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 amelia

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I have eight sisters...I know that six of us were molested by various family members...

I've spent thousands of dollars on counseling and therapy and anti-depresents...I still have flashbacks...it continues to effect us all...my youngest sister is a meth addict and a prostitute...

Tuesday 20 April

By twinkie

OPRAH SHOULD'NT HAVE EVEN HAD THAT SHOW. THATS MORE LIKE A MORY STORY. BAD TASTE OPRAH

By jacque

I am not taking anybody side. I believe in in my heart that everyone has something to confess to before the die oneday. God is the only one can judges us for the mistakes he made. ANd I pray that there can be forgiveness between monique and her mother. I know she will never trusted him and have the love you suppose to have for a brother. But she will make peace her way. Love to to both of you. God bless

By lois

This is disgusting ! Why go on Oprah? He can tell her in person..I think both are doing it for publicity to get her career going and she is probalby paying him big money to do this!

By Joanna

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Is this POS guy for real? ...He's sorry???
Well, that and a buck will get her a cup of coffee.
He'a a pedo! Pedos do not rehab, therefore, all pedos
should be executed.

Wednesday 21 April

By leolux10

He's not a "pedo" (can't spell?). A PEDOPHILE is an adult (18+) who has sexual intercourse with a minor (16- & 17 without consent). He's an incestual rapist. One likely with social issues.

Educate yourself.

By janay

i think he saying sorry so he can get some of her money

By excrusade

"With the help of God." Haha...where was your God when this child and many others were being molested? Maybe it's God's plan, lol.

By sgarmat

Actually I totally feel it was God that got me through!
What doesn't kill you DOES make you stronger...I've said I won't be thanking him any time soon, but I am strong.

By do8383sh

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Things like this are painful! However, painful as they are, they are no worse than many other things that life deals to everyone. "Survivors" make me cringe! A person that is raped, beaten, etc., that's trauma! But, when a child over the age of five, allows anyone to continue to be inappropriate for years, then (in this day and time) they share in responsibility. Ophra has done many wonderful things that aid the advancement of women's causes. One of the best things she did was to decide that she would stop presenting women/girls as helpless victims! When this type of a abuse/situation continues over a number of years, both parties bear responsibility. In this situation both of these people were children. Does their age make it right? No! However, as with all things in life, there is a time to "get over it." It happened, now move on. I feel very sorry for the parents as well. They love their children, they obviously do not condone what happened, and what kind of daughter has no contact with the mother and father that raised her for over eighteen months? She needs to grow up and begin "acting" like a mature, responsible, adult rather than an "injured" child. By the way, I was molested as a five year old. It wasn't wonderful, but it certainly wasn't the end of my life!

By Karen

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Have you lost your cotton picken mind Do8383sh? How can you say an innocent child of five to needs take responsiblity for what her molestor did to her? He was old enough to know right from wrong! What kind of daughter doesn't have contact with their mother? Her family chose to support her molestor and not her. I would feel the same way. If we chose to continue to not bring this out in the open then the molestors win. They want it to be a dirty little secret. They don't want anyone knowing what they do.

By misty

You have lost your mind!!!! Have you ever been raped? Have you ever been a little child and been molested? You have no idea what you are talking about~ try having someone older than you bigger than you, stronger than you take you and hold you down, threaten you, and force you into sex!!!! Take responsibility for that you arrogant piece of crap!!! Your a innocent child!!!! You have no idea what sex is!!! All you know is that if you tell your going to get the crap beat out of you or your favorite pet is killed or tortured in front of you!!! Get a real opinion from real "survivors" before you open your ignorant mouth!!!!

By Yeah, you're sorry alright

This guy thinks "I'm sorry" and all is forgotten? Yeah, right.
I wouldn't blame Mo'nique if she never saw or talked to him again. Not out of anger, but out of the fact that these molester types NEVER are cured. Yeah, I know they TRY to change their sexual predatory nature, but the shrinks will also tell you that these types of monsters are NEVER cured.
I also had many abusers, and cut them all out of my life. It's the only way to even have a chance for a normal life. Mo'nique should keep him away. Lame "I'm sorry", that's BS

By survivor

Millions of people were able to see his face, hopefully saving his next victim!

By kathy

I didn't get a chance to the interview, but I read the story and he did say he was molested as well and he was only 13 a child himself on drugs (no excuse),"not a monster" . It's a vicious cycle that continues to happen in all races and more families than we realize. It's really sad, that he waited to apologize now, he was sitting in prison for 12 years, he could have very well wrote her a letter. Since none of this makes any sense to strangers and we really don't know everything about their family only what they are willing to share, we can only speculate. What's really sad, is the Mom not taken action when Monique and her brother were younger, or choosing not to believe it, she was 7 or 8 in most cases the child is not lying. I am a mother too, and if my child was to tell me something like that i would believe her and take action. You can't erase the pain and memories of someone taking the only thing that is yours and sacred especially when your sibiling is doing that to you. I feel that this is something that could and should have been dealt with in private. All prayers are for Monique and her whole family.

By Shrysu

To do8383sh
This is my second attempt to post . I presume the last one didn't go through because I used the guys name. Just another way to cover up for creeps and you are creep. to blame the child for being molested my God your as sick as the molesters. Childre are victims and they do not have to forgive when someone takes their innocence away.

By Heahter

When Oprah asked how many he had molested, did anyone notice how he kind of hesitates, and then he says he only molested 2 (two) people? I'm guessing that the 2 people were, 1. MoNique 2. the person he did jail time for.
I don't believe it for one second that he only molested 2 people. That pig molested more than that and he knows it. How sick! He needs to admit them ALL, and be put on the sex offenders list ASAP!

By Bonnie

As a parent I would have done more to investigate the allegation. Like spying on my children. It might be hard to believe your child would do something like that but how could you ignore the seriousness of what was told to you! One child was being seriously injured, the other was being enabled to continue doing what was wrong. I too have to question the timing of this remorse on the brothers and the parents part. After all these years that she stuck with her story and now you believe. I hope she can forgive and I know she is smart enough to see through what they may be doing. I'm sorry for her that it may not be genuine.

By Diana

This subject is as private as it gets. Only money would make anyone go on tv to tell the world something like this.
Some things are better left private, this is one of those things.

By Valgirl

Everyone, please don't forget that it was Monique that confess she was molested by her brother on national TV. Healing can only begin when you face what is/has happened to you. Forgiveness needs to happen so that you can move forward. Harboring unforgivingness only hurts you more because it can cripple you. Its obvious this family needs much prayer and counseling. Lets not be so quick to judge "lest thee be judge'. I'm sure Monique's family did not take going on national TV lightly and exposing their entire family just for monetary gain. Maybe the family really want forgiveness and closure, they have to start somewhere why not use Oprah show as a catalyst, who could better interview and understand the diametric of this story then Oprah herself.

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