Gerald Imes Apologizes to Sister Monique for Abuse

Gerald Imes Apologizes to Sister Monique for Abuse

http://www.shockya.com/news/2010/04/20/gerald-imes-apologizes-to-sister-monique-for-abuse/


The brother of recent Academy Award winner and comedienne Mo’Nique, Gerald Imes, appeared on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ on April 19 to publicly admit that he molested her when they were children. Imes said he wanted to apologize for the abuse, which began when he was 13 and she was 7, and continued for about a year.

“I abused and betrayed the trust of another sibling, my sister, my blood sister,” Imes told Winfrey, adding “I’m sorry, Mo’Nique. I’m sorry.” He also told Winfrey that he wanted to appear on her show to bring their family back together, as he was also molested when he was a child. He added that he started using drugs and drinking when he was just 11 years old.

Imes also directed a comment towards Mo’Nique, which included apologizing and finally admitting what he had done by saying “It happenned. I’m sorry that I was the one who did it to you. I understand your pain. Now let’s share this together.”

Mo’Nique has spoken about the molestation she incurred from her brother in previous interviews. She said she used it as an inspiration for her role as abusive mother Mary Lee Johnston in ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,’ for which she won her Oscar. While she declined to appear on Winfrey’s show with her brother, the talk show queen said Mo’Nique did give her consent for him to give the interview

Written by: Karen Benardello