In 2017, Mo’Nique, a well-known black comedian, and Netflix ran into issues over discrimination. The actress refused to accept what she deemed a meager beginning offer for a program that Netflix would have complete control over, including ownership of the copyright. Mo’Nique later filed a lawsuit against Netflix for failing to accept her initial offer. She said that black women were often underpaid by the streaming service (Cho). Eventually, the dispute was settled; however, there are still no comments on the issue from the Netflix side.
During the initial negotiations, she was denied an increase in pay because Netflix stopped using its customary bargaining technique in good faith, which usually results in an increase in monetary compensation over and beyond the initial offer. Employers in the entertainment sector, according to Mo’Nique and her supporters, ought to take wage discrimination complaints seriously and resolve them if they are genuine (Gardner). On the other hand, Mo’Nique’s charges support the tenable hypothesis that Netflix would have continued to bargain with her (Cho). Had she not contested her offer as discriminatory, the company probably would raise her offer in accordance with its customary practice with well-known performers in the profession.
In this case, the argument of Mo’Nique and her supporters seems to be stronger since the problem of discriminatory payment is an acute one in today’s industry. Netflix, as a streaming megacorporation, should show more flexibility in dealing with such cases, and it is necessary to ensure the worthy pay for the talents in the various spheres, especially considering the vast auditory of Netflix. Overall, the settlement of the dispute showed that even corporations could be challenged and defeated.
Works Cited
Cho, Winston. “Netflix Settles With Mo’Nique Over Discrimination, Retaliation Lawsuit.” Hollywood Reporter, 2022, Web.
Gardner, Eriq. “Judge Allows Mo’Nique’s Suit Alleging Netflix’s Comedy Special Offers Were Discriminatory.” Hollywood Reporter, 2020, Web.