Mo'Nique Blackballed In Hollywood For Being A Diva, Says Her Roles Go To Oprah Winfrey Now

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." - Warren Buffet

Actress/comedian Mo'Nique has quite the impressive resume. She's starred in several films and television shows, and also holds one of the most coveted awards in Hollywood. Which makes you wonder why the ex late night talk show host has been MIA for the last couple of years.

In next week's issue of 'The Hollywood Reporter' Mo'Nique opens up about her "disappearing act" from the Hollywood scene and explains the reason fans haven't seen her in a while is because she's been blackballed by the industry.

"I got a phone call from Lee Daniels maybe six or seven months ago and he said to me 'Mo'Nique, you've been blackballed.' And I said, 'I've been blackballed? Why have I been blackballed?' And he said, 'Because you didn't play the game.'

Though Mo'Nique claims she has no clue as to why she's been shunned from the industry, Lee Daniels offered up a more detailed explanation to THR.

 

 

"Mo'nique is a force to be reckoned with. Her demands through 'Precious' were not always in line with the campaign. This soured her relationship with the Hollywood community. I consider her a friend. I have and will always think of her for parts that we can collaborate on. However, the consensus among the creative teams and powers thus far were to go another way with these roles."

The most recent "roles" Lee could've possibly been referring to are his upcoming Richard Pryor biopic (which was offered to Oprah instead) and his newfound golden nugget -- the hit show "Empire."

So how does Mo'Nique feel about the industry labeling her as being difficult to work with? She says it's not her who's hard to get along with but the people who claim that she is.

"Whoever those people are who say 'Mo'Nique is difficult,' those people are either heartless, ruthless, or treat people like they're worthless. And that's unacceptable. They're set to say, 'Mo'Nique is tactless, she's tacky.' That's why I have my beautiful husband because he's so full of tact, cause I'm a girl from Baltimore and being from that place you learn not to let anybody take advantage of you. You stand up for what's right."

You can read the full interview in the February 27th issue of The Hollywood Reporter.

Hopefully this interview and her upcoming movie project (Blackbird, out April 24th) will help steer her career back on track. We're rooting for ya Mo'Nique!