Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Or when they don't want to take you to Harlem. This was a shock to her and it was a shock to me," she told Good Housekeeping. I don't think I'll have any problem giving them all the love in the world. Sign up for notifications from Insider! I had to tune out what the hell everybody else had to say about who I was. Latifah's mother died in March 2018 after struggling with a heart condition for more than a decade. | It doesn't build my self-esteem, and it doesn't help me grow me at all. First woman to host the Independent Spirit Awards. According to MyHeritage, he was 22 at the time and was following in the footsteps of their father, Lancelot Amos Owens, by becoming a police officer. According to TMZ, Latifah sought the help of "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan, bringing her 2 pups to his psychology class. She is the daughter of Rita (Bray), a teacher, and Lancelot Owens Sr. She came from a police family-both her father and her older brother were cops-which would later influence The men stole Latifah's car. Lets Go., West Coast rap iconSnoop Doggseconded his viewpoint, writing facts and great work cuz u and slim did that., Birdman showed his appreciation for Snoop, writing fuk with you dog 4life and real gangsta shit.. As is common with survivors of child sexual abuse, Latifah was scared to tell her parents about what happened and thus kept it a secret until adulthood. The princess claimed in the February videos that she was being guarded by police officers, unable to leave her home, and was being held "hostage" by her family. I don't think the success has gone to my head. As Queen Latifah recounted on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," both she and her brother were bullied at school. Famed for her affable and jovial personality, Latifah always appears to greet others with a smile and her ever-present wit, seemingly unaffected by the trappings of an A-list lifestyle. Queen Latifah is opening up about her mothers illness and loss. "That was terrifying because now we had to figure out, 'what does it mean to have this autoimmune disease?' Latifah announced her mother's death on Wednesday in a She also had a brother, Lancelot Jr., who sadly passed away in 1992 due to a motorcycle accident. She confessed that she had "never been the same since.". "If that's the price I had to pay, I didn't want it.". All the kind of frivolous things sort of fall to the side because there's something way more important than all that. I love pasta A refrigerator full of water and Gatorade? I am heartbroken but know she is at peace, she said. Under her birth name, Dana Owens, Queen Latifah and her longtime personal trainer. Your classmates might tease you or say negative things about it,' but I'm doing it because I believe I can bring positive attention to the gay African-American community, and I believe that I can do a great job as an actor.' Latifah wore that key in every episode of her sitcom "Living Single", and reportedly still keeps it with her today. A photo of Princess Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, the daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, appears to show that she is alive, according to Sky News. Honey, that's just not gonna happen. At VH1's Hip Hop Honors, she elaborated on this. Thank you, my sisters y'all my sisters in the name of rap. Queen Latifah Says Racism Is Still Alive and Kicking at VH1 Hip Hop Honors. ", She continued, "I've watched my mom say the right things to students to change their outlook and change their direction, you know? It also comes with its own unique set of challenges. "I am heartbroken but know she is at peace. Queen Latifah was extremely close to her mother, Rita. Life is worth it. Although Latifah and Winki remained close to their father, it was Rita who shouldered the responsibility for raising them. You have to grieve in your own way, and I put my emotions into the music, which is my safe place, my home." Latifah made sure that her brother's name was remembered by dedicating her 1993 album"Black Reign" to him, as HipHopDX reported. Her brother died in a motorcycle accident in 1992. Princess Latifa made headlines around the world when the BBC released secretly-recorded videos. According to Matiss, Millan attempted to cover up Latifah's dog's death by urging "his staff to tell Queen Latifah the dog was hit and killed by a car." Was considered for the role of Sharona Fleming in. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. In April, Marta Hurtado, a United Nations spokesperson, said that the United Arab Emirates had failed to provide compelling proof that she was still alive. The initiative is a program for female, multicultural film directors, who are given support "to tell their stories" through their art. Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors," Volume 264, pages 284-285. GLLee90298@yahoo.com, Other Works Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, None It was also during this time that her friend and would-be collaborator, Tupac Shakur, was murdered. Eventually, she sought help for her depression and alcohol use, finding comfort in faith. As with many African-Americans, Queen Latifah's father, Lancelot Owens, was conscripted to the Vietnam War. "The last four or five years of my life have been the hardest, after my brother died," she told Us Weekly in 1998 (via Mary Ellen Mark). Queen Bee (1955), Snow Queen (2002), Bollywood Queen (2002), Prom The Grammy-winning rapper, actress, and producer opens Queen Latifahs role as a lesbian bank robber named Cleo in Set It Off was seen as a risk, believe it or not. ET on BET. And what a job she did. Anyone that has ever met her knows what a bright light she was on this earth. Queen Latifah is opening up about her mothers illness and loss. Queen Latifah (born Dana Elaine Owens, on March 18, 1970) is an American rapper, actress, and singer. If anything it angered me and disheartened me, but it really angered me," she revealed. Actress: Chicago. "To just know people are there when you need them. Opening up about the tragedy to The New York Times, Latifah acknowledged the lingering nature of grief. In an Instagram poston Tuesday, Birdman shared his opinion on why execsdeserve their flowers this year. 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I know it's going to sound crazy, but I get little signs. In 1996, she was arrested on weapon and drug charges, per theLos Angeles Times. "That screwed me up for real. First female rapper to be nominated for an Academy Award. Earlier this year, the Equalizer star opened up on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast to discuss the ways her parents beloved school teacher Rita Owens, and police tactical officer Lancelot Owens, Sr. raised her to be as strong as she is today, preparing her to become a trailblazer for Black culture. I know she would want to always encourage children to be the best that they can. (no children). Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. She found time to get a college degree, she became an art teacher, and she Don't miss a beat. "I don't care how much or things I have, or Puff has, or Missy has. Queen Latifah is mourning the loss of the love of her life after her mother, Rita Owens, died on Wednesday. I know Im going to do just that, and I hope you will too.. Subsequently, her dog's death, allegedly at the hands of the very person whose expertise she sought, is particularly tragic. Rebel, my love. It was a very vulnerable time going from being insecure about my body and who I am to becoming comfortable with me. Latifah came from a family of "fighters," she noted to Larry King onCNN. The actress and musician discussed Wednesday her mothers battle with interstitial lung disease, a Vanessa Etienne is an Emerging Content Writer-Reporter for PEOPLE. She played Rita James, mother to Khadijah James, Latifah's character on the '90s sitcom "Living Single." Owens also played Aunt Nettie in two movies Latifah produced "The Cookout" (2004) and TV's "The Cookout 2" (2011). As the Virginian-Pilot notes, she was not prosecuted for possession of marijuana though she was fined $810 for driving with no license and carrying a loaded weapon. "After my brother passed away, that ruined my world. "He was a big, hard-nosed cop. Queen Latifah is a triple threat: a rapper, actor, and television host, she is a multitalented performer who never shies away from speaking her truth. This is an award that is long overdue for her. speechless characters in the film, so therefore, no voice actor ", During Williams' appearance on "The Queen Latifah Show," the host revealed that the pair had been friends since she was 16. ", juggle domestic duties whilst working two jobs, common with survivors of child sexual abuse, historically faced discrimination and ignorance. Nobody is. But at the time, fans had no idea that the profound lyrics were steeped in a tragic reality. According to MyHeritage, he was 22 at the time and was following in the footsteps of their Honestly, Queen Latifah is very much alive and healthy. Dana Elaine Owens has won numerous lifetime achievements and Grammy awards. She is a well-respected person, very influential, and a mentor to millions of people worldwide. She has many endorsements and is a celebrity spoke person for Pizza Hut and CoverGirl Cosmetics. "Here she was, a victim of a crime in a stressful situation, and she was cool, calm and collected.". ", She continued, "I've watched my mom say the right things to students to change their outlook and change their direction, you know? Opening up on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast, Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens, shares how her parents beloved school teacher Rita Owens, and police tactical officer Lancelot Owens, Sr. raised her and her brother, Lancelot Jr., with equal love and opportunities. I thought they were so big," she told Us Weekly (via Mary Ellen Mark). She told the audience at a 'Meet the Filmmaker' event at the Apple Store in SoHo, New York City, that her ideal first project as a director would either be a science-fiction film or a project based on a comic book (May 11, 2010). According to The New York Times, Latifah was in her BMW with her then-boyfriend and bodyguard, Sean, and her close friend, Lynn, when two armed men approached the vehicle and shot Sean in the stomach, critically wounding him. When I told my dad, he said nothing," she revealed to Essence. But beneath that seemingly indefatigable veneer, Latifah has faced horrendous hardships. 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Sadly, she witnessed her cousin being abused for years by her cousin's partner. Rodriguez was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years for the violent crime he committed with Rashien Fortune, who shot Sean Moon. Sometimes it just takes a couple more to give them food for thought and they make the decision and then they make it happen. and For Queen and Country (1989) are just some movie titles A further statement will be issued at the appropriate time". I felt out of touch with other people on the planet.". Its estimated that 1 in 5 people over the age of 40 will develop heart failure in their lifetime., She recalled the day that her mother was diagnosed with heart failure in her 40s and spoke about what it was like to be her moms caregiver and advocate-in-chief., Caring for the woman who not only raised me, but made me who I am, is not the type of thing that I take lightly, Latifah said. Also I think CEOs who kept these artists alive to be great [and] showed them how to keep hip hop alive should be saluted in a major way. Prior to accepting the award, Latifah was honored in a video package by friends including Jada Pinkett Smith and Mary J. Blige before fellow female rappers Rapsody, Monie Love, Lil Kim and MC Lyte paid tribute to Latifah with a medley of "Ladies First" and "U-N-I-T-Y. Much Love, Dana Owens (aka Queen Latifah), forever Rita Owens' daughter.". Sarah Michaud is the senior news editor of PEOPLE's music vertical. "God just pulled my skirt a little bit and said, wake up, girl. Latifah opened up about her mothers struggle with heart failure, which is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body, in a blog for HuffPost two years ago. Subsequently, she has earned a hefty net worth from her many pursuits an estimated $70 million. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Discipline will be the hard part. 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