Mo’Nique Takes Legal Action Against Paramount Pictures and CBS TV Studios for Fair Compensation
Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique, best known for her role in Precious, is no stranger to battling large corporations.
After a legal tussle with Netflix a few years back, the actress has now set her sights on Paramount Pictures and CBS TV Studios.
As reported by Deadline, Mo’Nique has filed a lawsuit against the subsidiaries of Paramount Global. The 55-year-old actress from Maryland alleges that the defendants failed to distribute revenue from The Parkers sitcom fairly amongst its cast members.
In an Instagram post, Mo’Nique stated, “Today, we filed a lawsuit to ensure that we receive fair payment for the money we’re owed for The Parkers. Actors depend on Hollywood companies to uphold their profit participation agreements. The Parkers was a massive hit and still generates income through syndication and streaming services.”
Mo’Nique, who also starred in Queens of Comedy, added, “To emphasize my point, the Executive Producers of The Parkers pursued legal action for the same reasons I am, and they have already settled. Regrettably, talent is often left in the dark. We’re excited to bring some much-needed transparency to the issue! I LOVE US 4REAL!!”
The Parkers aired for five seasons (1999-2004) on the now-defunct UPN network, featuring Mo’Nique as Nicole “Nikki” Parker. The cast also included Countess Vaughn, Dorien Wilson, Jenna von Oÿ, Ken L, and Yvette Wilson.
All five seasons of The Parkers can now be streamed on Netflix. In 2021, comedian Dave Chappelle criticized platforms such as Netflix and HBO Max for not adequately compensating him for streaming rights to Chappelle’s Show.
Mo’Nique’s legal battle with major streaming platforms like Netflix dates back to 2019, when she sued the company for racial and gender discrimination. The two parties ultimately reached an “amicable” settlement, and Netflix subsequently released the comedy special My Name is Mo’Nique.
