Sophia Michaels
Mo’Nique is still angry that Oprah Winfrey featured her family on her since-canceled talk show. According to Mo’Nique’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Winfrey reached out to Mo’Nique in 2010 to let her know that she was going to feature Gerald Imes, her brother that sexually abused her as a child on her talk show. Mo’Nique was okay with him appearing, granted he admitted to his wrongdoings. “The hardest part to me was for even to admit to her that I did something wrong,” said Imes during the show (via ABC). “I downplayed it by saying, ‘If you think I did something wrong, then I’m sorry.’ … I did it, I’m not proud of it.”
However, the episode also featured her parents and another brother, who didn’t share Mo’Nique’s view of her abuse. “We weren’t even speaking,” said Mo’Nique. “Then I see the show and I can tell that my mother is trying to make a dollar. ” Several years later, Mo’Nique confronted Winfrey and expressed her thoughts on the situation. According to the star, Winfrey was apologetic. “I’m going to look into your mother and father being on the show because I didn’t know anything about that,” Winfrey reportedly said. ‘If I’ve done anything to offend you, I apologize.'” However, Mo’Nique stated later that she wants public acknowledgment from both Winfrey and Tyler.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
