MO'NIQUE IN OCTOBER 2008 ISSUE OF ESSENCE MAGAZINE; ACTRESS SPILLS THE TEA ON BEING MOLESTED BY HER BROTHER; HER NEW MOVIE ROLE. IS SHE OSCAR BOUND?

For the umpteenth time, actress/comedian/author Mo’Nique is featured on the cover of Essence magazine’s October 2008 issue where she reveals a painful yet unfunny secret she’s been keeping to herself for the past 25 years: she was sexually abused by her older brother from the age of 7 until she was 11 years old. ‘I was molested by my older brother. And even when I confronted him and told my parents, he said I was lying and nothing was really done,’ she says. Wow, right? From the way I’ve heard her speak about her relationship with her father, who doted on night and day, it makes me wonder why he wouldn’t believe his baby girl. Anyhoo, Mo’Nique, now 40 years old, says her brother, who is 10 years older than her, molested her four times over the next four years after following her into the bathroom and giving her candy. When she turned 15, Mo’Nique finally mustered up enough courage to tell her parents again after a very violent episode (which she didn’t discuss in the article) took place. And although she says she doesn’t blame her parents for what happened to her, she says there were times when she was angry at them.

“I’m not blaming my parents because me and my brother were both their children, and I just don’t know the kind of position they felt they were in. My father was very upset, but it never got mentioned again. I’ll never forget my mother saying, ’If it’s true, it will surface again,’ and I remember thinking, Why would I lie? Why is there even an if in this? I was angry with them for so long, because I felt as if they should have seen what was happening. It seems celebrities always come out with these stories. But we’re real people, and a lot of real people get molested."

As for her brother, Mo’Nique has thought about the repercussions her revelation could have on him, saying:

“It makes me nervous. It’s like, Oh, God, what will it do to him when people read this? And then another part of me is like, Goddammit it, it’s my obligation to let people know, and to tell women to watch their children. I’ve never gotten a genuine ‘I’m sorry’ from my brother. He still acts like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. So screw hurting your feelings! You need to get your feelings hurt, and you need to get some help. Because I never said anything--didn’t go to the police or a counselor--my brother went on to do terrible things to someone else. He went on to sexually abuse another girl.”

For that crime, her brother was arrested, convicted and served 15 years in prison.

"[After my birth delivery] my mother put my twin boys (who are now three years old) in my brother’s arms and I suddenly thought, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t pretend. I didn’t want to make a scene at the hospital, but when I got home I called my brother and said, ‘You know what? If I never see you again in life, I’m okay. I wish you no harm, but I don’t choose to ever deal with you again.’…Parents, please listen if your baby comes to you and says anything like ‘I was uncomfortable with the way he looked at me or the way he touched me.’ Listen to them. Molestation has a damaging effect. I tried on several occasions to turn the pain of molestation into humor, but never could. I was too embarrassed to do therapy because I was always told it was a White woman’s thing. But therapy for me has been beautiful because I’m learning not to be a victim."

Mo'Nique's has not been in touch with her brother since.

CLICK 'EM TO SEE 'EM!


AFTER THE JUMP, READ ABOUT THE NEW MOVIE ROLE THAT ENCOURAGED MO’NIQUE TO SPILL HER SECRET & WHY FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY ARE ALREADY MAKING HER NAME SYNONYMOUS WITH THE WORDS ‘ACADEMY AWARD.’

With Pepa and Faith releasing their tell-all books to reveal to the world what they went through, what prompted Mo’Nique to reveal her most darkest secret is her dramatic role in the new film Push. And if it’s as gritty as she says it is, we may not recognize the woman we’ve come to know as the funny and unpredictable Ms. Nikki Parker. In Push, which is directed by Monster’s Ball director Lee Daniels, Mo’Nique plays Mary Jones, a woman who sexually violates her own daughter---she forces her child to perform oral sex on her, beats her, makes her gorge on food--and let’s her husband continue the abuse by raping their daughter, getting her pregnant twice. Talk about being dysfunctional!! This movie, as well as Mo’Nique’s performance in it is so unimaginably ugly, unyielding and downright deplorable that some folks in the industry are already saying that this movie can do for Mo’Nique what Monster’s Ball did for Halle Berry--earn her an Academy Award.

"The boldness and honesty she brings to this character takes my breath away," says Daniel. "She metamorphoses into an absolute beast. Sometimes I had to step away and do a double take, because I found myself completely not recognizing her." Mo'Nique adds, "My brother was a monster to me. When Lee would say 'Action,' I became my brother."

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS OF THE INJURIES LISARAYE SUSTAIN IN FIGHT WITH HER HUSBAND & HIS SISTER.

ESSENCE.COM has exclusive pictures of the bruises Turks & Caicos First Lady LisaRaye McCoy Misick sustained in her violent confrontation with her husband Michael Misick last week. The photos, which were obtained from an anonymous source close to LisaRaye, show the actress with visible bruises on the back of her upper shoulder, the inside of her thigh and a reddened-bitemark on her shoulder. LisaRaye's publicist Lynn Jeter says aside from everything her client has gone through during this past week, she's doing quite well. “LisaRaye is fine and in good spirits,” Jeter told ESSENCE.com, “and is working to get this matter resolved quickly as she moves forward with her career.”

Check out the pictures below.

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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LISARAYE'S PUBLICIST DOLES OUT ANOTHER VERSION OF WHAT WENT DOWN WITH THE ACTRESS & HER HUSBAND.

LisaRaye McCoy-Misick's, actress and semi First Lady of Turks & Caicos Islands, publicist Lynn Allen Jeter continues to spew her client's side of the story in what many have dubbed As the Turks & Caicos Islands Turns--true drama at its finest. Jeter spoke exclusively with EURweb.com's Lee Bailey and gave him a blow-by-blow account of what (she says) really happened last week during the violent confrontation between LisaRaye and her husband Michael Misick. Unbeknownst to some, it was Michael who asked LisaRaye to fly in so that they could meet with lawyers to discuss their plans to separate, as well as her financial support leading up to the actual divorce, says Jeter. Jeter, who says she was not with LisaRaye when the alleged violence erupted, denied that a "fight" even took place.

"There was no pushing, there was no slugging, there was no swinging of arms, there was no tussle, nothing like that," says Jeter. However, her account of the incident – as told to her by LisaRaye and LisaRaye's cousin Phillip Travis – corroborates much of what has already been reported; that LisaRaye and Travis went into the house against Misick's will; pushing and shoving took place between the two, Misick's sister became involved and LisaRaye was bitten (and bit someone) at some point during the altercation. Her personal security (Travis) was driving, [LisaRaye] was in the back seat, I was in the passenger side of the jeep," Jeter begins. "We pulled up to her home. We had been to the grocery store. She'd bought food to make tacos. So we had groceries in the back of the car. We got up to the house, the guards spoke to her and then proceeded to pick up the phone. [LisaRaye] said, 'Oh you don't have to pick up the phone to announce me.' But he proceeded to do so and closed the door to the guard shack with LisaRaye standing there. …He caught her between the door and him. Her security (Travis) then got out of the car and pulled the door so [the guard] would not hurt her."

But what I've been told by [LisaRaye] and [Travis is that] there was no belligerence. When they arrived, Michael was having a meeting with some of his ministers on the patio. "I was told [LisaRaye] came in, she waved. Two of the people on the patio saw her. But she didn't see Michael. Michael, then, all of a sudden appeared and started walking up the walk toward the house. [LisaRaye] was walking toward their library study, and Michael said, 'You should not be here. What are you doing here?' She said, What are you talking about Michael, this is my home.' They went into the library. And one of Michael's security guards grabbed First Lady's hand and snatched a recorder she had in her hand."

READ MORE & LISTEN TO JETER'S ACCOUNT OF THE EVENTS BY CLICKING HERE. If after reading/listening to Jeter's version of events, you find yourself becoming more confused now than ever before, don't fret because you're not alone!

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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LISARAYE REPORTEDLY STILL HOSPITALIZED AFTER PHYSICAL SCUFFLE WITH ESTRANGED HUBBY; ACTRESS SAYS 'HE'S OUT OF CONTROL.'

There's nothing worse than two grown-ass people fighting like a couple of untamed banshees with no common sense. It's even worse when those grown-ass people each hold elite titles of a tropical paradise. To say that things grew beyond ugly between LisaRaye and her estranged husband, Michael Misick, the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, would be an utter understatement. Reportedly, the two were involved in a violent confrontation at the Premier’s mansion on Wednesday night. The fight, which reportedly occurred in the presence of a number of government officials resulted in both Misicks seeking emergency medical attention for bites. Each has filed a police report against the other. See, what had really happened was LisaRaye had returned to the TCI this week, to negotiate a divorce settlement--a process that has not been in her favor at all. According to unconfirmed reports, after arriving at the TCI airport (she flew coach), LisaRaye was greeted, much to her chagrin, without her standard motorcade to escort her to her former home. She also noticed that the portrait of her and Misick which is always displayed in the airport, had been replaced with just a photo of Misick. This, coupled with all the other drama, had to have set her off big time.

On Wednesday night, LisaRaye, who was banned from the main house, decided to confront Misick at his mansion. Sources claim the First Lady drove her car through a barricade at the house, parked her car and barged into a closed door meeting between the Premiere and his cabinet ministers which resulted in the violent altercation. According to sources, LisaRaye, her cousin Phillip Travis, and her publicist Lynn Jeter assaulted a guard at the Premier's home, proceeded to ransack the house, and then assaulted the Premier and his sister. As the result of her assault on them, both the Premier and his sister were taken to the hospital with injuries and later released. A publicist for Misick released a statement stating, "It is public knowledge that the couple has been separated for months, and LisaRaye has no lawful right to be in the residence. Her conduct yesterday clearly contradicts her stated commitment to dissolve the marriage amicably. The Premier allegedly at no time had any physical contact with LisaRaye.”

See what happens when people start acting ugly? It ain't a pretty sight. This is also the result of what happens when a person agrees to marry another person after only knowing them for a month. There are also more statements made by LisaRaye via an interview with a local television station (watch vid after the jump). Read about that by clicking 'READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!'

However, as of late Thursday night, an anonymous source told EUR website: "He [Michael] beat her bad. She came in the same day Rocsi went out, and he had already issued the statement that they were separated. Apparently she went over there and got into the fight. She's now in the hospital. The sub-story is that he has been under investigation because $57 million dollars is missing from our government. They froze all of his bank accounts. He's getting a separation because he can't afford to get a divorce." Misick, according to the source, also dispatched his fleet of bodyguards to stand around the perimeter of the hospital to prevent reporters from interviewing LisaRaye about the incident.

Well, as expected, LisaRaye also released a statement in which she said, "It is with great sadness that I have to announce that my husband and I have separated. Last night, Wednesday August 13, 2008, an attempt was made by and on behalf of my husband to first prevent my entry into our home and then, later, to make me leave our home by force. It was necessary for me to receive medical treatment for injuries suffered and in relation to those injuries I shall continue to assist the police force with its enquiries. Whilst it is my sincere wish to avoid unnecessary conflict, I shall not be intimidated, nor shall those individuals whose job it is to protect and represent me. Although I have always been a supportive wife even in light of the very serious allegations currently pending against the Premier, there are limits even for me. Until recently I had hoped that I would be able to continue to assist my husband during what will undoubtedly be difficult times ahead for him. I do not wish to have to add to his difficulties.” After being banned from the mansion that she personally decorated, LisaRaye now has taken up residence at a local beach resort.

Also, on Wednesday afternoon during an impromptu interview with a local television station in TCI, LisaRaye continued to discuss the strain and stress that Misick has caused her. "With all that's happening with Michael and the rape and the corruption allegation and you know his ill behavior...I think he's just spiraling out of control. And I will just continue to be uplifting and I will pray for him.' LisaRaye went on to say, 'I was just as shocked about hearing about the rape allegations as everyone else. But just as any wife would be, when put in a position like this, it put a damper on the marriage. And all of the other things that are going on. All of the disrespect is just...I will remain uplifting and pray for him."

And although her marriage and title as the First Lady of Turks and Caicos is rapidly dissolving at the seams, LisaRaye says, with or without Michael, emphasis on 'without', she will continue to support TCI. 'I'm going to be here. You know, I will forever be connected to Turks and Caicos. And I know that even with me coming down here and giving up a portion of my life here, I've been embraced. I've done things here and I have plans for Turks and Caicos and well.'

LisaRaye says the dissolvment of her marriage with Missick is hard to swallow. But she is not giving up on the institution of marriage.

PEEP THE VIDEO BELOW.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LISARAYE + ROCSI + LISA'S CHEATING HUBBY= TROUBLE IN PARADISE TO THE Nth POWER.

Yeah, I'm late!! LOL! But leave it up to the antics of the soon-to-be former First Lady of Turks & Caicos Islands diva LisaRaye to bring me up out of my week-long blogging slumber! First, I have to thank my girl Georgia2Texas over on LSA for putting me on to the details of this update via her recap of the Tom Joyner Morning Show! Thanks G2T!

I'm pretty sure you all have heard about BET's 106 & Park host Rocsi is the alleged 'other' woman in LisaRaye's drama-filled debacle of a marriage. And with the ways things are looking, it's going to get much, much worse. Anyhoo, a rep for the actress released a statement over the weekend suggesting that her husband, Turks & Caicos Premier Michael Misick, is creepin' with Rocsi. According to publicity firm Lynn Allen Jeter & Associates, the two were seen "canoodling" during the T&C Music Festival over the weekend while LisaRaye was in New York. "Sources have even reported that Rocsi stayed at the Misick home and hosted guests as if she was the lady of the house," the release stated. Also, earlier this week, LisaRaye was supposed to have called in to Tom Joyner's Morning Radio Show to discuss these rumors and truths before throwing both Rocsi and her meandering hubby under the bus. She had to reschedule her radio interview for next week because she's due back in Turks to cooperate with the FBI on the matter. However, LisaRaye did speak to entertainment news columnist Jawn Murray that Rocsi has been having an "out-in-the-open affair" with her husband and that "he was parading her around and she was staying at the house. Officials even saw her early in the mornings having breakfast at the house with the Prime Minister." (click here to listen to Jawn's report.) Rocsi had also been told not to spend so much time with Misick so that folks wouldn't ask questions, but being the bold and gully-ass person Rocsi thinks she is, ol girl paid that advice no never mind and continued doing what she's been doing. Is it time for Rocsi to kiss her career good-bye because it's about to get hotter than two fat-ass people sexing each other under a genuine leather blanket in the middle of a cornfield in rural Willacoochie, Georgia on a hot summer day! Trust.

And remember the hoopla regarding those rape allegations against Misick back in March of this year? Well, sources claim Rocsi is indeed the "American friend of LisaRaye's" who accused Michael Misick of rape although those reports were never confirmed to be true. The alleged victim was said to have reported the crime to local police before returning to her home in the U.S. and reporting it to the FBI. At the time, USA Today reported that a Puerto Rican woman had accused Misick of raping her. Rocsi, whose real name is Raquel Roxanne Diaz, was born in Honduras and is reportedly of Honduran and Chilean descent. After finding out that Rocsi and LisaRaye were supposedly friends, it brought to mind an email my sister Nikki sent to me a while back. Read it below and get your chuckle on:

A woman stuck her head into a hair salon and asked, "How long before I can get a wash & curl?' The beautician looked around the salon full of customers and said, "about 2 hours.' The woman left.

A few days later, the same woman stuck her head in the door and asked, ' how long before I can get a wash & curl?' The beautician looked around at the salon and said," about 3 hours.' The woman left. A week later, the same woman stuck her head in the salon and asked, ' How long before I can get a wash & curl?' The beautician looked around the salon and said, "about a hour and a half.' The woman left. The beautician turned to her girlfriend and said, "Hey Juanita, do me a favor. Follow that woman and see where she goes. She keeps asking how long she has to wait for a wash & curl, but then she doesn't ever come back.' A little while later, Juanita returned to the salon, laughing hysterically. The beautician asked, 'So, where does that woman go when she leaves?'

Juanita looked up, wiped the tears from her eyes and said, 'Your man's house!'

In the meantime and in between time, LisaRaye ain't losing any sleep over this whatsoever. T&C First Lady was lensed taking shots to the head alongside Lil Kim at her latest birthday party at Spotlight Live in NYC. Peep the pics below.

AFTER THE JUMP, READ GEORGIA2TEXAS RECAP & VIEW MANY MORE PICTURES OF LISARAYE PARTYING IT UP!

RECAP:

OK, so I was listening to "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" this morning and LisaRaye was scheduled to make an appearance so that she could "clear the air" about everything that's going on with her and her husband. Jawn Murray (the gossip guy who calls in a couple of times a week to share the scoop that he knows) was the one who was going to have her call in. She rescheduled for next week because she has to talk to some government officials from Britain (they rule over Turks & Caicos) with regards to the corruption investigation that is in full swing. According to Jawn, the PR person for the Prime Minister hasn't been as open with information regarding the alleged rape on the island and the corruption charges, but according to Jawn, LisaRaye is on her way back to Turks & Caicos to cooperate with the authorities so that she doesn't get caught up in the legal action (conflict of interest regarding the multi-million dollar advertising campaign for the resorts and the chain of movie theaters that were coming to the island, misuse of funds, etc.).

I know I'm babbling (a little bit sleepy), but then Jawn said that folks thought that when the story broke about the rape allegations, they had the right person when they said that Rocsi was the one who was assaulted. He then said on the contrary because LisaRaye told Jawn Murray that Rocsi has been having an "out-in-the-open affair" with her husband. Jawn Murray said that her exact words were that "he was parading her around and she was staying at the house. Officials even saw her early in the mornings having breakfast at the house with the Prime Minister." Tom Joyner said "whaaaaaaaat, the gal from BET?" and Jay said "awwwwww man." Then Jawn said that when LisaRaye was going to call in today that she was going to give the personal information (home phone, cellular phone, additional private lines) so that people could call him directly if they had any questions because she was fed up with all of the lies. Sybil (one of the co-hosts) said that there are three sides to every story and that if LisaRaye was going to call in and put a bunch of personal information out there (including telephone numbers), it wasn't right. Jay Anthony Brown (another co-host) said "that's not even cool" and then they seemed like they were about to throw LisaRaye under the bus. Sybil said "there's a lot of things going on with both sides that folks don't know so taking sides right now isn't probably a good idea. I know some people who know him and all of the information isn't out there yet" (or something very close to that). Jawn said "well, she was going to talk about Mr. Turks & Caicos parading Rocsi all over the island even though she was encouraged not to spend so much time with the Prime Minister so that people would not ask questions, but it didn't matter and that didn't stop her."

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!