Mo’Nique is starting off 2020 with a new comedy special called “Mo’Nique & Friends: Live From Atlanta,” which was filmed at the city’s Variety Playhouse.
The premiere date will be on Feb. 7, and it’ll be Mo’Nique’s first major comedy special in a decade. Besides the Baltimore native, Donnell Rawlings will also been seen, as well as Prince T-Dub, Just Nesh, Tone-X and Correy Bell.
Last week, a trailer for the special surfaced, where it seems Mo’Nique addressed her battles with industry heavyweights Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry and Lee Daniels.
The fallout surrounds Mo’Nique supposedly not promoting the film “Precious” the year it was out, which she starred in.
“They tried to shut a bitch out,” she said in the trailer. “They tried to make a bitch disappear. But you can’t keep a good bitch down.”
At the moment, the 52-year-old comedian is going through a lawsuit with Netflix, which she sued last year for racial and gender pay discrimination.
Mo’Nique said the streaming company offered her $500,000 for the special, while Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle received $20 million and Amy Schumer $13 million for their specials.
“I had a choice to make,” Mo’Nique wrote on Instagram in November. “I could accept what I felt was pay discrimination or I could stand up for those who came before me and those who will come after me. I chose to stand up.”
Netflix filed a motion on Jan. 13 and asked to have the lawsuit dismissed.
“Her Complaint contradicts its core premise by noting that other persons of color, other women and another African-American woman (like Plaintiff) have been paid substantially more money to create comedy specials for Netflix’s streaming service than what was offered to Plaintiff,” a document reads.
“Plaintiff fails to explain why she was entitled to be offered what the stars to whom she compares herself were offered for creating such comedy specials,” it also stated.
After Mo’Nique shared news of her comedy special, her fans said they couldn’t wait for it to air.
“Congratulations Mo’ Nique Alright now it’s time to show and prove why you are the original Queens of Comedy do your thing and represent! Remind these folks ❤️,” someone wrote on Instagram
“Yessss auntie @therealmoworldwide come through I will be watching getting my DVR set up right now👏🏾✊🏽💪🏾,” wrote another fan.
