Today (Feb. 7), Shannon Sharpe premiered his latest episode of “Club Shay Shay” with Mo’Nique, who opened up about her Baltimore upbringing, Katt Williams’ viral appearance, and her many battles within the entertainment industry. About 25 minutes into the conversation, the legendary comedian addressed Taraji P. Henson‘s tearful speech about being an underpaid and undervalued Black actress back in December 2023.

“It was painful to watch,” Mo’Nique said to host Sharpe. “However, Taraji and I had a conversation over a decade ago in my trailer when I was doing ‘The Monique Show.’ And she said, ‘You know, you gotta keep on getting it until your turn comes.’ And I said, ‘Taraji, most of us die before our turn comes. We gotta ask for it right now.’ Now, I understand that because there was a time I felt the same way because that’s what I was told.”

When Sharpe asked why Mo’Nique didn’t receive the same attention when she publicly offered the same criticism in the past, she said, “It was the messenger. I should just be grateful I got invited to the party. ‘You’re a big, fat Black woman. How dare you be the one.'”

The Oscar-winning talent continued, “‘And then on top of that, you’re saying names. You’re saying Oprah’s name out loud. You’re saying [Tyler Perry’s] name out loud. You’re saying [Lee Daniels‘] name out loud. You’re saying Lionsgate out loud. That’s not what we do… How dare you say our heroes’ names. These are our heroes. How could you say their names out loud?’ Because they’re the ones that did it. And if I don’t say it out loud, now you see a woman that is swallowing that pain, that is so stressed out. Then you see our sister Taraji P. Henson sit on that platform.”