Gerald Imes, Mo’Nique’s “monster” older brother, has come clean.
After decades of denying allegations, Imes finally owned up to horrific claims made by Mo’Nique – that he was her childhood molester – to Oprah Winfrey.
“I’m here today to first acknowledge what I’ve been denial for for 37 years, and that is I did assault and inappropriately touch my sister in manners that were uncomfortable for her,” he said. “And for that, I apologize.”
“I’m humbly sorry that those actions had taken place.”
Mo’Nique’s parents also appeared on the show, although the Precious star herself did not participate. She did give her blessing for the sit-down to take place, saying she hoped her family’s story would help other victims of abuse.
Gerald Imes, Mo’Nique’s older brother, has come clean.
As for Gerald Imes, he confirmed Mo’Nique’s timeline: Abusing her between ages 7-11. Mo’Nique did not tell her parents until she was 15, and only di so then after a violent incident occurred that neither she nor Imes will discuss.
Imes says he only recently realized how wrong he was.
“I accepted it as being the norm,” he said, describing his own history with drug and sexual abuse. “The drugs weren’t an excuse. They just allowed me and afforded me the opportunity to do the things in the back of my mind.”Hauntingly, he adds: “Most of the time, the abuse I did with my sister took place while she was asleep [or] the appearance that she was asleep.”
He said his decision to come forward was watching his sister’s Academy Award-winning performance in Precious and the all-too-familiar storyline.
Later in life, Imes was convicted of molesting someone and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Mo’Nique will not allow him around her twin sons.
As for why Gerald chose now to come forward, he hopes it will help rekindle his relationship with his sister: “I can only hope by coming forth today, since I couldn’t reach out to her, that … somehow… we can come back together.”
“I’m sorry that it happened. I am so sorry that it happened to you, and that I was the perpetrator, the one that did it to you. However, I understand your pain. I, too, was there. Now let’s share this together and move on.'”
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