My Name Is Mo’Nique is a brand new Netflix Stand-up Comedy Special starring comedian Mo’nique or Monique Angela Hicks. Written and executive produced by the comedian herself alongside her husband Sidney Hicks. L. Frazier directed the show, and Marilyn Gill is also credited as the executive producer.
With a runtime of approximately 76 minutes, the performer shares her life stories from middle school to adulthood and multiple emotional revelations.
The stand-up special was much anticipated by the fans as it marked the artist’s official return to the industry. Due to a few past controversies, she stopped appearing in shows and movies. Additionally, she also faced quite a few problems in her personal life. But she did not let those instances keep her down. She instantly picked herself up and signed up to star in Netflix’s Comedy Special. The show became a tremendous success as it sold out within a few days.
Moreover, the fans praised the actress for being outspoken and honest about herself. The punchlines hit the mark and lighted up the room with roaring laughter. She also shared a few intimate stories about her life that resonated with the audience. They found it to be relatable and humorous. Nevertheless, those accounts surprised the audience as it was the first time the celebrity was revealing it.
My Name is Mo’Nique 3 Surprising Revelations
Special Education Class
Mo’Nique revealed that in her seventh grade, the school decided to send her to special education classes. It is a class that the school provided for children with special needs. Her hesitation to not reveal this before stemmed from society’s blatant preconceived notions to discriminate against special needs children and the stigma attached to it. She shared her life-changing experience and the friends that she made along the way.
But she believed that her enrolment in SPED was a mistake made by her mother due to her inability to read. However, instead of lamenting, she retold the events with jokes which were not only entertaining but also normalised the conversation.
Lee Daniels
Daniels is a director that previously worked with Monique on the movie Precious, and she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2009. Following the win, the relationship between the artists turned sour after the actress ‘dissed’ Daniels during her 2017 stand-up routine. In the viral clip, she revealed that she was facing discrimination within the industry by her fellow Black artists like Daniels, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey.
Nevertheless, the 13-year-old feud between the Daniels and Monique has finally ended. The director was seen seated in the front row of her show. They made amends in April of 2022 and will be working together again for a Netflix horror thriller called The Deliverance. Daniels will be directing the show.
Final Revelation
The comedian also makes a revelation which has been eating her up from the inside. She shares that her grandmother was an avid follower of the Church and did not accept homosexuality. Her grandmother did not approve of her own daughter’s homosexual relationships, and until death, she blamed herself for bringing a ‘homosexual child’ into the world.
Afraid to disappoint her late grandmother, Monique never disclosed her sexuality until on the stand-up show. She shares that her attraction towards the same sex is a phenomenon she was born with, and that is her true identity. Moreover, she shares the long-kept secret with her husband, who supports her every step of the way.
Mo’Nique: My Name Is Mo’Nique is now streaming on Netflix. Did you watch the show yet? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: Mo’Nique: My Name is Mo’Nique Review: Exuberant Storytelling With a Few Punchlines