Mo'Nique is no stranger to breaking barriers and defying expectations in Hollywood. From her early days in stand-up comedy and her role in The Parkers to her Oscar-winning performance in Precious, she’s proven time and again that she can handle anything the entertainment world throws at her. But her career hasn’t been without drama—most notably, her long-running feud with director Lee Daniels, which lasted for over a decade before they finally reconciled in 2022. Now, they’re back to collaborating, showing that even in Hollywood, sometimes fences can be mended.
Source: Instagram/@leedaniels
The Origin of the Feud Between Mo'Nique and Lee Daniels
The tension between Mo'Nique and Lee Daniels began after the release of Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire, a film that catapulted her to new levels of critical acclaim. Mo'Nique’s portrayal of the monstrous Mary Lee Johnston was nothing short of riveting, earning her an Academy Award, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and more. However, despite the accolades, her relationship with Daniels—and others involved in the project—took a nosedive.
Reportedly, Mo'Nique was paid just $50,000 for her role in Precious. After the film started generating buzz during awards season, she was asked to participate in additional promotional events—something she refused to do, claiming she had fulfilled her contractual obligations. According to Mo'Nique, her refusal to promote the film led to her being "blackballed" in Hollywood by Daniels, along with industry heavyweights Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, who also had ties to the film. The situation escalated when Mo'Nique publicly accused the trio of sabotaging her career, a sentiment she echoed in interviews and onstage during her stand-up routines for years.
Years of Bad Blood
The feud between Mo'Nique and Daniels simmered for more than a decade. Mo'Nique’s claims of being blacklisted were met with mixed reactions in Hollywood, with some questioning whether her career struggles were self-inflicted or if she was indeed a victim of industry politics. Mo'Nique’s criticisms extended beyond Daniels; she took aim at Perry and Winfrey on multiple occasions, often using her stand-up shows as a platform to air her grievances. As recently as 2020, Mo'Nique was still firing shots at her perceived adversaries, showing just how deep the wounds ran.
Source: Instagram/@leedaniels
A Public Reconciliation
Despite the years of tension, Mo'Nique and Lee Daniels finally buried the hatchet in 2022. Their reconciliation took place during Mo'Nique’s April Fools' Day comedy special, a fittingly unconventional setting for a Hollywood truce. The public display of forgiveness seemed genuine, and since then, the two have rekindled their creative partnership. Mo'Nique went on to star in two of Daniels’ recent films—The Reading (2023) and The Deliverance (2024)—marking her return to the spotlight with the very director she once claimed had turned his back on her.
Mo'Nique vs. Oprah and Tyler Perry: The Feud Continues
While Mo'Nique and Daniels appear to be on good terms now, her animosity toward Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry hasn’t faded. In 2024, during a stand-up tour with Katt Williams, Mo'Nique launched into an expletive-filled tirade against the two media moguls. She didn’t hold back, leading a call-and-response with the crowd as she shouted, “F--k you Oprah Winfrey! F--k you, Tyler Perry!” It was a stark reminder that although some bridges have been rebuilt, others remain engulfed in flames.
The Complicated Legacy
The story of Mo'Nique and Lee Daniels is a classic example of Hollywood’s complex dynamics. Talent, success, and interpersonal conflicts often clash in ways that can reshape careers and relationships. While it’s encouraging to see Mo'Nique and Daniels put their differences aside, it’s clear that the fallout from their feud still lingers in other corners of Mo'Nique’s life.
As for what comes next, Mo'Nique’s fans can only hope that this reconciliation signals a broader return to the kind of powerful performances that made her a household name in the first place. Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: Mo'Nique remains unapologetically herself, and that’s what keeps audiences coming back for more.
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