Latifah ‘unable to accept’ award

Queen Latifah is “unable to accept” an award named for a pioneering opera singer, citing personal reasons.

The Marian Anderson Award made the announcement on its website. The organisation wasn’t more explicit, and Queen Latifah’s spokeswoman did not comment on the matter. The award is given in Philadelphia to critically acclaimed artists for their humanitarian work. Anderson was the first black singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. Past winners have included Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou and Quincy Jones.

Born Dana Owens, Queen Latifah won a Grammy for her 1994 album Black Reign and earned an Oscar nomination for her role in 2002’s Chicago. The organisation says its November 20 awards gala will be rescheduled, and it “hopes to honour Queen Latifah in the future.”