Mo’Nique’s Open Marriage Controversy: The Journey from Friendship to Romance
In her latest Netflix special, “My Name is Mo’Nique,” American comedian Mo’Nique candidly discusses her open marriage with husband, Sidney Hicks. The couple’s relationship journey spans several decades, from high school friends in the 1980s to married Life.
High School Friends Turned Life Partners
Mo’Nique and Sidney Hicks met when they were students at Milford Mill High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Despite being married to other people, they maintained their friendship throughout the years. Their relationship became romantic when they became roommates after their previous marriages ended. The duo became parents to twin sons, David and Jonathan Hicks, in 2005 and tied the knot in 2006.
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The Open Marriage Revelation
In a 2016 episode of their podcast, “Mo’Nique and Sidney’s Open Relationship,” the couple openly discussed their open marriage. Hicks shared that their lifelong friendship allowed for freedom in their relationship, allowing them to be involved with other people without shaking the foundation of their marriage.
According to Mo’Nique, the key to their open relationship was being honest with each other. In a 2007 interview with The New York Times, she stated, “We have an agreement that we’ll always be honest. And if sex happens with another person, that’s not a deal breaker for us, that’s not something where we’ll say, ‘Oh my God, we’ve got to go to divorce court, and you cheated on me.’ Because we don’t cheat.”
However, Mo’Nique revealed in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter that they have stopped seeing people outside of their marriage. She explained, “Life began to happen. I began to see a strength I had never seen before. He loved me at my worst. I didn’t want to sacrifice that just for a lay. So I grew out of that.”
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A Professional Partnership
In addition to their romantic relationship, Mo’Nique and Hicks also share a professional bond. Hicks has acted in the early 2000s and served as an executive producer on Mo’Nique’s shows and comedy specials. Currently, he is Mo’Nique’s manager, a role she praises highly.
Despite facing criticism for Hicks’s involvement in her business dealings, Mo’Nique stands firm in her decision. She recounted an interview where a young Black woman questioned her choice, to which Mo’Nique responded, “That breaks my heart that you would even think that.”
“My Name Is Mo’Nique” is now available for streaming on Netflix.