The BET Awards paid homage to Jersey’s own Queen Sunday.
Queen Latifah was feted with a lifetime achievement award and musical tribute at the Los Angeles awards show.
Latifah, born Dana Owens, brought her father, former police officer Lancelot Owens, onstage to accept the award. She held a photo of her mother, teacher Rita Owens, who died in 2018. She also cast a rare spotlight on her personal life by publicly mentioning her reported partner and son.
“I’m so extremely moved I don’t even know what to ... ” the Newark native said before tearing up.
Latifah thanked her parents, family and friends for their support and BET “for creating an outlet for beautiful Blackness to thrive, to shine.”
“When we couldn’t get played on the radio in other places, we couldn’t get our videos played in other places, there was BET that allowed us to be in our fullness and to shine to this night, right now, right here,” she said.
Latifah, 51, who grew up in East Orange, spoke to the theme of the 2021 BET Awards: “Year of the Black Woman.”
“I’ve always celebrated the woman because I was raised by a strong Black woman,” she said, pointing to the photo of her mother. “Raised by a father who loves women.”
Queen Latifah and her father, Lancelot Owens.Bennett Raglin | Getty Images
The multi-hyphenate Latifah — an actor, producer, singer, songwriter and rapper as well as a Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee — accepted the honor after singing along to a performance of her songs.
Monie Love and Rapsody teamed up for “Ladies First” and Lil’ Kim and MC Lyte delivered the Grammy-winning “U.N.I.T.Y.”
“Queen Latifah, we are here today to give you your flowers,” Lil’ Kim said at the end of the tribute. “Your so deserved flowers, long-overdue flowers. You are the first queen. The queen! My queen. Thanks for paving the way for us.”
Latifah addressed the artists in her speech.
“I wanted to celebrate us because I know together we stand stronger than when we tear each other apart,” she said. “And I’ve seen enough of that, so respect to all the female emcees on the stage tonight.”
Latifah thanked her fans for their support and for making her CBS series “Equalizer,” which she films in New Jersey, “No. 1.” (The show debuted with more than 20 million viewers after the Super Bowl).
She also thanked Shakim Compere, her longtime collaborator in her production company Flavor Unit Entertainment, before addressing her personal life, which she normally keeps private.
“Eboni, my love,” Latifah said. “Rebel, my love.”
Latifah was apparently referring to Eboni Nichols, who is reported to be her partner, and Rebel, their son.
“Peace,” she said. “Happy Pride!”
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.
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