OFF BEAT: Actress Mo'Nique, landlords fight war of words over unpaid rent

Actress Mo’Nique is suing her former landlords in Fulton County, Ga., demanding that she should be let out of her $22,000 monthly lease because the house she recently rented smells like dog feces, has an overflowing septic tank and a broken security gate.

According to news reports, Mo’Nique, who is best known for her award-winning role as a mentally disturbed, abusive mother in the film “Precious,” filed her suit in response to litigation initiated by her landlord, which asserts that the actress owes $370,000 in unpaid rent and other charges for reneging on her two-year rental agreement.

For her part, Mo’Nique claims she was given a 60-day grace period as part of a verbal agreement she reached with her landlords when she signed her contract in March.

After an email exchange between Mo’Nique and her landlords was leaked to the press, Mo’Nique also asked the court to seal the case to protect her privacy rights.

In the emails, Mo’Nique’s husband, Sidney Hicks, accused the landlords of being alcoholics and hiring illegal workers. In response, the landlords suggest Mr. Hicks’ marijuana use may have altered his sense of smell.

Calls to Mo’Nique’s lawyer were not returned. Her landlords could not be reached for comment.