On this week’s DIVA Dating Digest, we take a look at the star of The Equalizer and her partner
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGE BY TERRENCE JENNINGS VIA FLICKR
It’s hard not to love Queen Latifah. As a musician, she is often cited as one of the best female rappers and founded her own production company. As an actor, she’s been nominated for an Oscar. She’s also been key to challenging Eurocentric standards of beauty and put pressure on the entertainment industry to uplift black women.
Alongside all this, she’s built a beautiful and healthy relationship with Eboni Nichols, a dancer and choreographer who has toured with the likes of Rihanna and worked on films like Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. On this week’s DIVA Dating Digest, we’re taking a look at this couple’s gorgeous relationship.
2009 – The pair reportedly meet
It’s not quite clear when Latifah and Eboni first met, as the two kept their relationship private for years. It’s been reported by some outlets that they met in 2009 when Latifah performed on the results show of Dancing With The Stars.
However, two years earlier, Eboni acted and danced on the 2007 film Hairspray, in which Latifah played one of the major characters, Motormouth Maybelle. They may not have spoken, but they were definitely on set at the same time, as Eboni is credited as one of the dancers in Maybelle’s store.
2013 – They start to date
Again, it’s hard to pin down exactly when the two began officially dating, due to the privacy with which they treated their relationship. In 2008, Latifah explained her desire for privacy, particularly when people were speculating on her sexuality, to The New York Times: “I don’t feel like I need to share my personal life, and I don’t care if people think I’m gay or not. Assume whatever you want. You do it anyway.”
But some sites have reported that the two were regularly seen together since 2013, and have suggested this year as the start of their official relationship.
2019 – Their son, Rebel, is born
In 2019, the two welcomed Rebel into the world. He’s mostly kept out of the spotlight. This is true to what Latifah told the SF Gate in 2008: “I will probably be six months pregnant before anyone knows about it, and I won’t talk about the baby until after it’s born.”
2021 – Latifah officially announces her relationship with Eboni
In her acceptance speech for BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Latifah thanked Eboni and Rebel, officially revealing their relationship to the world. She said: “Eboni, my love. Rebel, my love. Peace. Happy Pride!”
2023 and 2024 – The two start to walk red carpets together
In 2023, the pair were photographed walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival’s amFAR Gala, which Latifah was hosting. Then, at this year’s Met Gala, they made their second joint red carpet appearance. The couple looked gorgeous together, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for many more red carpet moments!
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