Actress and comedian #MoNique has officially taken legal action against the streaming service platform of Netflix ; upon allegations of discrimination and racism.
According to #ComplexMagazine MoNique has filed an official lawsuit against Netflix for allegedly discriminating upon the way they pay performers. In 2018 she took to social media to inform her followers of the incident, and persuading a calling of action to boycott Netflix all together. Sources have confirmed that MoNique was upset at the fact that Netflix had only offered her $500,000 for a comedy special as oppose to her contemporaries.
Within the suit MoNique has indicated that comedic acts such as Amy Schumer was paid $13 million for a special of the same caliber by Netflix. She states that because she is a black woman she’s being offered a lowered rate.
“Netflix is one of Hollywood’s most innovative companies, yet it not only perpetuates racial and gender inequality, it also takes advantage of a gender pay gap that disproportionately affects black women, who nationwide make only 61 cents for every dollar white males bring home,” Mo’Nique’s attorney, Michael W. Parks, has stated in a forwarded statement. “When Mo’Nique, one of the most well-known black female comedians in America, faced that anachronistic attitude, she knew it was time to challenge the status quo.”
MoNique has also accused Netflix executives of using racial slurs while in board meetings or on set. The lawsuit offers further indication of pay gaps between actors and actresses.
A Netflix spokesman has come forward to state; “We care deeply about inclusion, equity, and diversity and take any accusations of discrimination very seriously. We believe our opening offer to Mo’Nique was fair — which is why we will be fighting this lawsuit.”