Today, Lee Daniels is a super successful television producer and director. Not to mention he’s the creator of one of the most fire shows on primetime TV. Unfortunately, life wasn’t always as gratifying as it may seem for the brotha now. Like most people, Daniels faced many struggles throughout his journey to stardom. His humble beginnings weren’t a walk in the park. During a recent interview with Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film & TV, he shared graphic details about the dark times in his life, according to Entertainment Tonight.

In A Dark Place:

At one point, Lee Daniels, now an openly gay man, had become tired of dealing with the pitfalls and challenges of life. He revealed a number of his closest friends had died following complications of the AIDS virus and he’d become paranoid and overwhelmed with the circumstances he’d been faced with. As a result of his depressive state, he started self-medicating with drugs and was ready to just check out…permanently. On top of that, he revealed why he purposely tried to contract AIDS:

“It (AIDS) wiped away all of my friends. I had no friends.” he said. “It hit the community hard. It was terrifying, because we never knew whether you could drink from glasses or what it was. It was the most terrifying thing ever. And I didn’t understand why it was that I wasn’t [dead], because there were far better souls than me that were going. I thought that I needed to go. And so I descended into drugs and into sexual bathhouses to die. That I don’t have AIDS is a miracle from God. I don’t understand it. I really don’t understand it. Because I should have had HIV. Everybody else did.”

No Hope For A Future:

Growing up, Lee didn’t exactly have dreams of making it big. Despite being the son of a Philly police officer, Lee actually thought he’d become another statistic and end up dead or in jail. “I thought I was going to end up like most of my friends, in jail,” Daniels said. “That was the way the world was for me. I didn’t think I was going to die, but I imagined myself in jail. And when you have to steal to eat, yeah, I thought I was definitely going to — I mean, that was just the norm.”

Childhood Embarrassment:

His childhood was also filled with many disheartening incidents. Most Empire fans probably remember the seen where ‘young Jamal Lyon’ was put in a garbage can by his father because he walked into a room with high heels on.

However, most people probably have no idea the scene was loosely based on Daniels’ life and things he actually endured as a child. During the interview, he shared details about the embarrassing moment and how it changed the dynamic of his relationship with his father.

“I walked down the stairs with high heels on, and he put me in the trashcan,” Daniels recalled. “I think that’s where Precious came from, because I remember the stench. I remember the dark, the cold, my mother trying to fight, and then me, thinking that I was ‘Aladdin’ on a carpet escaping. And I think that’s why I so related to Precious. But that was just one of many times.”

“I have no hate in my heart for my father at all,” he continued. “I think that he didn’t understand [Daniels being gay]. He completely didn’t understand and he knew that it was hard enough being a black man, and … in hindsight, I think he thought that if he scared it out of me, that I wouldn’t be gay, because he just couldn’t imagine what my life would be.”

Overcoming Obstacles:

Although Lee has suffered lots of heartache and many hardships in his life, he’s managed to endure and stand strong. He attributed the positive changes in his mental health to therapy and learning to embrace self-love. “Learning to love myself, learning to believe in myself. You know, I only did it as a vendetta to my dad, to show him that I was going to be something,” he explained. “I mean, it was about survival, showing him, but knowing deep down that I wasn’t worthy of it. So yeah, I think that myself would be, I am my worst enemy. But, I’m learning, that’s why I’m in therapy now. And I want to do something about that, because, you know, black people don’t believe in therapy. I was like, all of a sudden I’m 57 and I’m going to therapy. That’s some heavy stuff, you know?”

Therapy may not be something most African Americans embrace, but luckily, Lee Daniels has.

The post “Empire” Creator Lee Daniels Says He Once Purposely Tried To Contract HIV And Revealed Why appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Never Bites His Tongue

Lee Daniels is an out and proud brotha who represents the LGBTQ community in everything he does. He tackles taboo topics in a way that makes people think, yet he has encountered many struggles along the way. In a prior interview with Vulture , he shed a few layers about how life has taken him down many different roads. For example, the cancellation of his popular FOX shows Empire and Star.

When Daniels was asked if the media circus surrounding the alleged Jussie Smollett attack, in 2019, played a part in FOX’s cancellation decision, he kept it real:

“Certainly, that played a major part. But come on, man. I think that it’s been a good run. Empire in its current iteration may be over, but Empire is far from over.”

When asked to explain his confusing comment he stated:

“I’m sorry. Well, we’re trying something out, and if it works, then Empire is over and we have a great spinoff. And if it doesn’t, then Empire may not very well be over.”

Further in the interview, Daniels confessed that the now-infamous Empire scene [where “Lucious Lyon” throws his young son “Jamal Lyon” in a trashcan] actually happened to him in real-life when he was a child. Daniels says he had a very rough relationship with his Father, who was shot and killed in 1976. When asked how he felt about his Dad’s passing at that time, Daniels revealed:

“I have come to terms with the love I have for my father, but I would be a liar to say that I wasn’t relieved that he was gone.”

Patti LaBelle Gave Daniel’s A Wake-Up Call

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Lee Daniels has been open about his struggles with substance abuse in the past. He mentioned crack-cocaine being his drug of choice, relaying a story about a time when he was high as hell and decided to call legendary singer, Patti LaBelle. After she asked him “Do you know Jesus?,” Daniels recalls “I said a prayer, and I think that was the end of my drugs.”:

“I wanted my life, you know? Bob Fosse was a real hero of mine, and I watched All That Jazz over and over again. I remember watching that film and calling Patti LaBelle early in the morning that night, a little high. Not a little high, a lot high. And she asked, “Do you know Jesus?” I said a prayer, and I think that was the end of my drugs.”

He also mentioned that he drank heavily, because of the fear his Father instilled in him, due to his sexuality. And although Daniels admits he’s been through many storms, he’s not miserable at all…just sober:

“I’m angsty and I’m sober, so that is really weird to be going to the Met Ball and to other social activities not intoxicated. I hate f****** being sober. It’s a bore. It’s a f******* snooze.”

Check out the rest of Daniels’ eye-opening interview here.

The post ‘I Hate Being Sober’: Lee Daniels Tells How Patti LaBelle Helped Him Beat His Addiction appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Never Bites His Tongue

Lee Daniels is an out and proud brotha who represents the LGBTQ community in everything he does. He tackles taboo topics in a way that makes people think, yet he has encountered many struggles along the way. In a recent interview with Vulture , he shed a few layers about how life has taken him down many different roads. For example, the cancellation of his popular FOX shows Empire and Star.

When Daniels was asked if the media circus surrounding the alleged Jussie Smollett attack played a part in FOX’s decision, he kept it all the way 100:

“Certainly, that played a major part. But come on, man. I think that it’s been a good run. Empire in its current iteration may be over, but Empire is far from over.”

When asked to explain his confusing comment he stated:

“I’m sorry. Well, we’re trying something out, and if it works, then Empire is over and we have a great spinoff. And if it doesn’t, then Empire may not very well be over. But the intent is to have our last season with a great spinoff.”

Further in the interview, Daniels admitted that the now famous Empire scene- where Lucious throws Jamal in a trashcan- actually happened to him. He had a very rough relationship with his Father, who was shot and killed in 1976. When asked how he felt about his Dad’s passing at that time, Daniels he revealed:

“I have come to terms with the love I have for my father, but I would be a liar to say that I wasn’t relieved that he was gone.”

Next Page: Patti LaBelle Gave Daniel’s A Wake-Up Call

The post ‘I Hate Being Sober’: Lee Daniels Tells How Patti Helped Him Beat Drug Habit & Discusses Cancellation appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Truth Comes To Light

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Prior to the documents release it seemed that there may have been redemption in Jussie’s future, however any plans of regaining favor in the public eye are now long gone. The Hollywood Reporter states that inside the documents it’s revealed that Jussie, along with the Osundario brothers, had a very casual relationship. So casual it involved Jussie allegedly requesting drugs like marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine from them. And that’s not all.

According to redacted police records, Smollett had a “planning meeting” with the two brothers, during which they set the time and details of the attack. Olabinjo Osundairo later told police he deliberately tried not to harm Smollett during the purported attack, only going so far as to rub his knuckles into the actors face to make it look bruised.

Smollett allegedly feared that the other brother, Abimbola, might hurt him and asked him not to participate in the staged beating. According to one released document, one brother was afraid to escalate the confrontation for fear of being shot by police, further strengthening the allegation that Smollett lied.

Next Page: Lee Daniels Has The Final Say

The post Lee Daniels Has Finally Broken His Silence, Gives An Update On Jussie Smollet’s ‘Empire’ Fate appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Not so long ago, Mo’Nique found Steve Harvey and Lee Daniels — as both — criticizing her recent efforts regarding equality and morality. Is this karma? Here’s what Mo’Nique has to say.

According to the legendary actress and comedian, she’s been getting tagged in various memes and news regarding Steve Harvey losing his shows Little Big Shots and Steve.

“They’ve almost been ‘celebratory’,” Mo’Nique mentions, alongside husband Sidney during their most recent podcast. “…People say, ‘That’s what his a** get,’ ‘Yeah, Mo, see.’” However, immediately, she addresses the bigger issue among us. “Why do we celebrate people’s failures?”

“Let me be clear about something. Let us be clear about something. We do not celebrate what appears to be someone else’s demise. We do not stand and applaud, and say: ‘Yeah, look what’s happening. That’s what you get.’ That’s not what we’re coming from; that’s not the stance we’ve ever taken. So what I would ask y’all to do is, we’ve gotta love our folks through it.”

“I know some people will say, ‘Mo’Nique is crazy; one minute, she saying they didn’t do her right; the next minute, she saying love’m through it,” the comedian expounds. “Let me tell you exactly what we’re saying…”

‘Steve Harvey, I’ve Considered Him My Friend’ [Video]>>>

The post Mo’Nique Responds To Steve Harvey Show Losses — And You Should Hear Her Out appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Payback’s A B!$#%

Dash was not playing around when it came time for Daniels to pay him for the money he owed. Their drama stemmed back to around the time Daniels needed investors for his earlier films The Woodsman and Shadowboxer and when no one else wanted to help out Dash was there to offer financial assistance. However, once Daniels’ began making money he seemed to be harder to get a hold of as Dash tried to secure repayment of his investment. TMZ reports;

According to Dame … Daniels promised him he’d get his money back no matter what, but then blew him off — which is why Dash started suing Daniels in 2014. As we reported, they struck a settlement deal, but Damon tells us Lee’s sticking to his “culture vulture” ways … and still hasn’t squared up.

Dash sued Daniels for $5 million and the suit was settled back in November with an undisclosed amount that left Dash satisfied enough to say “I’m good. Just happy two people from the culture could work things out.” You would think this is the end of their drama but if anything it was merely an intermission because after Dash got his cash his exes, Rachel Roy and Cindy Morales, were ready to get broke off a couple of dollars as well. But instead of going to Dash they’re going to Lee Daniels for the money!

Next Page: Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems >>>

The post Strange Circumstances: Both of Dame Dash’s Exes Are Set To Sue Director Lee Daniels for Over $1 Million Dollars appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

As Jussie Smollett’s alleged “attack” and it’s accompanying drama continues to play out like a real life episode of Empire, creator and director, Lee Daniels, is speaking out about it. Though Lee -like many of us- was originally very vocal in showing support for Jussie soon after his “attack,” as questionable claims emerged, Lee has switched up his tune a lil’ bit…and apparently, so have Jussie’s cast-mates.

That couldn’t be more evident when paparazzi caught the brotha on the streets of New York, NY and threw out a few questions about Jussie Smollett and his fate on the Empire.

Now that Jussie’s been accused of staging the racist/homophobic attack, he’s seemingly jacked up his own situation on the show, as well the show’s ratings. Business Insider reported that Empire’s ratings immediately dropped by 13% percent, hitting an all-time series low, after Jussie was accused of staging the “attack” with his two Nigerian associates.

Now, Lee Daniels has addressed whether or not Jussie’s Empire career is about to be a done dada for good…

See What Lee Daniels Said About Jussie’s Empire Job>>>

The post Lee Daniels Details Pain Jussie Has Caused Empire Cast & Discusses Jussie’s Fate On The Show appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Back in June, Dash sued Daniels accusing him of breach of contract involving the Richard Pryor biopic they had both planned to work on. He claimed that a 2015 agreement made it clear that he would get a co-executive producing credit on the Pryor project, and also 5% of the profits that Daniels would eventually earn on the back end.

Dash said Daniels did not make an effort to fulfill his obligations and had been kept in the dark about the details of production and the progress of the film. He felt the alleged lack of communication and compliance on Daniels part fit the bill for a breach of contract.

On November 26, Dash filed court documents in New York revealing that he and Daniels have reached an agreement to discontinue all claims with prejudice, meaning the lawsuit cannot be refiled in the future. Dash settled his $5 million dollar lawsuit (The Blast).

According to documents obtained by The Blast, Daniels explains that a settlement was reached with Dash in November 2018 over the $5 million lawsuit but now Dash’s ex-wife Rachel Roy and child’s mother Cindy Morales have both served him with subpoenas to find out how much exactly the settlement with Dash is, and claiming they are both owed money in child support from the music producer.

Daniels is pleading with the court to help him figure out who the money should go to and says he needs it figured out fast as his next payment is due today, April 5.

Find out how much Dash owes in back child support next

The post Lee Daniels is Confused on who to Pay, Dame Dash, the ex Wife or the Baby Mamma? appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

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(Video) Mo’Nique Addresses Netflix Deal Rumor & Daniels

On Monday (July 2), Lee Daniels stated, in an interview with TMZ, that Mo’Nique -and I quote- “needs to shut up” about the claims that he, Oprah Winfrey, and Tyler Perry blackballed her in Hollywood. Even though, he previously told her that she was blackballed, he said he had nothing to do with it, she just ‘didn’t play the game right’ and possibly pissed off some big wigs in the industry with her ‘attitude.’

Mo’Nique on the other hand, says Lee’s claims are an outright lie and that they were angry with her for not shouting out Lee during her Oscar acceptance speech and for not promoting the film, “Precious,” for free overseas, after only being paid $50K for the role.

Now, she’s taken to social media to politely strike back at Lee, but while at it, she decided to put two rumors in check. As we all know, MoNique has previously bashed Netflix for gender bias and racial bias, after she says she was offered pennies in comparison to her White and/or male counterparts. Fast forward to today and somehow a viral rumor has circulated that Mo’ signed a new multimillion dollar Netflix deal.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkv5oyDBDXM/

She captioned her video with this message:

“NETFLIX DEAL. Get it straight from me. “Lee Daniels behave” LOVE YALL FOR REAL.”

Here’s what she said in her vid’:

“Hey my loves. So I gotta address this $10 million Netflix deal. What’s a word that rhymes with jokes, but starts with an ‘H?’ Y’all got it, it’s a god*amn hoax. That is not true my babies. Now, just like that lie can become the truth within 24 hours…just like they can make something like that up, they can make something up, like your girl is ‘difficult and demanding,’ she said, referring to what Lee Daniels claimed. “So this is what I’ll say to y’all. The truth only goes away if we stop talking and y’all know I ain’t gon’ stop talking. And Lee Daniels, you ‘shut up.'”

(Video) Why Daniels Told Her To “Shut Up”

In case y’all missed our prior report, Lee went off on Mo’Nique, and said that people shouldn’t get his confession about doing Damon Dash dirty, confused with Mo’s claims that he did her dirty too. This came after Mo’ leaked the recording of Tyler Perry indirectly admitting to her that she was done wrong.

Lee Daniels:”I think that people are confusing the Damon Dash [situation] with the Mo’Nique [situation]. The Damon Dash [situation] is completely different from Mo’Nique. …She was paid the money for the budget that we had and for her to bad mouth myself, and Tyler, and Oprah, is disrespectful and it’s wrong. SHE’S wrong, she’s out of pocket. … I respect her actor because she gave me her soul, but I gave her my soul. And for that she was given the…Golden Globe and the Academy Award. And it breaks my heart that she feels that we blackballed her. No one blackballed her. Mo’Nique blackballed her and for her to CONTINUE to talk about Oprah, and myself, and Tyler is disrespectful.”

“I don’t understand her motive…I don’t get it, I really don’t. … We were really down with Mo.’ To get that performance form her, she had to bare her soul to me, I had to bare my soul to her. That was like making love, without having sex, you understand? … There’s LEVELS to that. And for her to think…that I could do anything?!! … I don’t know, it ain’t even worth a conversation…Like, she needs to SHUT UP.”

And the saga continues.

The post “Hey My Loves” Mo’Nique Responds After Lee Daniels Slams Her & Reacts To New Netflix Deal Talk appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

For the past few years, comedian/actress, Mo’Nique has repeatedly spoken out against Precious director, Lee Daniels, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey for blackballing her in Hollywood. Mo’Nique claimed the three friends have a personal vendetta against her for several reasons: Her refusal to promote “Precious” overseas for free (she was only paid $50K for the job, but not to promote it out of pocket); and for her not thanking Lee during her Oscar Award acceptance speech   FYI: In case you’ve ever wondered what Tyler and Oprah have to do with this, they provided promotional assistance for “Precious.” Fast forward to now, and Lee Daniels is slammin’ Mo’Nique something SERIOUS.

Daniels: Don’t Get Damon Dash Twisted With Mo’Nique

The other day, we reported that Lee Daniels had actually confessed to doing Damon Dash wrong, by not paying him a $2+ million loan (or investment, depending on who you ask) back for one of his prior films. That public confession only occurred after Dame rolled up on him at a Diana Ross concert and then blasted him all over social media with details that even Lee Daniels couldn’t deny.

When it comes to Mo’Nique though, Tyler Perry has apologized to her, which she leaked a secret recording of recently. However, Lee has more than a few choice words for her:

“I think that people are confusing the Damon Dash [situation] with the Mo’Nique [situation]. The Damon Dash [situation] is completely different from Mo’Nique. Mo’Nique, I fought hard for her to get that job, I wanted her to get that job and um, she was paid her money. She was paid the money for the budget that we had and for her to bad mouth myself, and Tyler, and Oprah, is disrespectful and it’s wrong. SHE’S wrong, she’s out of pocket. She’s REALLY wrong…”

He went on to give her acting props, but then bashed her more, suggesting that she should be grateful for winning awards for the role:

“I respect her actor because she gave me her soul, but I gave her my soul. And for that she was given the…Golden Globe and the Academy Award. And it breaks my heart that she feels that we blackballed her. No one blackballed her. Mo’Nique blackballed her and for her to CONTINUE to talk about Oprah, and myself, and Tyler is disrespectful.”

Getting angrier by the second, Lee continued:

“I don’t understand her motive…I don’t get it, I really don’t. … We were really down with Mo.’ To get that performance form her, she had to bare her soul to me, I had to bare my soul to her. That was like making love, without having sex, you understand? … There’s LEVELS to that. And for her to think…that I could do anything?!! … I don’t know, it ain’t even worth a conversation…Like, she needs to SHUT UP.”

Mo’Nique’s Claims

In a 2018 interview on “The View,” Mo’Nique discussed the blackballing, as well as her refusal to be bullied into doing what her many White counterparts do not have to:

“They [Oprah, Tyler, and Lee] wanted me to come work for free. To go over to Cannes and promote this film internationally. I said to them, ‘Guys, my deal is with Lee Daniels and I’ve done my job.’ And they all agreed. […] And this is what happens, in my humble opinion, when you don’t go up to the hotel room,” she said. … “If I had done something wrong contractually, they would’ve sued me,” added Mo’Nique. “The reason why no one could do anything to me contractually is because they found out I did nothing wrong contractually. So, when they asked me to come overseas to promote the film — when I said, ‘Guys, I’m spending time with my family, I’m going to pass.’ […] What Tyler Perry showed me, Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate, when you don’t do what we ask you to do, we’ll take your livelihood. So for eight years, my family has suffered, my career has suffered because what I would not allow those entities to do was bully me.”

Well, this probably didn’t turn out the way Mo’ would prefer, because as you can see, Lee Daniels is not gonna apologize to her, nor admit to any form of wrongdoing. On the flip side, his recent confession to doing Damon Dash dirty, only after Dash had been trying to get his millions back since 2014, now has many fans doubting Daniels’ business practices. Many now believe that Mo’Nique was right all along.

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