I'M SORRY- LEE DANIELS BEAUTIFUL LOVE LETTER TO MO'NIQUE

 

Mo'Nique and Lee Daniels on stage in Staten Island

Last weekend a viral video made the rounds showing Lee Daniels on stage apologizing to Mo'Nique. It melted my heart and I'm sure so many others too. If you are a movie buff, you would have noticed Mo'Nique has been missing in many Hollywood movies for more than a decade. And she is a damn good actress to be in the dark. Her role in "Precious" was phenomenal., and she got an Oscar for it.

For years the tabloids rumored Mo'Nique was blackballed by Hollywood after "Precious" over disagreements with Lee Daniels—. producer and director of the 2009 movie. An emotion-filled drama based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire. If you have not seen this movie, you've got to do so. It deserved all the accolades it got and more. I have missed Mo'Nique on the big screen. Recently, I became privy to the details of the discord

When you dissect the disagreement, Mo'Nique's reasons are valid. "Precious" was a low-budget independent film produced by Lee Daniels. Mo'Nique was paid only 50, 000 USD for her role and 5% of the movie earnings. She signed a contract with Daniels. The movie however went on to win awards and accolades at the Sundance festival and Toronto international film festival. It did so well Oprah and Tyler Perry wanted to be part of it. So, they became Executive producers.

Oprah and Tyler requested Monique to go on a press junket to promote the movie, this was not part of Monique's initial contract. So she declined. And asked for a new contract if they wanted additional work done. They refused she held her grounds. And the feud for the ages started.

 Hollywood can be a weird place.  Life is often more make-believe than anything. But seeing the sincere apology by Lee Daniels on stage with Monique got me misty. For years, Monique told everyone who cared to listen that she was unhappy with Lee Daniels, Oprah, and Tyler Perry. And all she wanted was an apology. That is all we often want—a sincere apology from those who have hurt us. Not an ego-drenched PR apology like the one Will Smith issued to Chris Rock.

It's hard not to bring up Will Smith's case, as someone who used to be a fan, It would be difficult to watch him in another movie without seeing the image of his disgraceful behavior on the Oscars stage as he assaulted Chris. It is something many of us around the world can never un-see. But he must find a way to redeem himself. 

In Will's Oscar speech, he rambled on and on about God and love which only insulted our intelligence. That was his worst speech in my opinion. He owes a lot of people an apology. Perhaps get up on another stage and do it for the whole world. As far as many are concerned, he has not really apologized. His PR team is just putting up a show. 

We sometimes do not realize that asking for forgiveness should be one of the simplest things in the world. but the old man: "ego" shackles our tongue. Life is too short not that serious. A sincere "I'm Sorry" looking into someone's eyes like Lee Daniels did on stage with Monique, is one of the most beautiful things that happened to entertainment this year. Although it took Daniels 13 years to get to this point. It's never too late to say "I'm sorry".and I hope it does not take Will Smith that long.

All men are fallible. We all have our shortcomings, none is perfect. That's why we are humans. A plethora of work is in progress. We should continue to work on ourselves every day. But the ego can make us resist saying those magic words "I'm sorry" when we offend or hurt others. 

Will Smith's scripted likable persona has drawn the world to him and made him a box office staple. But, he is only human and was bound to give the world a peek into his real self. On the Oscars stage, the mask finally came off—"The General", his other persona which he alluded to in his book "WILL" was revealed on the world stage.