The gender pay gap has been in the news in a big way, especially with the Times Up Initiative aiming focus on the issue of gender disparity in Hollywood. The topic caught fire again over the weekend when Mo’Nique took to Instagram to slam Netflix for what she was offered for a comedy special in comparison to her male counterparts.
The Oscar-winning actress had this to say about a recent discussion with Netflix about a potential special:
” I am asking that you stand with me and boycott Netflix for gender bias and color bias. I was offered a $500,000 deal last week to do a comedy special. However, Amy Schumer was offered $11 million, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle $20 million.”
Mo’Nique then pointed out that Schumer went back and renegotiated her deal because she felt, while the men in question were legends and deserved their pay, she felt she was worth more than what they were offering her. In the end, her fee was upped to $13 million.
When Mo’Nique asked the streaming service about the pay gap between her and Schumer, the streaming giant had this to say:
“Well, we believe that’s what Mo’Nique will bring. We said, ‘What about my résumé?’ They said, ‘We don’t go off of résumés.’”
Mo’Nique then believes Netflix started to contradict themselves when she asked what was it about Amy Schumer that allowed her to make so much more than her:
“What is it about Amy Schumer?” They responded that she has sold out Madison Square Garden and had a huge summer movie to which Mo’Nique said, “Is that not Amy Schumer’s résumé?”
Her claims caught even more steam when Wanda Skyes, another African American comedienne, also said that Netflix low-balled her for a special as well. Sykes took to her Twitter saying:
“Thank you for speaking out, [Netflix] offered me less than half of your $500k. I was offended but found another home.”
That other home in question was Epix, which apparently paid Sykes a fee she felt she deserved. Mo’Nique then took to Instagram again to further voice her opinion on that matter:
“How is that Wanda Sykes and Mo’Nique together, these two black women who have 50-plus years in the comedy game, be offered $750,000 between the both of us and Amy Schumer get $13 million?”
It should be pointed out that Mo’Nique has nothing against Amy Schumer. She believes she was paid what she deserved and she fought for it. She just believes that she, along with the likes of Wanda Sykes, should’ve been offered a deal that was a reflection of their legacy in the industry.
Netflix hasn’t really spoken about the matter specifically but did say that it’s not in their business practice to publicly discuss contract negotiations.
