Mo’Nique’s brother admits he molested her

Published 9:49 pm Monday, April 19, 2010

CHICAGO — The brother of Oscar winner Mo’Nique said Monday on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show that he molested the actress when they were children and he wants to apologize to her.

Gerald Imes said on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that the molestation continued for a year or two, starting when he was 13 and Mo’Nique was 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 and bring their family back together. Imes said he himself was molested and he was using drugs and alcohol at age 11.

“Hopefully somewhere, somehow as siblings we can come back together as brother and sister,” he said.

Mo’Nique has discussed her brother’s molestation in previous interviews.

Mo’Nique received the supporting actress Academy Award in March for her role in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”