Mo’Nique is sending a public message to CBS and asking the company to give her and her former co-star, Countess Vaughn, fair compensation. As previously reported The Shade Room, Mo’Nique and Vaughn appeared in the sitcom ‘The Parkers’ between 1999-2004. The show reportedly aired for five seasons and aired over 110 episodes.
Earlier this year, the comedian filed a lawsuit against CBS and Paramount for the unpaid royalties.
RELATED: Mo’Nique Files Lawsuit Against CBS And Major For Unpaid Retaliation From ‘The Parkers’
Mo’Nique shares PSA with CBS
On Tuesday, the actress took to Instagram to share a video with her husband, Sidney Hicks. In the video, the comedian told viewers that she stands in solidarity with “all the unions” that are “very popular right now”. The strikes the comedian is referring to are the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike.
As previously reported in The Shade Room, the former strike affects writers and the latter affects actors.
As the video continued, Mo’Nique said she has her own story to “share with the community. “
“Countess Vaughn and I did a show called ‘The Parkers.’ ‘The Parkers’ have now been on the air for twenty-four years, and they are trying to convince us [that] through our ownership of the show, we didn’t make any money.”
Hicks said CBS’ alleged actions are “baffling” because he and Mo’Nique have seen “profit share statements” showing the series made more than $700 million. Hicks said that despite a multi-million dollar profit, the show was in a “billion dollar deficit.”
“So what we’re asking you, CBS, is can you treat these two Black women fairly,” Mo’Nique continued.
The comedian went on to mention a “serious” deal that comedian Dave Chapelle signed with CBS, as reported by REVOLT in 2021. Mo’Nique explained that CBS “made the that’s a fair deal” and “paid Dave Chapelle what he deserved.
Today, the 55-year-old is asking CBS for the same understanding.
“What we ask of you, CBS [is] don’t pay more but don’t pay less.”
Hicks said that the couple have made their statements to the CBS company in the hope of protecting future creators from a similar challenge.
“We see the numbers, and they still don’t want to pay,” Hicks explained. “What happens to you when you don’t even know the numbers are there?”
Mo’Nique then ended the video by asking the “community” to stand with them in equality. In addition, she asked CBS to treat them “fairly”.
The 55-year-old also shared the post with a short caption.
“Hi my sweet baby
THERE IS A HARD CONVERSATION THAT IS ONLY US
THE PROOF IS REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED!!!
@countessdvaughn We are the parkers!!!!
i love us 4real”
Countess Vaughn has since responded to Mo’Nique’s public statements by re-sharing the comedian’s video on her Instagram story.
More details regarding the comedian’s lawsuit against CBS & Paramount
As The Shade Room previously reported, Mo’Nique filed a lawsuit against CBS and Paramount on April 12. At the time, she detailed her decision.
“Today we filed a lawsuit to make sure we get paid fairly for ‘The Parkers.’ Actors rely on the goodwill of Hollywood companies to honor their profit sharing agreements. ‘The Parkers’ was a hit and continues to be a source of revenue through syndication and streaming channels.”
Additionally, the comedian reportedly sued the companies, claiming they owe Hicks Media “millions.” As The Shade Room previously reported, Hicks Media is owned by the comedian and Hicks.
“Although the series has been a great financial success for the producers and distributors, the talent of the series has not been allowed to share in the fruits of that success ,” the lawsuit said.
At the time, it was reported that the actor had also named Big Ticket Productions, the sitcom’s production company, in the suit. In addition, the comedian hoped to find out “the contractual compensation” she received and “owed” from the series.
