Queen Latifah On Alleged Sexual Abuse, Gay Rumors & Motherhood

Access Hollywood - June 10, 2009 12:26 PM PDT
Story photo: Queen Latifah On Alleged Sexual Abuse, Gay Rumors & MotherhoodQueen Latifah in Essence Magazine's July issue<br />Essence MagazineAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The often-private Queen Latifah gets candid about a slew of serious subjects in Essence Magazine's July issue including alleged sexual abuse she suffered as a child, rumors that she's gay and her desire to become a mother.

"My personal life is personal and it's really not for everyone else," she told the mag. "With what I do for a living, I have to share a lot of myself with a lot of people, but I'm not going to share everything."

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Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, addressed the persistent speculation about her sexual orientation.

"They want to make up stories and make me gay all the time and it's like, 'Keep running with it,'" she said. "I've definitely been annoyed by it, but I learned a long time ago that it was pointless to say anything. Everybody else can do the reading; I'll do the living."

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One area of her life that she's willing to open about is her history with sexual abuse.

"He violated me," she said of her alleged abuser. "I never told anybody; I just buried it as deeply as I could and kept people at an arm's distance. I never really let a person get too close to me. I could have been married years ago, but I had a commitment issue."

She says the passing of her brother gave her the courage to come forward.

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"When I was 22, my brother died, and I knew that I couldn't carry his death and that secret. I had to get it off my chest. My mother felt terrible. She was kind of a country girl, so she wasn't up on how slick people could be. When I told my dad, he said nothing," she continued.

With the help of a therapist, Latifah says she has come to terms with her traumatic past.

"I was a kid, and I had no power or control over the situation. I really wish I'd had the strength and the knowledge to say something sooner," she told the mag, "Because I always wondered. Did he do that to someone else? But I accept that the time for action has come and gone."

As for the future, the rapper/singer/actress said motherhood is a possibility, regardless of the timetable she's operating on.

"I'm not even going to touch that subject," she said. "I know I'm running late, but I'm trying. I'm trying."

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MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Queen Latifah - Rumors - News - Music - TV One

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comments 1-10 of 144  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • LaLaLu
    The statute of limitations for child abuse is different depending on states. If she had attempted to file a report when she was 22 she may have been able to see him charged or even prosecuted. This LAW clearly needs to be changed. NO ONE should be allowed to get away with any form of child abuse simply because ENOUGH time has passed!!! Time means very little for those that have suffered.....
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 11:10 AM PDT
  • :)Minnesota(:
    i think shes beautiful inside and out! u go gurl!
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 10:44 AM PDT
  • hopefull
    TW - She said they make up stories and make her gay all the time. You shouldn't presume to know anything about her. Remember when the media said Oprah and her best friend were gay lovers. I think we all know that is not true. Don't believe anything the media says. Janet Jackson was married for years before anyone found out. Queen Latifah could be married right now without anyo
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 10:32 AM PDT
  • OK
    I'm a fan and don't care who she sleeps with. If she doesn't want to talk about it then so be it.
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 10:26 AM PDT
  • T W
    When you agree to be in the public's eye, you sacrifice your personal life because it comes with the job. A Police Officer should expect to get shot at a time or two--why, because it comes with the job! Celebs are no diffrent, yes everyone will be in their "business" it comes with the job. For the record she is gay. Straight people never hesitate to state their sexual
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 10:16 AM PDT
  • Jasmine
    Hey giral this is jasmine your fravite fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 10:10 AM PDT
  • Jasmine
    Hey giral this is jasmine your fravite fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 10:10 AM PDT
  • mskat
    That's right. most people don't have a life so they but into others. That includes the Media always trying to put peps business out there. Maybe someone should rag on them and turn the tables
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 9:23 AM PDT
  • Jasmine
    hey
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 8:26 AM PDT
  • Annie
    Go Queen Latifah!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted June 12, 2009 8:19 AM PDT
comments 1-10 of 144  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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