Mo’Nique is not a household name. She’s been around and had some successes but walk into a crowded room and say, “Y’all know Mo’Nique?” and you’ll hear, “What?” “Who?” She’s a comedian and actress–in 2010, she won an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in “Precious.” This month she is featured in the Netflix stand-up comedy special, “My Name is Mo’Nique.”
I took an interest in Mo’Nique when I read about her lawsuit against Netflix: she accused the streaming giant of systemically discriminating against Black women. Netflix had given her a low-ball offer for a comedy special while offering Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Amy Schumer much larger sums for similar work. Netflix and Mo’Nique settled the lawsuit out of court.
The details of the lawsuit are not disclosed, however, it’s telling that the corporation that was sued released a comedy special headlined by the plaintiff.
I endured the hour-long one-person show only because I wanted to write a review. On my first sitting, I lasted 7 minutes and didn’t laugh once. I pitied Mo’Nique for thinking that she is a funny woman. She’s not–she’s lively, animated, buxom and prissy–but not funny. Her language is so vile and off-putting, it smothers any hope for humor. During the first 7 minutes of the production, Mo’Nique said mother***** 23 times and the N-word 17. I decided to quit counting at that point.
In the first segment, she described her experience as a middle-schooler in a special education program. She discussed the racism she encountered from her white teacher, Mr. McKinney. She mocked a fellow classmate who wore a helmet and had cerebral palsy-like movements. In her mocking, she characterized the student by flinging her head around in an uncontrolled fashion–the audience roared.
Mo’Nique’s next segment was about her life growing up in Baltimore: “I was raised on Real N***** Boulevard.” She said she was brought up by “junkies, gamblers, alcoholics, mother****** pussy sellers.” She learned to be a “boss b****” and said, “I always make the rules.”
In the final part of the show, Mo’Nique decried that “the church in our communities will do some s*** to us and rip apart motherf****** families.” That’s who’s to blame for the state of the African-American family–the church?” She went on to give details about sexual encounters she has had–it was pretty pathetic.
One thing that was funny about Mo’Nique’s special is that she often prided herself in “not judging.” She said, as a little girl, “I didn’t know how to judge.” So, mocking the disabled classmate wasn’t judging? And telling the audience you were raised by junkies, gamblers, alcoholics, etc. isn’t judging?
The Netflix comedy special is full of hypocrisy. Why is the network off the hook while allowing the unfettered use of the N-word and making fun of disabilities?
Zero stars out of five (0/5) unless you’re into remarkable profanity, dissing of the church, hypocrisy, and a lot of raunchy sex talk.
