Source: Getty / Getty
Mo’Nique has made more than her fair share of enemies in the industry. But normally, the controversies surrounding her name generally involve people with more power, prestige and influence than she does. But apparently, fellow comedian Flame Monroe, the trans comedian featured most recently on Tiffany Haddish’s Netflix special They Ready, who is still building her following, apparently had an issue with Mo’Nique from back in the day.
On “The Tammi Mac Late Show,” Flame said that Mo’Nique was responsible for getting her fired from a job. Then she alleged that she bashed her lifestyle. For those who don’t know, Flame uses several pronouns to describe herself: he, she, we. Flame is also raising three young children: two girls and one boy. I don’t know about her sexuality but she identifies as trans so she is a part of the LGBTQ community.
Flame claimed that Mo’Nique bashed her for her lifestyle. She found it particularly hypocritical because she believes Mo’Nique married a man she believes belongs to the LGBTQ community. On the Tammi Mac show, she said:
Tammi Mac: Who treated you the worst coming up as a comic?
Flame: Some women were very nasty. I was kicked off of—I did the radio in Chicago for ten years V103 for free. Haters in the radio wouldn’t hire me. They said ‘I don’t know if America is ready for you.’ John Monds who was huge in Chicago—left to go to D.C. He said Flame I want you on my team. At the time, there was another comedian who was famous at the time. Big name, big girl. Figure it out yourself this is a puzzle. Talked about fat jokes the entire time. I had met her in passing, very cordial in the green room. When John got the job—this was 1999 $100,000. Without question, they wanted to hire me on his word. The female comedian said, ‘Oh I can’t work with somebody with that lifestyle.’ Because she had so much power and stature—Black woman. John Monds called me two days later, I’m packing my house up to move to D.C. He said, ‘Flame, what did you do to Mo’Nique?’ I said what do you mean?’ He said, ‘She threw you under the bus, she dogged you. She can’t work with your lifestyle.’ That kicked me in my ass. For real. Because I was devastated. I was like, ‘You don’t even know me.’ You haven’t sat down and had a conversation. But this is what you do? That crushed me at that time. I’ve never confronted her about that. She gon see this now. Here’s the funniest part. You tore me down for my lifestyle and then turned around and married *opens fan* my lifestyle.
Tammi Mac: You can’t say that though.
Flame: It’s too late I already did. What you gon’ do? You been knowing me all these years gay-bashing don’t work with me. I’m from the West side of the Chicago.
Tammi: I wasn’t saying gay bashing. You can’t say what you don’t know.
Flame: What you talking about? Her getting me fired?
Tammi: No. Her marrying your type.
Flame: Stevie Wonder can see that. The question is, who is daddy calling daddy? And I’m only being viper-ish because I was so hurt when she did that to me…Mind you six months after she got there, she was released out of her contract because the ratings dropped. They got tired of the fat jokes.”
While Flame certainly has her perception about things, Sidney Hicks, Mo’Nique’s manager and husband has never claimed that he identifies as part of the LGBTQ community.
Last month, in an episode of “The Queens Supreme Court,” Flame Monroe spoke about the bridges Mo’Nique burned with other people in the entertainment industry, including why her BET show was canceled.
“Mo’Nique did the same thing over at BET to Debra Lee. She got on stage, talking about her alter ego and tearing Debra Lee down. let me show you how boss Debra Lee is. Mo’Nique and her crew showed up the next morning and imagine having all y’all sh*t, wigs, makeup, dollies out in the lot. You couldn’t even come in. You pick your sh*t up. You can’t come back in here ever. B*tch Debra Lee plays no games. She tore Debra Lee apart on stage. Debra Lee played no games with her.… Everybody blames the downfall on that husband. Now, he’s played a part in it but she’s a mess.”
You can listen to Monroe’s comments about Mo’Nique beginning around the 46-minute mark.
