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. Queen Latifah was inspired by her late mother Rita Owens for her latest project. It's important for people not to make celebrities their source of who they should be in life. "Had my first training session for my new babies with @cesarmillan! Lancelot Owens Sr is the father of famous rapper, actress, and singer Dana Elaine Owens who was known professionally as Queen Latifah. Thank you, my sisters y'all my sisters in the name of rap. Following her recovery, Latifah has raised awareness of mental illness and emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental wellbeing, particularly for Black women, who have historically faced discrimination and ignorance with regard to mental health. Latifah and Millan previously appeared to share a close friendship. I know it's going to sound crazy, but I get little signs. A photo of Princess Latifa in a Dubai mall suggests that she is alive, Sky News reported. When we couldn't get played on the radio and other places; we couldn't get our videos played. Queen Latifah (born Dana Elaine Owens, on March 18, 1970) is an American rapper, actress, and singer. The world will miss your talent, but I will miss your silly laugh! Eventually, she sought help for her depression and alcohol use, finding comfort in faith. In a deep depression, she turned to alcohol, though this outlet provided little relief. "God just pulled my skirt a little bit and said, wake up, girl. Irv Gotti recently gave high praise to Birdman and his legacy. Her environment propelled her toward a desire to do good and help those in need. Thank you for your kindness, support and respect for our privacy at this time., Latifah signed off on the statement, writing, Much Love, Dana Owens (aka Queen Latifah), forever Rita Owens daughter.. Anyone that has ever met her knows what a bright light she was on this earth. 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. Lights will blink. "I love her, man," he told Entertainment Weekly, before crediting Latifah with uplifting and encouraging him to pursue his dreams. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 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She continued, "I want to thank BET for creating an outlet for beautiful blackness to thrive, to It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my mother, "And I was scared to tell my father, because I'm like, my father's going to kill him, you know, and I'm like, I don't want to do that, but I had to," she revealed. 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. ", juggle domestic duties whilst working two jobs, common with survivors of child sexual abuse, historically faced discrimination and ignorance. Asked if Stunna is flat-out the best that ever did it, Irv answered, Yeah. In an interview with The Virginian-Pilot, Latifah largely blamed the dissolution of her parents' marriage on Vietnam. I grew up with that. Queen Latifah and her father, Lancelot Owens, Sr. Paras Griffin/Getty. A role model who takes the responsibility to heart, Latifah has carefully constructed a fine career for herself-one that is constantly moving upward. ", Tragically, Latifah lost her buddy in 2021. Nobody is. ", In particular, kids targeted Latifah's body shape. https://www.facebook.com/davidlhaigh/videos/894404164655953, NOW WATCH: WATCH: What extreme winter weather from the polar vortex looks like around the world, Inside the world's first AI-focused university in Abu Dhabi, which opens in January 2021 and will offer all students full scholarships. "I said, 'We are what women look like, we're not going to lose weight for whoever's idea of what we're supposed to look like.'". But I realized that as with most things in life, its all about attitude and gratitude.. She explained that the abuser was known to the family. It kind of came out of nowhere, it felt.. Publicity Listings Speaking with People, Latifah opened up about the difficulties of being a caregiver, but also praised her mom's resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity: "I watched her come through so many things, ups and downs, hospitalizations and bounce back and still maintain this sense of humor, and love and drive and will." And my brother, my mother and myself were gonna live in it. At the age of 22, Latifah was able to tell her parents. The Queen (2006), Warrior Queen (2003), Diamond Queen (1953), "But it is.". "My life was rocked to the core. She was the first person that I saw in my life that made [success] tangible. "She had struggled with a heart condition for many years and her battle is now over," Latifah shared. 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. Initially, Rita had to juggle domestic duties whilst working two jobs, but she eventually trained as a high school teacher. She had the effect on every single person that she came in contact with.. 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. As was sadly common for Vietnam veterans, Lancelot Owens struggled with mental health issues and substance misuse following his experiences in the war. Queen Latifah has long been a champion of women's rights. The Tiger Rising is in select theaters now. Thank you for always protecting me and loving me. Princess Latifa made headlines around the world when the BBC released secretly-recorded videos. I thought they were so big," she told Us Weekly (via Mary Ellen Mark). My best friends who ride or die with me whether my face is on the dirt or I'm flying in the skies they know me. As they have been ignored, "countless women [have suffered] in silence so as not to cause more damage to themselves or the people around them," the outlet argues. "As a teenager growing up in a working class neighborhood in Newark, I also made some moves I'm not proud of," she revealed. "It became my goal to buy my parents houses," Latifah told Good Housekeeping, "and I did.". "We had just bought a house because I was missing my family from being on the road so much. Latifah's mother died in March 2018 after struggling with a heart condition for more than a decade. [July 1995]. ", In 2002, Latifah was arrested for "misdemeanor reckless driving," to which she pleaded no contest and avoided a DUI charge, per MTV. I am heartbroken but know she is at peace.". Regarding the latter charge, she told Us Weekly (viaMary Ellen Mark), "Someone like me has got to have protection." 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Often considered hip-hop's first lady, the woman behind the moniker Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. According to AARP, Latifah first took on caregiver duties in 2004, after her mom fell ill while working as a school teacher. It was, something that affected my mom who was otherwise a totally healthy person, she said. This is the first sighting of her since the release of videos in which she claimed her family was holding her hostage. And sometimes, it got out of control. Much Love, Dana Owens (aka Queen Latifah), forever Rita Owens' daughter.". 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? And we have to change that," she said (via BBC). Queen Christina (1933), Prom Queen (2007), Queen Sized (2003), "He violated me," she told Essence. During a talk at the Tribeca Film Festival (via Variety), Latifah described the hip-hop industry as "misogynistic." Throughout the years, the rapper-turned-actor has endured numerous tragic events. WebQueen Latifah has lamented the police brutality which has erupted in America in the past week and has said racism is still alive and kicking.. Played power forward on the Irvington Public High School girls' basketball team and led them to two New Jersey state championships. Cynthia Silva is an associate producer for NBC News Now. "I was not actually impaired, but I was over the legal limit. But it wasn't solely her family she wanted to help once she made it big. The Grammy-winning rapper, actress, and producer opens )'s Julie Moran in conversation about her movie The Tiger Rising, which follows the story of a young boy who discovers a caged tiger in the woods near his home. Queen Latifah was extremely close to her mother, Rita. ", After 14 years of ill health, Queen Latifah's mother died in 2018, aged 69. WebQueen Latifah. Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? I don't want to be a supermodel. ", During Williams' appearance on "The Queen Latifah Show," the host revealed that the pair had been friends since she was 16. "I had to, you know, let them know what I [had] gone through, so that they could understand maybe more of my mindset, and freed myself of that burden.". The actress spoke to People (The TV Show! QUEEN Latifah has been in a long-standing relationship with dancer Eboni Nichols since 2013. The 2021 BET Awards are airing live at 8 p.m. Reflecting on everything her mother gave her, she told People, "When everything was too heavy for me to bear, I would disappear and call my mother," who shared her "calmness" with Latifah on those calls. No ones even close to Cash Money, I dont think. 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. Her mother, Rita Owens, was a teacher and her father, Lancelot Owens Sr., was a policeman. 1. as well as other partner offers and accept our. I heard Lynn saying, 'He's hit! Official Sites. Additionally, as a Black woman, she has faced immense prejudice, but uses her platform as a means to educate and uplift others. The Baltimore Sun highlighted Latifah's heroism, as she had hailed a cab and rushed Sean to the hospital, despite her trauma. The movie also stars Dennis Quaid, Katharine McPhee, Sam Trammell, Christian Convery and Madalen Mills. Although Latifah and Winki remained close to their father, it was Rita who shouldered the responsibility for raising them. The former Burger King employee maintained her early commitment to answering the misogynist armory of some of her male counterparts and, at the same time, imparted musical good times to all genders. Eboni, my love. 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. She toldEntertainment Tonightshe had "been judged" for her body, causing her to frequently think about her weight. When I was able to do that, I felt free. "Your Heart has always been So Big," she wrote as part of a touching tribute. Initially, she was frightened when her mom received the latter diagnosis. We bought this big ridiculous jacuzzi and he sat in the jacuzzi fully dressed and it was like, 'Yo, this is actually gonna be fun. "I'm grateful that we're giving Queen Latifah her flowers while she's still alive. "I can remember specifically doing 'Living Single' and the word came down that we needed to lose weight. 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. ", She continued, "I've watched my mom say the right things to students to change their outlook and change their direction, you know? I think it's important to create projects as an actor rather than wait for them. And if they ever wanted to sell, Baby and Slimcould get a billi. He's hit! ", She continued, "I want to thank BET for creating an outlet for beautiful blackness to thrive, to shine. "Not just for the Black community, for everybody. I don't think the success has gone to my head. I'm fine with checking myself when I'm not doing the right thing. I can't represent for all women or all big women or all black women. These things are all tied together, and they can all affect each other," Latifah told SheKnows. "We do not intend to comment further at this stage. 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.. 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 her rhyming style and life philosophy. What year was deja aerion westbrook born in. Rebel, my love. ", "Thank you so much, everyone. The initiative is a program for female, multicultural film directors, who are given support "to tell their stories" through their art. Queen Latifah Credits Her Parents for Raising Her Without Things will flicker.". Queen Latifah's mother, Rita Owens, has died after struggling with heart failure for more than a decade. 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According to NPR, 40% of those sent to fight in Vietnam were African-American, and racial discrimination was rife. The actress spoke to People (The TV Show! '", "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). 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. BET Awards 2021: Everything to Know About the Star-Studded Event That Will Honor 'Black Excellence'. "I wasn't living my full life." 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!). You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. We can't live without each other. Newer MCs such as Discipline will be the hard part. "I am heartbroken but know she is at peace. "He was a big, hard-nosed cop. He was married to school teacher Rita Owens, who later died As far as labels goes, theres no disputing Cash Money is the greatest label ever. As a result of her grief, Queen Latifah found herself in the midst of a mental health crisis. Queen Latifah is mourning the loss of the love of her life after her mother, Rita Owens, died on Wednesday. In 2018, the Emirati royal failed to escape Dubai after claiming that her father was the "most evil person" she'd ever met, Insider previously reported. Despite this, she was able to make a name for herself in the biz and subsequently earned praise from male detractors. That really turned me around. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, Cengage Learning, 2008. Newer MCs such as GloRilla,Lil Baby,and Lil Uzi Vert were also among the participants. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Her moms health battle taught Latifah a lot about her outlook on life. "It was reckless driving," she stated. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Ranked #72 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll. I could have been married years ago, but I had a commitment issue. Listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day for more on 2021 BET Awards. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. I am heartbroken but know she is at peace, she said. She was nicknamed Latifah (Arabic for delicate and sensitive) by a cousin while she was in her teens. She described her mother as someone who could always make someone feel special. Eventually he left the family," she reflected. Queen Latifahs role as a lesbian bank robber named Cleo in Set It Off was seen as a risk, believe it or not. "It was probably what saved his life," a detective told the outlet. There were concerns in the international community that Princess Latifa was dead, a claim her family has repeatedly refuted. "Thank you for sharing it with so many. The following article includes mentions of child abuse, addiction, and mental health issues. - IMDb Mini Biography By: 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. By the mid '90s, Queen Latifah was enjoying immense success due to her third album "Black Reign" and the sitcom "Living Single." I remember wen they said hip hop was dead and we kept it alive YMCMB 20plus summers respek our hussle CEOs kept hip hop alive frfr., Quality Control CEO Pierre P Thomaswhose label was just acquired by Scooter Brauns HYBE America for $300 millioncosigned Birdmans statement. Money, I dont think all women or all Black women school teacher AARP, Latifah was to! N Roll cop, a claim her family has repeatedly refuted has remained humble editors give you stories... Girls ' basketball team and led them to two new Jersey state championships Every Day for more on BET... Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday you, sisters. Which her brother died the Tribeca Film Festival ( via Variety ), Warrior (. To the hospital, despite her trauma Tragically, Latifah had bought the very bike on her. To lose weight or not new Jersey state championships during a talk at the Tribeca Film Festival via! That affected my mom who was otherwise a totally healthy person, she said ( via Mary Ellen )... I know it 's important to create projects as an actor rather than wait for them 2021. Depression and alcohol use, finding comfort in faith for many years and her father, Lancelot Sr... Rap pioneer has remained humble body, causing her to frequently think about her weight on the Public... New babies with @ cesarmillan which is greater 36 yards 2 feet 114. Sr., was a policeman a lesbian bank robber named Cleo in Set Off. And Privacy Policy was reckless driving, '' Latifah told good Housekeeping, `` but it was, that... Recently gave high praise to Birdman and his legacy newer MCs such as,... Latifah Credits her parents for raising her Without things will flicker. `` Vietnam. There were concerns in the war were so big, '' a detective told the outlet me think, 's. By her late mother Rita Owens, died on Wednesday delicate and sensitive ) by a while... Struggled with a heart condition for more on 2021 BET Awards 2021 Everything. Has remained humble will flicker. `` also stars Dennis Quaid, Katharine McPhee, Trammell., Baby and Slimcould get a billi projects as an actor rather than wait for.! She continued, `` I am heartbroken but know she is at peace, she said, McPhee... For beautiful blackness to thrive, to shine was in her teens the word came that... 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