Mo'Nique's Brother Admits He Sexually Abused Her

By PopEater Staff Posted Apr 19th 2010 05:00PM

Gerald Imes, the brother of Oscar winner Mo'Nique, appeared on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on Monday to apologize and admit he molested the actress when they were children. He told Winfrey the abuse went on for about a year or two and started when he was 13 and Mo'Nique was around 7 or 8.

"I abused and betrayed the trust of another sibling, my sister, my blood sister," Imes said. He apologized to the actress, saying, "I'm sorry, Mo'Nique. I'm sorry."

Imes said he decided to appear on Winfrey's show to apologize to Mo'Nique and bring their family back together. "I can only hope by coming forward that somewhere down the line, with the apology and the truth finally coming out after 37 years ... That as siblings, we can come back together as brother and sister."

He added, addressing his sister as if she were there: "It happened. I'm sorry that I was the one who did it to you. I understand your pain. Now let's share this together."

The actress did not comment on Imes' admission. Winfrey said that while Mo'Nique did not want to be interviewed for the show, she gave the talk host her blessing. "She said if your expressing what you had done to her could save one family then it would be worth it," Winfrey told Imes.

Imes said he himself was molested and he was using drugs and alcohol at age 11. "The drugs weren't an excuse," he said. "They just afforded me the opportunity to do the things that was (sic) in the back of my mind that I always wanted to do."

Mo'Nique has discussed her brother's molestation in previous interviews, most recently with Barbara Walters when she called her brother a "monster." One claim that Imes denied to Winfrey was that he used to lure his sister with candy.

"As inappropriate as it was. As humiliating as it was. I didn't groom her," he said. Winfrey then described "grooming" as the manipulative steps that abusers take to gain the trust of their victims, such as gift-giving.

Years after abusing his sister, Imes was convicted and served 12 years in prison for crimes unrelated to Mo'Nique. When asked by Winfrey how many people he has molested, Imes admitted to two victims.

Mo'Nique's parents also appeared on the episode. "It was such a heartbreaking thing to accept," said her mother, Alice Imes.

Mo'Nique received the supporting actress Academy Award in March for her role in 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire,' which was co-produced by Winfrey. Mo'Nique has said she channeled her experience of being molested into the role of the abusive mother she played in the film.

Tags: monique, oprah winfrey

Comments

(103)

Monday 19 April

By Brenda

Vote down Vote up Report this

A bullet in his head would solve his problems with his sister...I don't think he is sincere...

By Dean

People that air their dirty laundry in public are low life.

By gayle

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

@ benjibugg.....And you're a PIG! You know something? I would have to apology to all the Pigs in the world for insulting them by calling you one. You're not a Pig. You're an Azz H*ole. Better yet, you're a Whole Azz

By Ms Ann

Mo'nique's saga has me puzzled on how she went about announcing the sexual abuse with her parents still alive.Why she did not have a meeting with her parents and informed them ,she would be making the announcement.Why did she take the role in "Precious" if it would bring so many painful memories she had buried.Yes, her brother admitted, he abused her for four years and why take a risk and end back in prison and labeled a sexual pedophilier?I believe money and legal transactions has taken place and another end to promoting the movie.He had a group of supporters and a spiritual leader and that is my concern will sibling sexual abuse be acceptable or ignored.Who really will benefit from this ordeal of admisssion.

By Sandy

He admitted it to the entire world, a big step. He was a child as well. I think and hope she will finally forgive him and they can heal the relationship. I would give anything if my brother, and my father would of at least admitted it.

By Acemeister79

Oprah is just as sleazy as the bro... The need to fill one hour of vaccuous time every afternoon - and make it look like she is a saint in waiting... You can't retire soon enough, Winfrey...

By Emma Young

Monique just won an Oscar, she is losing weight and looks good, her show is doing great - it seems like Oprah was trying to downplay Monique's success by putting this out in public. And I also blame Monique's brother. He could have apologized in private. This is Monique's time. It's her moment to glow. Why rob her of it? Oprah even said that it was because of the molestation that Monique was able to play the role so well. That may be, but what about her acting ability? What about her talent?

By tee

His step-daughter sent an email to a radio show saying that he molested her from age 5-9. Physically beating and then raping her. He is a monster as Monique has stated.

He also admitted to molesting 2 others. His former step-daughter is one. She emailed to a radio show today what he had done to her. Raiped and beat her from age 5-9. I know the mother knows this and she sits there with him as if Monique is wrong for putting it out there. Good she told, now the others can finally heal.

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

So Frank. What offends you more? That you find Mo'Nique so disgusting that you are "surprised" that her own brother would want to molest her? Or are you offended that, "aperah" had the brother on her show to confess and apologize for it?
And!!! You have the nerve to call someone here on the link a racist!
Frank, put down the paint can you been sniffing. Unfortuniately this stuff is happening more than society would like to admit. I am happy that Oprah chose this topic. It needs to be addresses. My heartfelt sympathies to MoNique. I have a new fond respect and admiration for her. She is not a victim. She is a survivor.

By Vinny

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

is he really her brother...bet they do not have the same parental units...half siblings at best and WHO CARES ABOUT EITHER OF THEM..maybe queen oprah will give them a show like those feeble doctors

By MS. T

EVERYTHINGS OUT IN THE OPEN KNOW SO THE HEALING PROCESS BEGINS WITH THE FAMILY. GOOD LUCK AND KNOW THAT TIME HEALS EVERYTHING THAT HURT US.

Tuesday 20 April

By amelia

MS. T, you said "TIME HEALS EVERYTHING THAT HURTS US". I wish it were true. It's been over 30 years ago that the sexual abuse I was having to endure ended and time hasn't done anything for healing the pain I have. I've had numerous counselors and been in several 'sexual abuse surviors' groups and it's the same with everyone I meet, we learn to recognize our pain, by the grace of God we try to forgive, we encourage each other to not be so destructive to ourselves. With God's help we experience some deep healing but the effects of the abuse never, Never, NEVER fully go away. People who haven't been abused don't understand why we just don't get over it...but as much as we try... the pain never goes away...

By teelyn1037

heartbreaking...i sure hope this "story" helps and/or saves someone.

By gloria

it seems as though he feels like he can say sorry and things are gonna be A ok... are you serious??? i can relate to this situation because i too was molested by my brother and i could NEVER EVER see me being close to him. i wouldn't even want to sit next to this "MONSTER"... GOD BLESS YOU MONIQUE

By usedasachild

How pahetic that you as a society don't belive that this happens within a family statistics show that it is usually a family member who kills and rapes and abuses wake up you are in denial take from someone who has been there and someone who has endured form many a male family member on both sides up to great uncles abusing and touching when I was 7 he was at least 50 my adoptive mothers uncle so he was old her brother, my adoptive brother, uncles who like to watch and play "TICKLE" discusting perverts!!!!unforgivable

By mytusense

If Mo'Nique was a crack head walking up and down the street trying to get her next fix any way she could to numb as so many abused women do, they'd probably drive by her and say "I don't know what's wrong with that girl." All the while fully knowing what her prob was. BUT success has a way of making people "sorry." There's nothing more empowering than moving past people and things that have and can potentially harm you and those you love.

By Susan

Forgiveness is for the abused, as much as it is for the abuser...maybe even more so. You can forgive a person for a horrendous act without having that person in your life ever again. Forgiveness is what retains your soul. Without forgiveness, anger festers until the infection effects everyone. What good does that do?

By sgarmat

I know there is the forgive/ not forget mentality.
But I can't quite say that personally, I think it's more of an accept and move on. Knowing it happened and there is nothing you can do to change that, but totally agree about it festering, no matter what the situation. I am also all for speaking out, don't keep it hidden that is what THEY want, that is what protects them and helps them, while they are molesting/ raping each person, after so they can continue to others, and they never think about it (unless in their happy disturbed way of thinking), and no one knows... I think (and from what I've seen) if someone doesn't talk about it/ doesn't get help they are still a victim, but speaking out makes you an empowered survivor.
My molester/ rapist: Mike Cordes.
My parents have 6 children, but I have 3 brothers and 1 sister! :-)

By nodevout

all men are the same. they think they can say "sorry" to a woman and everything will be alright. no wonder monique is so messed up, with her views on marriage, and everything. this guy is disgusting.

Page 4 of 6