Celebs
Queen Latifah Thanks Partner, Celebrates Pride in BET Awards Speech
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Queen Latifah Thanks Partner, Celebrates Pride in BET Awards Speech
This year's BET Awards was one for the queer history books!
Besides Lil Nas X's unapologetically gay performance of his viral, hit single "MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)," during Sunday night's televised ceremony, rap legend and Oscar-nominated actress Queen Latifah gave a special shout out to her partner and wished the crowd a "Happy Pride!" while accepting the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
"I wanted to celebrate us, because I know together we stand stronger than when we tear each other apart, and I've seen enough of that," she said in her speech, speaking about all of the women and fellow female rappers in the industry who have supported her throughout the many years of her iconic career. "So respect to all the female MCs on the stage tonight."
Famously protective of her private life after years and years of media speculation and gossip about her sexuality, Latifah then blessed the world with a heartfelt and public acknowledgment of the people closest to her, concluding her speech by thanking longtime partner Eboni Nichols and their son Rebel, saying, "Eboni, my love. Rebel, my love. Peace. Happy Pride!"
The public acknowledgment of her partner may have been a short and sweet moment, but it had an impact on many queer viewers who were tuned into the ceremony and who loved to see that special kind of love on display.
\u201cQueen Latifah expressing her love for her partner and wishing us all a happy Pride as she accepted her Lifetime Achievement Award tonight had me emotional. So many Black queer kids watching the show tonight are being so affirmed by our people #BETAwards\u201d— McKensie Mack \ud83d\udc30 (@McKensie Mack \ud83d\udc30) 1624848634
\u201cI\u2019ve been out for a minute but to hear Queen Latifah shoutout her partner & their child tonight in her speech really touched me. Whew, also with Lil Nas X\u2019s & Jazmine Sullivan\u2019s performances #BETAwards went a lil beyond the usual surface level acknowledgment of Black LGBTQ folks.\u201d— Jasmin H (@Jasmin H) 1624850667
\u201cOk why are my eyes wet as #QueenLatifah accepts her lifetime achievement award, acknowledges Black women and female MC\u2019s, talks about the love of her partner #LGBT+ family and says happy pride at the end of her speech! This proud feeling an overwhelming emotion feels good \ud83e\udd29\u201d— Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (Dr Lady Phyll) (@Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (Dr Lady Phyll)) 1624920406
\u201cSo happy Queen Latifah is reining on her day. She\u2019s deserves every bit of respect, recognition, and praise. So much heart, prIde, and talent and seeing her thank her partner and child yelling Happy Pride at the end. So proud of her. #betawards2021 #pride\u201d— janellaboo (@janellaboo) 1624853936
\u201cQueen Latifah is so so fine. That\u2019s a gorgeous, happy queer woman and her shouting out her partner and saying Happy Pride at the awards tonight filled my heart with happiness \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Angel \ud83d\udc97 (@Angel \ud83d\udc97) 1624850760
This is, and will always be, a Queen Latifah stan account!
Watch Queen Latifah accept BET's Lifetime Achievement Award in the video below.
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Raffy is a Los Angeles-based writer, editor, video creator, critic, and the editor in chief of Out.com.
Raffy is a Los Angeles-based writer, editor, video creator, critic, and the editor in chief of Out.com.