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MoNiquehas been laughing off doubters for decades.
Both were directed by Lee Daniels, thePreciousdirector the comic and actor onceaccusedof assisting in getting her blackballed.
I heard some people say, Oh, girl, just take it.
Oh, I wouldve taken it.
Oh, I wouldve handled it this way or that way.
None of those people had done what I had done, and I say that humbly.
So I wasnt surprised at the feedback, or whatever you want to call it.
We had to stand in it.
Was there ever a point where you wondered whether youd made your last movie?No.
There was never any uncertainty.
When Davesaid, Dont watch my stuff on Netflix, it was seen as a boss move.
We pick and choose.
So I understand why they pick and choose.
The new special feels like a reintroduction.
Did you approach it differently?
It speaks to the ones that stood in my corner.
It speaks to the ones that said, I cant believe shes taking this fight.
It speaks to everyone.
You truly understand why I could not waver.
There are so many of us caught up in the churches, and there are so many myths.
Theres so much foolishness, and my family is not exempt from it.
What made me do it … Its just time.
It is time for us to live in freedom.
So many of us are still enslaved.
So many of us are still fearful.
So many of us are still embarrassed.
So many of us are still ashamed.
Once you get to a place of freedom, you truly start living.
I think the new special really bookends your older stuff about power dynamics in relationships.
People was like, Oh my God, what is she doing?
I understand both sides of it.
It was just things that I watched my mother do, and both of my parents worked.
Then it became a struggle, and it became a competition in the household.
I was a part of that.
Thats what I knew.
Thats what I witnessed.
When I started watching Oprah Winfrey … Oprah never said these words, let me be clear.
Oprah Winfrey never said, You dont need a man.
We watched her action.
We watched her talk about independence and empowerment.
We watched that, and we followed that.
We had all the power, we had all the money, but we went to bed very lonely.
So, I had to say to myself,I want something different.
I dont have to pee standing up, I can sit down like a lady should.
I have a man that does that.
When we pull up somewhere, I dont open up my car door.
I have a man to do that.
Now, there was a time that I did all those things because I didnt know my place.
Do you know your place in yours, Craig?
Do you know your place in your relationship?
I dont really have a situation right now.
It just comes with life.
As long asyouknow what it really is, you let that stuff roll off your shoulders.
How do you feel about where comedy is in general right now?
And Ive said, As long as you say it with love, theres nothing that is off-limits.
Theres a difference between gifted and talented.
There are some very talented people, and there are few gifted people.
Its a little different now.
Of course, Ive heard about it.
As for what I think on it, I dont.
His opinions and his feelings are his opinions and his feelings.
However he expresses himself on his platform is up to him.
I never tell an entertainer what they should or shouldnt say.
I wouldnt want anybody doing it to me.
Those are his feelings.
Those are his thoughts.
If the community feels a certain way, theyll deal with it.
They have no problem giving their opinions.
They aint got no problem standing up no problem at all.
It was not anything that was planned.
I met with [producer] Larry Lyttle, along with the agent I had at the time.
We were actually going there to pitch a talk show.
Larry Lyttle looked at us and said, Listen, I dont want a talk show.
But if this woman can act, shell have her own show.
Twenty-five years later, and shes still my baby.
So, to say was it hard to get off the ground?
No, it wasnt.
I feel like Black audiences immediately got UPN.
I said, Thats a problem.
Why cant you let anyone know that?
He couldnt answer that.
Whats unfortunate is how were made to believe that only we will watch our shows.
Ive never met a Black person with a Nielsen box.
Im not saying we dont have them; Ive just never met one with them.
So, when your show is coming in No.
1, youre saying, Who has the box?
Whos watching the box?
Its myself and Dorien Wilson.
Were sitting at the table and she says, Let me ask you something, MoNique.
How does it feel to be No.
1 in Black households but No.
96 in white households?
I said, Ill answer that the day you ask the cast ofFriendshow it feels to be No.
1 in white households but No.
127 in Black households.
Then she said, I didnt mean to offend you.
I said, No offense taken.
You asked me a question.
Now Im asking you one.
Why is our No.
1 different from their No.
It feels damn good to be No.
What I cant allow people to do is devalue it.
How come no ones ever asked the president at any of the studios?
How come no one ever asks the presidents at the networks?
Were not the ones with that answer, baby.
I knew at that moment I had my friend back.
I had my brother back.
Thats how we move forward.
It is as simple as that.
People want to make things very complicated.
Youve always been unafraid to take a difficult public stance.
Everything Ive had to say loudly needed to be said loudly.
Then I need to ask about D.L.
Youwent at him and later walked a little bit of it back.
Hughley, I meant, and I dont take back anything that I said about D.L.
They said, How could you attack his family?
I never attacked D.L.
I never said anything about D.L.
I simply reposted an interview that D.L.
I will say this to you, Craig: I dont have no issue with D.L.
Hughley, but because D.L.
Hughley was never brave enough to say, Guys, I started this whole situation with my sister MoNique.
I started the whole thing … After that we can move forward.
Everything I said about D.L.
Hughley, I meant that.
I shouldnt say walked it back.
You offered a follow-up statement.When his daughter got involved … Im old enough to be that babys mother.
But your daddy, I meant everything I said about him.
When people were saying that this woman was a racist, I just knew that people didnt know.
People didnt know when Roseanne Barr came onThe MoNique Show.
Dont let them feed you shit.
Dont let them do that to you.
Now, a racist would not do that, because she wouldnt care nothing about this Black woman.
A racist wouldnt take the time out to say, Im going to come on this womans show.
A racist would not fight for Black promoters.
A racist would not fight for Black writers.
Thats a damn good question.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
