Mo'Nique attends the premiere of Almost Christmas at the Regency Village theatre in Westwood, California on November 3, 2016. / AFP / CHRIS DELMAS (Photo credit should read CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Mo’Nique hopes to secure what she feels are deserved coins for the ongoing success of The Parkers. On Wednesday (April 12), the actress and comedian filed a lawsuit against CBS and Paramount.
She released a statement on social media regarding her decision.
“Today we filed a lawsuit to make sure that we are fairly paid money that we are owed for The Parkers. Actors rely on the good faith of Hollywood companies to honor their profit participation agreements,” Mo’Nique wrote. The Parkers was a huge success and continues to be a source of revenue through syndication and streaming channels.”
Mo’Nique was the starring actress in the sitcom, which aired for five seasons and 110 episodes from 1999 to 2004. The show received multiple NAACP Image Award and BET Award nominations between 2001-2005. Mo won Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series at the NAACP Image Awards in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005.
According to the lawsuit documents obtained by The Associated Press, Mo is suing for breach of contract. She’s claiming CBS and Paramount weakened the sitcom’s profitability to “retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due.”
The suit says CBS and Paramount owe the money to Mo’Nique’s production company, Hicks Media. Mo owns the company with her husband, Sidney Hicks–whom she lovingly praised in her newly released Netflix special, My Name Is Mo’Nique.
“While the Series has proven to be a major financial success for its producers and distributors, the series’ talent have not bee permitted to share in the fruits of that success,” the lawsuit claims.
Mo’Nique elaborated on this claim in her social media reaction to the suit.
“To further make my point, the Executive Producers of “The Parkers” took legal action for the same concerns that I have, and they’ve already settled. Unfortunately, all too often, talent gets kept in the dark. We’re looking forward to shedding some light on the subject! I LOVE US 4REAL!!”
The Parkers has reportedly been available for streaming on Netflix since 2020. In her lawsuit and on social media, Mo says she learned about the series creators and writers not receiving their coins after they filed and settled their lawsuit.
Along with CBS and Paramount, Mo’Nique also named the sitcom’s production company, Big Ticket Productions, as a defendant. The actress is hoping to determine “the contractual compensation” she’s earned and allegedly owed at trial.
