Queen Latifah declares ‘love’ for partner Eboni at BET Awards and adds ‘happy pride’
The actress and musician thanked her partner and their son, Rebel, while accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award
Words: Alastair James; pictures: BET Awards
Queen Latifah has publicly expressed her love for her partner Eboni Nichols for the first time, while accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards.
In her acceptance speech on Sunday (27 June 2021), the ‘Ladies First’ singer also paid tribute to the couple’s son Rebel and finished by exclaiming: “Peace – happy Pride!”
During the address, the Grammy and Emmy-winner (and Oscar-nominee) also thanked professional “partner” Shakim Compere, with whom Latifah cofounded the Flavour Unit Entertainment company in 1995.
elsewhere in the speech Latifah, 51, said: “Be Black. Black is beautiful” and finished by saying: “Eboni, my love. Rebel, my love. Peace – happy Pride”
Fans celebrated with the queen on social media, with one posting “Yaaaasss Queen Latifah shouted out her wife & said Happy Pride! Let’s goooo!”
Yaaaasss Queen Latifah shouted out her wife & said Happy Pride! Let’s goooo! 🥺😩😍👑🙌🏾 #BETAwards
— ♓☥ Ѵ SHΛKTĨ ☥♓ (@RighteousRoar) June 28, 2021
“You don’t get that part of me”
The star is known for fiercely protecting her private life in the past.
In 2008, for example, the Chicago actress told the New York Times: “I don’t have a problem discussing the topic of somebody being gay, but I do have a problem discussing my personal life.”
She added: “You don’t get that part of me.”
The New York Post reports that Latifah and Nichols, 43, met on the set of the US reality show Dancing with the Stars in 2009, but didn’t start their relationship until 2013.
The two are believed to have welcomed a baby Rebel in 2019, who Latifah has also not spoken of publicly until now.
In a 2015 interview with Uptown magazine, the actress and rapper said: “Who you choose to marry is really up to you and it’s not something you should be judged on. I don’t find being gay or lesbian to be a character flaw.
“Couples should be protected under the laws of this country, period. It actually angers me. It’s not unusual so let’s be adults and let’s move forward,”
Congrats to Latifah! Happy Pride to you too!
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