Here Lies Monique 'The Misled' Shinnery

And so begins the slow and painful character assassination of Monique Shinnery. Above is how her media epitaph will likely read. It's alright to refer to Shinnery by name now and not just "the black girlfriend" of Dog the Bounty Hunter's son. It's alright now, because Shinnery has revealed her plans to sue Duane "Dog" Chapman for slander. The "story" is now about her...and not about Duane Chapman.

Note the choice made on her part.

Monique Shinnery, you're now on the clock...you have 14 minutes and 59 seconds of fame left.

It seems that the oblique and veiled references to Shinnery in Dog's audiotaped tirade have caused undue pain, stress and career impediment...or something that Shinnery feels tipped over her apple cart of life. She's seems to feel she has been publicly ridiculed enough by the audiotape and wishes some sort of retribution, reward or remuneration. Mo'Kelly's not sure exactly if she's entitled to any of the aforementioned.

Just being honest and just being fair.

Don't get Mo'Kelly wrong, the rant by Dog the Bounty Hunter is despicable on its best day; but the only reason this is even a "story" is because her boyfriend sold it to the National Enquirer. We can reasonably assume she was complicit in this endeavor. If there's any "embarrassment" or defamation of character...some blame must be laid at the feet of her man Tucker and Shinnery too.

In telling the story of how this became "a story," Shinnery's role must be mentioned.

Not only that, Chapman never referred to Shinnery by name in the audio. The only reason we know "who" Shinnery is tied to her boyfriend Tucker releasing the tape (and presumably her name) to the National Enquirer and HER own nationally televised statements in conjunction with the same gossip magazine.

Mo'Kelly is not a lawyer, but he's pretty damn sure that none of this adds up to slander and her complicity along the way is probably relevant. It would seem she would have a better chance suing Tucker Chapman.

But that's not the point of this commentary on this day.

What has transpired in the days since Shinnery's threat of lawsuit is predictably, fans of Duane Chapman have banded together to assail her character and discredit her.

Shinnery is also making the classic mistake of fighting a racial media battle...while refusing to talk to anyone in the African-American media...The Mo'Kelly Report included.

Huge, huge mistake.

If Shinnery is "upset" and "distraught" about being (indirectly) referred to by the "N-word" all across American media, her first order of business should have been to garner the support of the media contingent most willing to come to her aid.

Instead, she opted for the National Enquirer and replays on Hannity & Colmes. Neither has any affinity or concern for the issues confronting African-Americans.

Shinnery likely got paid, but no doubt got played too.

For those of the opinion her lawsuit is only about money and not redressing a wrong...Shinnery's been chopping her own wood to help stoke that fire.

That's HER bad and hers solely.

In addition, she further ostracizes herself from any African-American media support if/when it really gets hot for her. One can't run to "us" as an afterthought as OJ and Michael Jackson did.

Case in point...

Reports have emerged alleging that Shinnery has not been completely truthful in her public statements regarding her employment status as a teacher (as referenced in her impending slander claim). Also there is allegedly an incident being investigated concerning Shinnery purchasing alcohol to minors.

Now, do either of the aforementioned really have anything to do with the merits (or lack thereof) of her pending slander suit? Absolutely not. But slander suits fought in the media are usually won and lost...in the media. Rumor, conjecture and innuendo are quite powerful...especially when they run unopposed.

Just imagine if Black media were in her corner to help provide a platform in which she could effectively deny or rebut the character assassination heading into court?

Yes, keep on imagining it...because it probably won't happen now. That horse has left the barn.

For Mo'Kelly personally, it's saddening to see this Sista on the precipice of public disaster, due largely to lack of proper guidance and personal immaturity. In short, she's 'young' and probably ill-prepared to deal with the subsequent scrutiny that comes with having one's name in the national media.

A name she herself helped place.

The media is unforgiving and unrelenting. Although Shinnery may be of the opinion that suing Duane "Dog" Chapman is a good idea, proper guidance would have informed her otherwise.

Then again, proper guidance would have warned her that the subsequent media firestorm would have been too hot for her to handle when she and her boyfriend decided to get paid by the National Enquirer.

African-American women as a whole have been beat up enough lately by the media, so no joy will come to Mo'Kelly if/when Shinnery is really taken to task. But Shinnery needs to know that it's going to get much, much hotter; the spotlight much, much brighter and Black media will ultimately be more and more removed and indifferent by then.

And she'll have no one to blame but herself.

"Here Lies Monique 'The Misled' Shinnery..."