Queen Latifah’s book Put On Your Crown: Life-Changing Moments on the Path To Queendom, released in May, is missing a chapter. The one where she comes out as a lesbian. She didn’t intend to add to it on Larry King Live.
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The on-going marathon to have Latifah discuss her sexuality — or anything about her life in a non-professional way — continued on CNN, where King managed to get the actor-singer to chat about private lives, but not about her private lives. It’s hard to believe anybody, with any familiarity with Latifah, who watched this show doesn’t know exactly what she’s trying to hide.
But imagine if you are completely in the dark about Latifah’s sexuality. So there you are, among the 12 people still watching Larry King Live, listening to her talk about how she won’t talk about her private life. Do you see a celebrity who just doesn’t want to be on the cover of Us Weekly? Or a celebrity who has major skeletons in the closet?
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christopher di spirito
Hmmmmm? Maybe she’s a man?
CJ
Almost every celebrity limits various parts of their private life. It’s not our job to determine how much they should or should not share.
dvlaries
” LOL / Fail / Cute / Stupid / More Please ”
You need a 6th button: ” who the hell cares? ”
What’s the alternative here? A book with greasy gruesome carpet-munchin’ details?
As Mark Morford once noted, “thinking about Rosey O’Donnell and sex in the same brain space doesn’t exactly help breakfast digest easier.” And the same goes for Latifah.
Let’s allow for the possibily that her highness let us dodge a bullet, and be grateful.
Black Pegasus
I Love Latifah dearly, but I couldn’t watch the interview for the
very reasons stated in this thread. Her constant avoidance towards the obvious has become unnerving. I know it’s her business but the Queen has been a celebrity for well over 20 years. If not now, then when?
If you want a walk down memory lane, go
to youtube and search “Ladies First” and “U.N.I.T.Y”
She’s been in the industry for decades.
Come out Latifah! We already know the truth, yet we still
Love you!
Luxury
It’s amazing how we’ve become so spoiled by other celebs who can’t wait to let you know every single detail about their lives, their relationships, whether they shave or wax, etc. that when a celeb has decided not to go that route, she has “something to hide”. She doesn’t have to talk about her life outside of the professional, and if you don’t like that she keeps things she deems to be personal, personal, then move on to somebody else. Get over it and get off her back. This obsession with her and who you think she’s sleeping with is way past ridiculous.
Enron
To be honest, I never got a gay vibe from QL, but ‘Set it Off’ kinda ‘set it off’ for me. Honestly, its really hard to say, but then again, the obvious is there. No children, no special man in her life, something is definitely up. Then again, its her personal life, if she does not want to reveal it or pretend to be straight, leave her alone.
Why are so many gays power hungry for celebrity gays? Its not going to end DADT or DOMA. Personally, I wouldn’t want anybody nosing into my sex life either. A line needs to be drawn when it comes to what you do in the bed room and who knows about it. Remember, many years ago, some gays didn’t even have that privilege of keeping their bed room activities private, some still don’t around this world. So its ironic now that we want people explaining on ‘National TV’ what like they like to do for fun in their bed, with their partners gay or straight’.
Think about it, would you like your Mom to go on Larry King and talk about all the kinky stuff she likes to do with your dad? NO WAY!
sasha
She doesnt need to come out for anyone. I hope she stays in the closet just to prove she doesnt owe it to anyone to declare anything about her sexuality or personal life. She is beautiful and talented and that is enough to share with the world. Get over yourselves.
hephaestion
Usually when a celebrity refuses to come out, it is because they know they would lose their mother’s support if they did. A certain very powerful lesbian once told me this.
It often just comes down to Mom.
Dame Helga von ornstein
Dears, I grew up (came out) with Elton John, Queen and enjoy Little Richard when I listen to oldies. Then, just as now, I thought it best for the audiences to know but not make an issue of it.
Everyone who followed Madonna in the 1980’s saw her get desperate enough (after Vogue, which I think was her best and last hit) to start bombarding us with lesbianism talk and antics.
It just got plain sickening. She was such a slut and media whore about it until it made a lot of people who would have probably came out stay right where they are.
You see, us gay people HAVE arrived. Unfortunately the first thing that comes to mind when gays are discussed or featured are sex acts. Elton John and Queen Latifaf are an exception to the rule and it should stay that way. They are talented and the first thing that comes to mind is TALENT. Not sex.
Queen Latifah is from the hip-hop world and is a class act. Everyone knows and no one cares. Anyone who saw her in the movie Set it Off knew she was not acting as a lesbian. Everyone KNEW she was a lesbian actor who fit the part perfectly. Now that was a first for black actresses if ever there were one.
You go girl. And keep your mouth SHUT about who plays man and who plays woman. It is none of their damn business.
Merlyn
I think the lady should be allowed her privacy. I’m all for “outing” individuals who are harming us, or for a gay celebrity to come out if he or she CHOOSES to. Latifah as far as I can tell is not in the first category and if she doesn’t want to reveal her sexuality, that is her business and no one else’s.
I grant that the thought of Rosie O’Donnell and sex doesn’t make my day, either, but I think Latifah is kind of hot in her own way.
Steve
It’s not like she is trying to hide it all costs. Everyone basically knows. She couldn’t be more obvious short of saying it.
David Ehrenstein
@Steve: “Everyon basically knows” doesn’t mean she isn’t hiding.
Which of course she is.
If “She couldn’t be more obvious short of saying it,” why isn’t she saying it?
Internalized Homophobia Your Magic Spell is Everywhere.
Cam
To all the people saying things like @Dame Helga von ornstein: said..
They are talented and the first thing that comes to mind is TALENT. Not sex.
______________________________
This almost could have been written by a gay hating christian/mormon etc…
Please stop pretending this is about sex, or what goes on in the bedroom. Queen Latifa not talking about the fact that she is basically in a marriage with a woman that she has been together with for nearly a decade and owns a house with is NOT sex, it is not the same thing as Courtney Love going on the air to talk about how she does anal.
Trying to say that she shouldn’t be asked about a loving permanent aspect of her life because it’s about “Sex” is exactly what the Mormons are trying to do to us. They do not want people to know about our lives so they equate everything about us to a sex act. Nice of you to help them out.
If Queen Latifa has so little repect for the woman who shares her life then I feel sorry for her. Putting out a memoire with such an obvious hole is ridiculous.
RomanHans
I think it’s beyond disgusting that step one in Ms. Latifah’s “path to queendom” is, apparently, DON’T TELL PEOPLE YOU’RE A LESBIAN.
sasha
It doesnt do any good having celebrities come out, look at what a fiasco the m. ethridge “divorce” is causing. Everyone forced Lily Tomlin to come out, and for what? How does having famous people announce their sexuality do anything for anyone? It just makes it more of a celebrity obsessed culture which is pathetic. Focus on your own relationships and you wont need some actress to define who you are for you.
Cam
Oh please, I can see that a few staffers from Queen’s publicist are on here putting thumbs down on ANY comment that doesn’t say “She’s great, she doesn’t need to come out, she’s wonderful”
Sorry, but she is in a committed lesbian relationship, she is wealthy, etc… go ahead and defend cowardice if you want, but please just admit that the only reason you are defending her is because you are a fan (Or you work for her) and please stop trying to pretend that she is in any way helping the gay community by staying closeted.
Jonathan
@Dame Helga von ornstein:
I saw Latifah interviewed and during the interview – she shook her head and said she “couldn’t believe she did THAT part, tsk tsk. NOw she owns a home in Hollywood with her “friend”. I’d have more respect for her if she hadn’t done the interview – but she’s free to come out when she wants to. Many AA’s think their careers would be over if they came out – and they may be right.
edgyguy1426
I gotta agree with Cam (as usual) The statement has been made that as long as she’s not actually harming us, she should be left alone. But isn’t she really harming us by the denials? As far as Lily Tomlin to come out and for what? So that she can walk proudly down the red carpet with her partner and not have to hide her at home. The closet is not a healthy environment for anybody.
David Ehrenstein
@edgyguy1426: Indeed she harms us with the denials. She’s insisting that being gay or lesbian is something we must all be deeply ashamed of.
Luxury
She’s never denied being gay, she has never talked about her personal life….ever. There is a clear difference. How not talking about your personal/romantic life equals “insisting being gay or lesbian is something we must all be deeply ashamed of” is a bit of a stretch… but why am I not surprised it went there…. I hope you all hold your closeted family members and friends and even your closeted boy/girlfriends to the same standard.. telling them they’re cowards, and that they suffer from internalized homophobia, and that them being in the closet insists that being lgbt is something to be deeply ashamed of….
Marcus
@Jonathan:
They are not right, Jonathan.
Queen Latifah’s career would be fine. It would be a story for a week and people would move on.
In her case, I don’t think the story would last a full week, but you see where I’m going.
But the problem I have with her is that she wants to be a role model and influence and build strong self-esteem in young women. She wrote a whole book about it. She talked, page after page, about her life (weight issues, etc). You know, real “personal, personal” stuff.
So I wonder about those young women who are like HER. What will she tell them? “That’s your personal, personal life”? “Keep that yourself”?
Queen said in the interview “lets share thoughts about positive things,” which I think is great, but does she not think sharing a life with her girlfriend who has seemingly had nothing but a ‘positive’ impact on her is a ‘positive’ thing to share?
Especially to young women?
J
didn’t she come out in the movie Chicago?
sasha
Celebrities are unstable and vain and not good representations for gay rights. I love Queen but I sure as hell dont need her to justify my life and relationships. Celebrities that are out Mellissa E, and Rosie, seem to see relationships as somewhat disposable which is unfortunate since they have children and are scrutinized.
Taylor Siluwé
I pretty much took her confession for a love for the ladies (under the guise of Cleo) during the BET Awards as a down-low, wink-wink, admission.
I’ve long berated the Queen for not taking the high-road and being honest about her sexuality. And I disagree with many who claim its her “private life” and that her coming out won’t do anything like end DADT. When celebrities of her stature do come out and do lend their considerable power and influence to the cause of equality, it certainly DOES make a difference.
Even the greatest ‘phobes find it more difficult to hate when it hits closer to home. Still, coy, wink-wink, comical coming outs are only good if she follows up with an actual one. She’s been in the biz for far too long and made too much of a fortune to still live in fear of ruining her career. Plus, there’s the adage about stars “giving back” to the community (in this case, the LGBT one).
I love her and truly hope she decides to finally live up to her ‘Queen’ title and be the authentic force we know she can be.
So c’mon, Dana, you know its time.
David Ehrenstein
@Taylor Siluwé: “Wink-wink” is not coming out. It’s staying in.
She’s FUCKING PATHETIC!
Taylor Siluwé
No. 26 · Ashley Sommers
http://www.EnytaRomoIsaSwindler.com is available. Please buy it, and/or get a life. Spamming us who don’t know or care about this is only making you look like the psycho – and probably deserving of whatever this Enyta person has done to you.
Pull yourself together before you turn into Mel Gibson.
Jeffree
Thanks Qty for allowing spammmm like this onto this site !
Advertisers are sure going to be impressed! And want 2 pay u for such great clickable contents!
This is only the 17th time we’ve seen a similar post here, so, whhhhhhy both-er?
Taylor Siluwé
No. 25 · David Ehrenstein
You’re right, it’s not coming out, and as I said before its only good if there’s more direct follow-up. Still, I find it difficult to imagine a valid reason for not coming out at this stage in her career. I’m holding onto hope that she will – soon.
Pathetic? I wouldn’t go so far because I still love her, haven’t walked in her shoes, and have no idea what she does behind the scenes for the fight for equality (if anything). Plus, calling her “pathetic” is antithetical to stimulating her desire for a long-overdue coming out – which, if experience has taught me anything, after being coy about an issue (any issue) for decades its pretty damn difficult to stop.
Yvonne Collins
Queen Latifah, I agree with what you was talking about on Larry King’s show because really it’s not anybody’s business about what you do behind close doors. People must think their out of their mind to ask a celebrity about their personal life when it’s none of their business. I watched you on the Larry King show the other night and at first I did’nt know what was on tv and when I flicked through the channels I seen you on the Larry King show so I was interested of what you had to say. People need to worry about their own life insead of worrying about what’s your personal life and business is out there. I really like you as an actor and a singer because you are making something out of yourself and I admire you for what you are doing. People needs to have more respect for you because you deserve better than that and you are worth more than that. I will always post you as being my favorite actress. I think you are such a beautiful woman no matter what goes on that’s why I like to watch you on television.I think you did a wonderful job on the 2010 Bet awards.
Marcus
@Yvonne Collins:
People must be out of their minds to ask a celebrity about their personal life????
Are you serious?
She was on CNN hawking her AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
That was the reason she was on the show.
@Taylor Siluwé:
I agree. The main reason this bothers me is that she wants to be a role model. She’s writing books to young women. She says she wants to raise their self-esteem, but then goes on some tangent about her, “personal, personal life.”
Is that what she plans on telling those young women she seeks to inspire?
No one asked what she does in her bedroom, but if she’s all about honesty, inspiration and for the overall greater good, what in the hell is so evil about simply saying, “I’ve enjoyed a great life with Jeanette for a long time. We care for each other very much.” Isn’t the great life she lives with her one of those, “positive things,” we should should “share”?
Taylor Siluwé
@ Marcus
I agree, her hawking an autobiography to raise self-esteem should lead one to believe she is also being authentic with her fans. She should embrace her love for Jeanette for all the world to see.
That would be inspirational. I still have faith that she soon will.
Curty
People don’t discuss their sexuality for obvious reasons, its unfortunate that some people have to do that but homophobia still exist and some people will use that information to use it against that person. It’s sad but true. I respect her decision to be private. But the Latifah must know the piblic isn’t stupid lol… we know why she’s keeping that private and that’s enough info to assume what people assume about her. Nuff said’
fc
Queen Latifah represents a person that is really happy with herself, she does not need to tell the world all her business especially her personal life. It is people who tell all their business are insecure, she is a secure person.
Taylor Siluwé
No.33
That’s a steaming pile of cop-out (and some other things). Try again.
Marcus
@fc:
Baloney.
If she doesn’t want to tell the world her business, then she shouldn’t be writing an autobiography.
And FYI, she should stop taking the girlfriend to the Oscars, too.