Mo’Nique sues Netflix for discrimination because she was only offered $500,000 for one-hour comedy special when Amy Schumer got $13million for hers
- Mo’Nique sued the streaming service for unspecified damages on Thursday
- She cited deals offered to Amy Schumer, Dave Chapelle and Ricky Gervais as proof that she was discriminated against
- They were all given considerable amounts more than she was ever offered
- Mo’Nique also claims that Netflix turned a blind eye to racism on the set of House of Cards
- She says Kevin Spacey used the N word to tell crew he did not want African American people on ‘his’ set
Mo’Nique is suing Netflix for discrimination, claiming she was only offered $500,000 for a stand-up series when Amy Schumer got $13million for hers.
The comedian filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday alleging that she was unfairly treated because of her race.
She claims that Netflix offered her just $500,000 in a ‘talent fee’ for a one-off, hour-long stand-up special in November 2017.
Amy Schumer, however, was initially offered $11million for a similarly formatted show and ended up getting $13million after negotiations.
Monique is suing Netflix claiming she was discriminated against as a black woman. Netflix paid Amy Schumer $13mllion for her one-hour stand-up special (seen right) but Mo’Nique was only offered $500,000 for hers
She also cited the cases of male comedians including Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle, all of whom were paid considerably more than her and Schumer.
Mo’Nique never ended up making her show with the streaming service.
The lawsuit is not the first time she has accused of it discrimination, but it does take her allegations to court.
She is seeking unspecified damages.
In her lawsuit, her attorneys begin by arguing that pay gap between white men and black women (who make 61 cents to the former’s dollar) is not exclusive to lower paid workers and extends to Hollywood.
‘The pay gap for Black women cuts across the economic spectrum affecting low paid workers and highly compensated ones alike,’ she said.
She said that despite being hailed as a ‘legend’ by some of the Netflix executives who sought her, she was low-balled.
‘Despite Mo’Nique’s extensive résumé and documented history of comedic success, when Netflix presented her with an offer of employment for an exclusive stand-up comedy special, Netflix made a lowball offer that was only a fraction of what Netflix paid other (non-Black female) comedians,’ one of her attorneys said in the filing.
‘When the talent was not a Black woman, Netflix offered to pay, and did pay, astronomically more than it pays to Black women like it offered to Mo’Nique,’ they continued.
Mo’Nique took to Instagram to confirm the lawsuit on Thursday.
Mo’Nique uploaded this Instagram post on Thursday after filing the lawsuit
‘I can confirm that today I filed a pay discrimination lawsuit against Netflix. I had a choice to make: 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. I don’t have any further comment at this time, but I appreciate all of your support and love,’ she said.
In her lawsuit, her attorneys also alleged that the company has a severe lack of diversity at its core.
It also claimed that the company ‘turned a blind eye’ to racism, including on the set of House of Cards where, the suit claims, Kevin Spacey used the ‘N’ word.
He said, according to the lawsuit, that he no longer wanted African American people ‘on my set’.
Spacey did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s inquiries on Thursday afternoon.
He is not being sued.
It also alleges that a director of communications also used the N word during a meeting with 60 people in it.
Netflix did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s inquiries, nor did Schumer.
Both Ricky Gervais and Dave Chapelle were paid considerably more for their deals. Gervais got a reported $40million for two shows, whereas Chapelle was given $60million