Queen Latifah Speaks on Body Image in Advertising at Cannes Lions: ‘You Cannot Judge Someone’s Health by How They Look’

Cannes Lions 2024: “People are stuck in their mindsets — it’s not just actors, it’s producers, people at studios, people who’ve gone through their own weight loss journeys,” the performer says

A Black woman performs on stage wearing a large coat, her hair in a tight bun on her head. She speaks into a microphone and raises a finger in the air in a triumphant gesture. Background dancers dance behind her wearing African-styled hats, with a haze of purple smoke around them.
Queen Latifah performs during the 65th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 5, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Queen Latifah spoke Tuesday at the Cannes Lions advertising festival on body image and obesity, sharing her experiences dealing with these issues in the music business and acting.

“Weight has always been a discussion. Image has always been a discussion. Body type. Body shape,” Latifah said. “Because we are out there. Just being in the music industry, I started off as a rapper, there was lots and lots of pressure.”

Latifah shared as part of a panel, “Let’s Talk About Weight: Conversations about Creativity, Community and Obesity.” The actor and rapper said that one of the reasons she came to the Cannes Lions is to help shape the decisions that go into creating advertising and choosing the images they contain.

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