P. Hensen and Mo’Nique being remarkable and successful figures in TV and Film, it is truly sad to see them both so hurt and underappreciated in an industry where they’re so pivotal.
There are however a few good notions that did come from these unfortunate circumstances.
Not only is attention being drawn to a poisonous but recurring theme that happens behind the scenes of film but deeply affects the lives of some of our favorite people.
In her interview with Shannon Sharp, Mo’Nique recounted a discussion that she’d once had on the matter with Taraji over a decade ago where she told Monique,
“You’ve got to keep on getting it until your turn comes.” “ Most of us die before our time comes.. You’ve got to ask for it right now.”
It seems as if it’s now, years later, it is becoming more clear to them that this issue of
wage disparity is a monster bigger than them, and it will take for them, and their peers to continue to fight to see things start to change.
In a video with the Washington Post, Mo’Nique reflected saying,
“There’s a little girl who’s not here yet and she’s depending on us to make sure that she doesn’t have the same battles that we have right now as the women that came before me.”
Later on in that same video, Mo’Nique continues to reflect on the mixed emotions that she often receives from members of the Black community when it comes to her taking a stand.
Although not all will understand some may, and some will grow to. And for those that grow to understand, she stresses that we as a people sometimes carry the habit of giving up before reaching the position of actually getting what we fight for but ending that same thought saying, “I’m not going to give up.”
Written by: Jordan Turrentine
