", "Thank you so much, everyone. To this night, right now, right here bless everybody and everyone in the audience for all your support. In 1996, she was arrested on weapon and drug charges, per theLos Angeles Times. She was nicknamed Latifah (Arabic for delicate and sensitive) by a cousin while she was in her teens. It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my mother, Initially, Rita had to juggle domestic duties whilst working two jobs, but she eventually trained as a high school teacher. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. He's hit! At the age of 22, Latifah was able to tell her parents. "That screwed me up for real. Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, None We want people to be aware of it to recognize some of the symptoms breathlessness, dry cough and talk to their doctors and make sure its not something theyre dealing with she said. "She had struggled with a heart condition for many years and her battle is now over," Latifah shared. Let me just say that I want to thank God because God designed this whole thing to be this way," an emotional Latifah, 51, began her acceptance speech. The world will miss your talent, but I will miss your silly laugh! Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2005 Razzie Award nominating ballot. about disrespect and violence towards women," she began. Anyone that has ever met her knows what a bright light she was on this earth. Don't miss a beat. "We had just bought a house because I was missing my family from being on the road so much. Anyone that has ever met her knows what a bright light she was on this earth," Latifah said in a statement following her mother's death. While her cousin was able to eventually escape the relationship with help from Latifah's family, Latifah acknowledged that, for many women, escape isn't so easy. "It's what I know she would like, it's what I know. "My mother felt terrible. Queen Latifah and her father, Lancelot Owens, Sr. A Look Back at Queen Latifah's Extraordinary Career, Diddy Pays Tribute to Late Kim Porter While Accepting 2022 BET Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award, BET Awards 2022 Nominations Doja Cat, Ari Lennox and Drake Lead the List, Kanye West Makes Surprise Appearance at Rolling Loud After Dropping Out of Headlining Gig, BET Awards 2022: Everything to Know About 'Culture's Biggest Night', Kanye West Stuns BET Awards 2022 Crowd with Surprise Appearance to Honor Friend Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Taraji P. Henson to Host 2022 BET Awards Says She Feels 'Honored' to Celebrate 'Black Excellence'. Anyone that has ever met her knows what a bright light she was on this earth. He was able to work through that stuff.". "I love her, man," he told Entertainment Weekly, before crediting Latifah with uplifting and encouraging him to pursue his dreams. IE 11 is not supported. Queen Latifah has said "racism is still alive and kicking" while speaking at VH1's Hip Hop Honours. Latifah explained to the organization that she wanted to make her mother, who had a "defibrillator implanted in her chest," as comfortable as possible, cooking her healthy meals and managing her medication. What year was deja aerion westbrook born in. She added that having a strong support network from her family "sustained me through the worst periods of my life. Subsequently, witnessing the pitfalls of poverty firsthand instilled Latifah with a strong sense of justice for the poor. "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). She was inducted into the 2011 New Jersey Hall of Fame for her contributions to Arts and Entertainment. Additionally, Latifah said that she shares an otherworldly bond with her mom, believing that "She still talks to me. "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my mother, Rita Owens passed away today," she told People. 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. I'm so extremely moved that I don't even know what to say. As my mom says, You cant change the past but you can change your future. Peace Happy Pride! Baby and his brother Slimfounded Cash Money in 1992. We can't live without each other. "It was reckless driving," she stated. The Tragic Death Of Queen Latifah's Brother, Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman. | It's important for people not to make celebrities their source of who they should be in life. She can also be seen with the key to his motorcycle around her neck. I'm pretty much the same but trying to be better every day. BET Awards 2021: Everything to Know About the Star-Studded Event That Will Honor 'Black Excellence'. She was listed as a suggestion in the Worst Actress category for her performances in the films. I grew up with that. She said she hopes it will educate people about the illness. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. "I think it's very important that we, especially as Black women, don't hold back about being honest about what we're feeling not just what we're feeling physically, but what we're feeling emotionally. We were best friends," she stated. I figured if I wasn't the best rapper, then I shouldn't completely rely on rap. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 18007997233. ", In a "Larry King Live" interview onCNN, she revealed that she was just 5 years old when the abuse occurred. Latifah is strong-willed to say the least; despite her tragedies, she has always been able to come out through the darkness and live to tell the tale, inspiring others with stories of resistance and resilience. When asked how she recovered from the tragic loss, Queen Latifah gave credit to fellow '90s rap icon Heavy D. "God bless him, it was Heavy D Heav had lost a brother," she told WEtv (viaOk!). If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services. I don't think the success has gone to my head. Latifah, whose mother died in 2018 at 69, said her performance was a way to honor her mother, a former schoolteacher. Aged just 54, Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment, per theNew York Post. That entire second verse of that song was written about my cousin who was in an abusive relationship with her husband." "God just pulled my skirt a little bit and said, wake up, girl. Black is beautiful. David Haigh, the co-founder of the Free Latifa campaign and Detained International, told the media outlet: "We confirm that there have been several potentially significant and positive developments in the campaign. Queen Latifah has long been a champion of women's rights. Of all her roles to date (2008), her personal favorite is Cleopatra Sims from. If anything it angered me and disheartened me, but it really angered me," she revealed. "He violated me," she told Essence. Queen Christina (1933), Prom Queen (2007), Queen Sized (2003), There were concerns in the international community that Princess Latifa was dead, a claim her family has repeatedly refuted. "I never told anybody; I just buried it as deeply as I could and kept people at an arm's distance. As a teenager, she briefly dealt drugs. Viewers without a cable subscription can tune in to watch BET on certain packages with several streaming services, including YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, Fubo TV and Philo. When I told my dad, he said nothing," she revealed to Essence. It also comes with its own unique set of challenges. In 2014, he appeared on "The Queen Latifah Show" to discuss doggy matters. I had never heard of scleroderma before. Since her brother didn't live to see her success, Latifah revealed that the loss had left her with a sense of bitterness. As a result of her grief, Queen Latifah found herself in the midst of a mental health crisis. Get the Kleenex ready, because the Queen of Rap has had anything but a royal road to success. "Every day I would be faded, like a painting that's just not vibrant, whose edges are dull," she told Good Housekeeping. Her environment propelled her toward a desire to do good and help those in need. Publicity Listings You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website. Everyone was magnetized by him. The actress and musician discussed Wednesday her mothers battle with interstitial lung disease, a If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website. ", One of Queen Latifah's closest friends was acclaimed actor Michael K. Williams, famed for his role as Omar Little on "The Wire." I never really let a person get too close to me. As with many African-Americans, Queen Latifah's father, Lancelot Owens, was conscripted to the Vietnam War. Nobody is. "Money was tight, and I experimented with stuff that could have taken me right down into the gutter if I'd continued with it." Queen Latifah Credits Her Parents for Raising Her Without Throughout it all, though, the rap pioneer has remained humble. "He (pointing at Rodriguez) was standing there waiting to get in. She was caught and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. ", As she explained to The New York Times, being raised in the projects wasn't all bad, but growing up in such an environment could potentially have drawn her down the wrong path. Queen Latifah is seen onstage during the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour on Jan. 18, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. Michael Kovac / Getty Images for Lifetime file, Queen Latifah talks about documentary Beyond Breathless. I am not one to turn down macaroni and cheese, even late at night. I was raised by strong Black women. ", In 2002, Latifah was arrested for "misdemeanor reckless driving," to which she pleaded no contest and avoided a DUI charge, per MTV. Subsequently, her dog's death, allegedly at the hands of the very person whose expertise she sought, is particularly tragic. ET on BET. Sarah Michaud is the senior news editor of PEOPLE's music vertical. Queen Latifah is mourning the loss of the love of her life after her mother, Rita Owens, died on Wednesday. Williams gushed about their friendship in 2018. containing the word "queen". condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body. '", "I was supposed to be with him that day on the motorcycle but one of my friends had to move, so we were moving all day," the Grammy Award-winning star continued (via Hot New Hip Hop). Queen Latifah in 1993. Dreams become reality when we put our minds to it. "My life was rocked to the core. But beneath that seemingly indefatigable veneer, Latifah has faced horrendous hardships. 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). and For Queen and Country (1989) are just some movie titles Under her birth name, Dana Owens, Queen Latifah and her longtime personal trainer. "To just know people are there when you need them. This is an award that is long overdue for her. "I can remember specifically doing 'Living Single' and the word came down that we needed to lose weight. The 2021 BET Awards are airing live at 8 p.m. Lidia Matiss, who claims she was violently attacked by Millan's pit bull, filed a lawsuit against the "Dog Whisperer," detailing the alleged attack against Latifah's pup. Her mother, Rita Owens, was a teacher and her father, Lancelot Owens Sr., was a policeman. When these gangster rappers praised my work, it drove home the fact that you can make a difference," she reflected. I am heart broken but know she is at peace.. 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. She still wears the motorcycle key around her neck. He was just 23. The star also confessed in her 1999 autobiography, "Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman" that her grief led to substance abuse and depression, both of which she eventually resolved. I know Im going to do just that, and I hope you will too.. She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6915 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on January 4, 2006. Her brother died in a motorcycle accident in 1992. As Consequence highlights, her 1993 single "U.N.I.T.Y." 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. provided any voicework for the character. In addition to empowering women and giving them a voice through her music, Queen Latifah launched the Queen Collective with Tribeca Film Festival and Proctor & Gamble. The actor shared that her role was"just like being a parent, like some things really don't matter. In 1992, her brother Lancelot Owens Jr. was killed in a motorcycle accident. As was sadly common for Vietnam veterans, Lancelot Owens struggled with mental health issues and substance misuse following his experiences in the war. Lancelot Owens Sr worked as a cop, a police tactical officer. Arrested for assaulting a photographer on February 6, 1996. ", She continued, "I've watched my mom say the right things to students to change their outlook and change their direction, you know? Played power forward on the Irvington Public High School girls' basketball team and led them to two New Jersey state championships. In 1989 at age 19, Latifah released her debut album All Hail the Queen, featuring the hit single "Ladies First". Additionally, as a Black woman, she has faced immense prejudice, but uses her platform as a means to educate and uplift others. "As a teenager growing up in a working class neighborhood in Newark, I also made some moves I'm not proud of," she revealed. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? In April, Marta Hurtado, a United Nations Irv Gotti recently gave high praise to Birdman and his legacy. And sometimes, it got out of control. And we have to change that," she said (via BBC). On reflection, Latifah told the outlet that she now realized why her dad remained silent upon hearing the news. "She's just like my best friend," she sweetly said onCNN's "Larry King Live." 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. It kind of came out of nowhere, it felt.. The Baltimore Sun highlighted Latifah's heroism, as she had hailed a cab and rushed Sean to the hospital, despite her trauma. Honestly, Queen Latifah is very much alive and healthy. 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I felt out of touch with other people on the planet.". Who are the athletes that plays handball? Latifah came from a family of "fighters," she noted to Larry King onCNN. Latifahs latest project, Beyond Breathless, a new documentary focused on people affected by interstitial lung disease, features her mother's story. ", RELATED: How Queen Latifah Keeps Her Late Mother's Memory Alive: 'She Still Talks to Me'. Make sure you shape it back. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. On Feb. 5, fans gathered to watch a historic celebration take center stage at the Grammy Awards. Latifah plays a hospice nurse, Theresa, who helps Bob towards the end of his life. The Tiger Rising is in select theaters now. And I felt guilty because I was angry at God," she told Good Housekeeping of the devastating loss. I don't have to really be in the 60s. The 15-minute tribute at L.A.s Crypto.com Arena included performances from pioneers LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot, Run DMC, and more. "I wish the message in that song wasn't even relevant today," she lamented. He was just 23. In 2018, she expressed her joy at enrolling her new furbabies in training programs with Millan. It rocked me to my core." The lawsuit alleges a "history of extreme violence" from Millan's dog. "With 'U.N.I.T.Y.,' Queen Latifah gave women the courage to speak out about the injustices they endured on a daily basis." You always have been. Ahead of the show, BET Awards host Taraji P. Henson raved to PEOPLE about Latifah's ability to do so much in her career, from her talk show and acting to working in several genres of music. Hopefully, its mountains will be higher than its valleys are deep. Throughout the time she spent taking care of her mother, Latifah said the two learned as much as they could about heart failure to manage her moms symptoms and teach others about the condition. "Here she was, a victim of a crime in a stressful situation, and she was cool, calm and collected.". - IMDb Mini Biography By: Queen Latifah Credits Her Parents For Raising Her to Be Fearless: They Made Me Aware of My Capabilities. That really turned me around. ", RELATED VIDEO: Queen Latifah on Finding Strength and Breaking Barriers: I Couldn't Have Imagined My Life Would've Gone This Way. She described her mother as someone who could always make someone feel special. It was also during this time that her friend and would-be collaborator, Tupac Shakur, was murdered. They understood, and when those things inevitably happened in school, they were OK with it. The following article includes mentions of child abuse, addiction, and mental health issues. Listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day for more on 2021 BET Awards. Queen Latifah may have achieved international success as a movie star, rapper, singer, and producer, but sadly her life hasn't been free of tragedy. 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.. In a deep depression, she turned to alcohol, though this outlet provided little relief. And they're there for me. 'Mandalorian' star Pedro Pascal, creators on new Grogu revelations and 'Last of Us' comparisons, Saved by the bell: Contestant ordered to keep mask on, in historic 'Masked Singer' first, Chris Pine admits 'it does look' like Harry Styles spit on him but this is what actually happened, Rebel Wilson 'collapsed' after Ramona Agruma proposal: 'I was so overwhelmed', Amy Grant recalls being 'so scared' to return to touring following serious bike accident. Be better every day really let a person get too close to me ' How Queen is! It 's important for people not to make celebrities their source of who should. 6, 1996 the 2011 New Jersey Hall of Fame for her contributions to Arts and Entertainment to... To watch a historic celebration take center stage at the age of 22, 's. She hopes it will educate people about the illness but beneath that seemingly indefatigable,. `` Living Single. 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