Mo’Nique calling him out to his face was some boss sh~t: Charlamagne Apologizes To Mo’Nique For Getting In Her Business
Charlamagne Tha God has crowned himself Donkey of the Day as he apologizes to Mo’Nique for previously giving her the title.
The longtime Breakfast Club co-host issued the apology on Thursday’s installment of the Power 105.1 radio show, just one day after being called out by the comedian. During a nearly three-hour interview on Shannon Sharpe‘s Club Shay Shay, Mo’Nique recalled The Breakfast Club naming her Donkey of the Day while she faced criticism for urging fans to boycott Netflix in 2018. Mo’Nique had called for the boycott after being told the streamer offered her millions less for a comedy special than Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle.
She told Shannon Sharpe Wednesday,
“People were having call-ins when I said, ‘This is not right.’ I was Donkey of the Day remember that? The breakfast nubs called me Donkey of the Day. That’s what they said. And they had a whole call-in … But you didn’t do the same thing when you found out we settled. Now all of a sudden nobody knows what a settlement is … “
On Thursday, Charlamagne first explained why he gave Mo’Nique Donkey of the Day back then.
“It was my opinion that Mo’Nique wasn’t on the level of Dave, Amy, and Chris … Mo’Nique you were right. I had no business speaking on your business. There’s absolutely a pay discrepancy for Black women. Black women are typically paid only 67 cents to every dollar paid to white men. And the wage gap actually widens to 65 cents on the dollar for women who hold doctorate degrees compared to white men with the same education.”
He added that a company as large as Netflix’s decision to settle and release a Mo’Nique comedy special proves that The Parkers alum had a case.
“Mo’Nique, God bless you sister. If you have never heard me say this before, if I’ve never said it — because I was born in 1978 and my memory is not what it used to be — I apologize for being wrong.”
After being urged by his co-hosts DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious to offer a more sincere apology, Charlamagne continued,
“Regardless of how I felt about the situation with you and Netflix, I had no business in your business, and broadcasting your business. It was Envy’s idea to open the phone lines for people to comment on your business, it wasn’t mine.”
DJ Envy then gave his own apology as Charlamagne apologized to Mo’Nique’s husband Sidney Hicks.
“I truly pray this apology is received by you Mo’Nique, and I hope you heal … I clearly disturbed your peace.”
He later said,
“I want to give ‘The Breakfast Club,’ I guess that would be myself, Donkey of the Day.”
See his full apology below.
Mo’Nique Makes Charlamagne tha God Answer for Naming Her ‘Donkey of the Day’
Mo’Nique’s fight for racial and gender equality continues with an appearance on Power 105’s The Breakfast Club.
But first, she had a bone to pick with Charlamagne tha God, who named her “Donkey of the Day” a few weeks ago when she called for a Netflix boycott after they allegedly lowballed her for a comedy special. In the interview, Mo’Nique hilariously referred to Charlamagne by his government name, Lenard, and said he “really caught [her] off guard.” Then, she straight up asked him why he did it.
For Charlamagne, it was really simple. He said this is a “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately industry” and that Mo’Nique hasn’t done anything…lately. “How much more,” she asked, “do I have to do, brother?” She then cited that she was in a movie, Almost Christmas, which had a budget of $17 million but later made $45 million while Amy Schumer’s film, Snatched, also made $45 million but had a budget of $42 million. (Numbers don’t lie.)
It didn’t take long for things to become heated between the two, as Mo’Nique called out Charlamagne for “assuming” before giving her the infamous title—especially since he wouldn’t call his mother or grandmother, who have also had their fair share of inequality, a donkey either. Charlamagne fired back and said he thinks this is more of an “individual thing than a collective problem” while Mo’Nique’s husband/manager, Sidney Hicks, who called into the interview, pointed out that there aren’t any women comedians of color who’ve got a major Netflix deal.
“This is why again, Lenard, you’ve got to be careful with your words because you called your sister ‘Donkey of the Day’ but you didn’t your research,” said Mo’Nique at one point. “Now as we sit here you have to almost backtrack your words.” Although Charlamagne said he’s “not backtracking,” we’re starting to think he just might want to.
