Recently renowned and much respected comedian Monique, asked the Black Community to come together in an effort to help her boycott Netflix. The cause of this boycott would be due to, and I quote “gender bias and color bias.” The reason(s) behind this you ask? Monique believes that the $500,000 deal she was offered by Netflix to do a comedy special vs the 11million Amy Schumer was offered and the 20 million Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle were offered was gender and color bias fueled? It later was brought to the publics attention that Monique was offered a $3million deal contingent to an audition but due to her status quo she felt that asking her to audition was a smack in the face. Netflix then removed their $3million deal and offered Monique $500,000 without an audition.
Let me preface my comments with my opinion on gender and racial bias and its place in the “showbiz.” I do believe undoubtedly that there is gender and racial bias that exist in the entertainment industry, no one is denying that. There is not and should not be any room in the business for bias toward an individual due to the color of their skin or their sex. I do believe individuals should be judge by their work and the capital they could bring to the table on a case to case bases. With that being said, there is “No Mo Money for Mo.”
I’m surprised Netflix even offered Monique $3milliom to do a comedy special. Monique is a legend, that’s not being question, and she has done great work, that’s not in question either, but to somehow suggest that Netflix is gender and color bias ultimately because they offered to pay Amy Schumer 11 million and Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle 20 million is asinine. When Netflix suggested that they don’t look at resumes, it was the nicest way of saying, “We are not going to pay you due to your success in the past, we have to gage what you’re worth right now and offer a number that still leaves us room to make capital on the back end.”
No one rushes to their TV sets and says, “I can’t wait to watch reruns of The Parkers.” I love to watch reruns of Fresh Prince, Martin, Jamie Foxx, heck Mo’Esha too, The Parkers just doesn’t strike a funny bone for me. Not to mention the Black Community has not heard from you in quite sometime Monique and when we do its because you need us to get behind your temper tantrum. You’re that aunt who finds out her nephew got his first job and you ask him to “let you hold something.” We aren’t here for it. First fire your husband, seek new management. Stop worrying about why Amy was able to go in and renegotiate 2 million more dollars into her deal and figure out how! The next time you want to crown your self the most decorated comedian alive make sure you check in with the likes of Dave Chapelle, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart, Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Wanda Sykes and the list goes on. Now I’m not saying Monique isn’t someone’s cup of tea but if I was bored on a Saturday night and she was in my town at the local bar venue and the cover $20 to see her, I’d just get out my clothes for church Sunday morning and call it a night.
Monique, for your unwillingness to be around for us “loves” when its real in the trenches, I can’t get behind you in your attempt to boycott Netflix. It’s not the message that I have an issue with, it’s the messenger and that fact that you’re taking a subject that is an issue and trying to force it to fit in your situation where it doesn’t belong just to get the support of our brothers and sisters at a time where racial tension and racial distaste is at the forefront of most of our minds. Not to mention the basic membership for Netflix is still only $7.99 and as long as my neighbors WIFI is password/security free I’m not missing any episodes of The Chi, This Is Us or Scandal.
Mo, we still love you we do, but you do not make THE CUT
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