Queen Latifah Was Sexually Abused As A Child
Posted by Media Outrage on June 10, 2009
Queen Latifah has opened up about a darker time in her life. She tells Essence that she was the victim of sexual abuse as a child.
Via Celebrity-Gossip:
The R&B singer recently spoke about a very disturbing time in her life – as she revealed to “Essence” magazine that she was a victim of sexual abuse as a child.
Of the traumatic experience, Latifah tells that she was violated by a teenage babysitter, saying, “He violated me. I never told anybody. I just buried it as deeply as I could and kept people at an arms length. I never really let a person get too close to me.”
She also admits that, because of the abuse, she’s since struggled with commitment. “I could have been married years ago, but I had a commitment issue.”
cynthia said
i was too for 4 years. i’m still struggling with it. even though i’m married, my marriage DOES have issues because of it.
annyhoo, she’s done great for herself, and i’m sure she’ll find someone she trusts enough to commit to.
Truly23 said
That’s a sad situation to happen to anyone. And I do feel for anyone whoever experienced that it’s really something tough to get past. One of my friend, as you stated Cynthia, still struggle with it as well.
Ms. Behave said
I guessed as much
“I could have been married years ago, but I had a commitment issue.” — Okay Queen, now u know there are only a few states, few places in the world period that a GAY person can get married (legally).
It is more plausible to believe that because of the abuse, u never trust men hence turning to women, but COMMITMENT…, well i guess u can’t commit to men.
MissTX85 said
That’s messed up. Sorry to hear that Queen.
MizzMimi said
I hate to say this, but i wonder do ppl use their childhood as an excuse for the person they are now. I know it’s possible and all, but I still wonder
Dickwell Thrust said
Man, I wanted my fine ass babysitter to molest me. Shit, her name was Tammy and she had tity so big all i wanted to do is breast feed. Of course I was 9 years old, But I wanted to suck them thangs like a homeless man on a 40 oz!
Sarah said
It isn’t an excuse. It is a fact. Abuse does not define you but it does shape the person you become. You either rise above and become an overachiever or you let it crush you and become a hot mess. There is barely an in between the two. In my case, my personal relationships may be shot to hell but professionally I am at the top of my field.
lowridaz said
that is sad, god bless anyone that has been thru that, I dont know how i would handle it, i just thank god i never had to experience anything like that.
Jazzy said
DT, does everything have to be a joke with you. You have males that have been victimized too and they have the same issues that many women face.
ucanb2 said
Sorry to hear it, no-one deserves that!
Atlanta said
So sad.
sweet_tea said
@ Jazzy- most males don’t see it as abuse. My ex lost his virginity @ 11 to a 16 year old babysitter. To me, he was abused. To him, he was the coolest kid on the block. It’s different with everyone.
Although it’s a sad situation in any case, I think the degree of abuse matters & everything shouldn’t be lumped into an excuse for adult shortcomings. Some adults just lack interpersonal skills and the results are failed relationships. Plenty of people who haven’t been abused have those problems too. On the flip side, if you’ve suffered abuse to the point that you feel it’s affected your adult life, you ought to seek treatment. Everything can’t be solved on your own. Cynthia, you have a strong husband & I wish you the best!
Marathon_Man said
Jazzy I think DT was just trying to lighten up the mood in this post. I think it’s messed up for people to have to endure things like this. Hope Queen gets some counseling.
jolie said
Why would you hire a male babysitter to look after your daughter??? Not to say that a female babysitter is not capable of doing the same, but it’s a greater chance with a male babysitter.
Gay said
I’m not trying to pass judgement on QL but why now? Seriously I think she’s using this as a way to ease her coming out process and that’s sad. I read the interview and I didn’t know where the questioning went for her to bring up the sexual abuse and again why now? She said that she had told her parents about it after her brother passed and that’s been what over 15 years ago. Sorry but it’s no different than Donny McClurkin (sp) speaking about his sexual abuse being the reason he was queer. Ok Donny…Ok QL.
Smurfette said
That’s fucked up she went through that! But things like that shape who you are today. That type of experience will definately make you not trust others. You always feel like ppl are out to get u. Then u gain weight or become withdrawn to keep others from noticing you. Even though she went through all that, she needs to get counseling. Its never to late for some healing. Keep yo head up Queen and realize, that’s the past, and you can’t keep givin the molester power by lettin them affect your future.
2020VIZN said
Damn, I just dont know anymore. It seems like there are so many people who have been molested and taken advantage of.
*************Actual Occurance****************
Sweet-Tea hit a nail dead on the head because I had an 22 year old chick that lived in my neighborhood take advantage of me when I was 13. The only part that freaked me out about the whole thing is that she made me go downtown, and to a 13 y/o black male thats nasty, but hell it didnt mess me up, shit I have even acquired a taste for it………who am I foolin, it realy an insatiable apetite that I have for it now. But about a week later she got one of her friends and they caught me coming fron the basketball court and tried to face rape me, but I hit them with a shake move and got up out a there.
I dont know how to judge some of these things because it sometimes makes some people better in life. But I do honestly think that some people use this excuse to account for questional behavior and I think as a society we play a dangerous game by feeding into unproven molestation cases because pretty soon it will be an excuse for murder and everyother malproductive behavior under the sun.
But I think that male and females have diffrent feelings due the nature of the role we feel we play in sex. A healthy and generaly sane female tends carry the felling and belief that they are GIVING something precious when enguaging in sex, so therefor they feel live something very special has been taken from them when they are molested or raped. On the other hand the male is programed to feel like he is being given something when he gets some cooch, even if the the female begs takes or borrows the “D” we still feel like we should be grateful for the cooch. So in most cases males dont feel taken advantage of if a FEMALE forces you into sexual activity, we still appreciate it.
Just my 2 pennies.
Ms. Behave said
@ 2020VIZN Says: More like a damn 100 dollar, lol.
Truer words have never been spoken. ^5
kmbrliee said
i was sexually abused by my father from age 8-16. i just told my friends and family about it on friday Nov. 13th, 2009. it feels great to get it off of my shoulders but we’re dealing with court and stuff all the time now. i’ve been pretty messed up because of it. i’m glad there’s so many people that can understand what i’ve been through, but nobody deserves this. i’m only 17 years old and if it wasn’t for what my dad did, i would still be a virgin. he has taken so much from me. it sucks because that’s someone you should be able to trust..