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Mo’Nique files race and sex discrimination suit against Netflix

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NetflixMo’Nique is taking legal action against Netflix after accusing the streaming platform of race and sex discrimination last year.

According Variety, the comedian filed a discrimination lawsuit against Netflix on Thursday, alleging that the company broke the law when it low-balled her for a comedy special.

The incident to which Mo’Nique is referring happened in January 2019, when the Oscar-winner called for a boycott of Netflix after she was reportedly offered $500,000 to film a comedy special. Amy Shumer was offered $11 million and other notable comedians like Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock were offered $20 million, she claimed.

“Netflix is one of Hollywood’s most innovative companies, yet it not only perpetuates racial and gender inequality, it also takes advantage of a gender pay gap that disproportionately affects black women, who nationwide make only 61 cents for every dollar white males bring home,” said Michael W. Parks, Mo’Nique’s attorney, in a statement.

“When Mo’Nique, one of the most well-known black female comedians in America, faced that anachronistic attitude, she knew it was time to challenge the status quo.”

The lawsuit also accuses Netflix of having a history of insensitivity toward black people, saying that the streaming service has a lack of diversity in its senior leadership ranks. According to the suit, Netflix’s workforce is only six percent black, as of 2019.

“The pay gap produces real, tangible, and stark consequences,” the suit states. “Black women have less money to support themselves and their families, less money to save and invest for the future, and less money to spend on goods and services.”

In 2018, Netflix declined to comment on Mo’Nique’s accusations , saying it does not comment on “contract negotiations.”

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