The Humor Mill May 2022 | Page 18

NEWS

After not speaking for 13 years , Oscar-winning Precious star Mo ’ Nique has been cast by film ’ s director Lee Daniels to replace Octavia Spencer in Demon House , an exorcism film package that Netflix acquired . Spencer had to bow out of the star-studded film because of a scheduling conflict with her Apple TV + television show Truth Be Told .
Mo ’ Nique , who last worked with Daniels in the celebrated 2009 film Precious that brought her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress , will take over the role of a social worker who helps a family through a series of exorcisms . Demon House reunites Daniels with star Andra Day , who ’ ll star with Glenn Close , Don ’ t Look Up ‘ s Rob Morgan , Stranger Things ‘ Caleb McLaughlin and Aunjanue Ellis .
Despite the success of Precious and the Oscar won by Mo ’ Nique for her role as an abusive mother , she accused Daniels , Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry of blackballing her because she would not promote the film during awards season . It wasn ’ t in her contract , she said , and Mo ’ Nique didn ’ t want to spend time away from her family . They denied blackballing her , but sources said the actress and the director didn ’ t speak for 13 years because of the disagreement . Mo ’ Nique separately filed a lawsuit in 2019 against Demon House-maker Netflix , charging racial and gender discrimination for trying to drastically underpay her for a stand-up special after offering other stars tens of millions of dollars . That included comics like Oscar host Amy Schumer whom the lawsuit said made 26 times the $ 500,000 she was offered for an hour-long comedy special . Mo ’ Nique and Daniels have exorcised their demons and will work together in a very high profile film . Production begins in June .
In a case widely covered at the time , Latoya Ammons and her three children experienced strange incidents in their Gary , IN , home that grew progressively worse , with the children levitating , becoming violent with one another and speaking in growls and deep voices with no recollection afterward . Skeptics abounded , but the Gary Police Department , Department of Child Services and the local church and hospital all became involved , filing reports that took the supernatural occurrences seriously . Officers , doctors and social workers said they witnessed many of the incidents , including one in which her 9-year-old son walked backward up a wall . The Indianapolis Star covered it closely as the Department of Child Services investigated it .
Lee Daniels

HUMOR MILL

Mo ‘ Nique