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Gab-show host Queen Latifah’s inquiring mind wants to know where The National Enquirer gets its news.
Last month, the infamous tabloid ran a story about her mom, Rita Owens , being in bad health under the headline “Queen Latifah Rocked by Family Tragedy.”
“My mom is good,” the 43-year-old host of “The Queen Latifah Show” told Confidenti@l. “That report in the National Enquirer is completely incorrect. My mother’s not fighting lung cancer. That’s why you can’t believe the s— you read, excuse my language. But we are going to deal with them on that.”
The mag reported last month that “While Rita is putting up a brave fight, (an) insider says she’s preparing her daughter for the worst.”
By the sound of it, the Enquirer might want to prepare for the worst. Latifah concedes that her mother, a 64-year-old former high school teacher, did go through a rough patch, but says she’s on the mend.
“She has gone through some medical challenges and she’s doing pretty well, but she is here with me and I see her every day and she watches the show every day,” says Latifah. “She tells me (what) she really likes and ways that I can get better, so she’s still in my corner and holding me down.”
Latifah, a Newark native born Dana Elaine Owens, assures us she’s looking after her own health as well.
“I got a mammogram on Friday, the first one I’ve ever got, and I was scheduled to do this a long time ago and then got an appointment and then work was so that it got away from me,” says the star, whose daytime show has been a big ratings success.
Now she feels it’s her job to spread the word about mammograms.
“I shared it was because I felt that other people had busy schedules and let something important like that just get away from them,” she said.
Latifah wasn’t just inspired by her mother — she called her doctor after speaking with a guest on her show who had a double mastectomy similar to Angelina Jolie ’s. “Everything is great,” said a relieved Latifah. “But I think the show was a motivation for me to get more conscious about my own health.”
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Kendall (l.) and Kylie Jenner
KYLIE AND KENDALL GET TO WORK
Kylie Jenner and sister Kendall were out and about in Los Angeles recently with not-quite-half-brother-in-law Scott Disick — and they were all business. The gals were overheard chatting about how excited they are to be bridesmaids in their half-sister Kim Kardashian’s upcoming wedding to Kanye West.
When the still-unmarried Disick asked what exactly bridesmaids do, Kylie responded, “just stand there and smile,” a spy tells us. “Kylie also said that she doesn’t think Kim has thought a lot about wedding plans, but she is just really excited to be engaged,” adds our source.
The sisters really did talk work, including a PacSun collection, a jewelry line with Nordstrom and even, purportedly, a book. They were then mobbed by fans on the street, says our source. Looks like momager Kris Jenner taught them well.
Denise Richards via Twitter
Charlie Sheen with Denise Richards’ adopted daughter Eloise
THAT’S ONE FEDORA-BLE KID
Problems with the plane put the kibosh on a family trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Saturday, but exes Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards were making the best of it. Above, a recent snapshot by Richards of the “Anger Management” star and her adopted daughter Eloise.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Joe Simpson, father of Jessica
A BIG WHEEL IN HOLLYWOOD
There’s nothing quite like cruising down Sunset Blvd. in a convertible. Jessica Simpson ’s father, Joe, was spotted behind the wheel of a convertible taking a spin through Hollywood, an eyewitness tells Confidenti@l. “It was late at night around 10:30 p.m., and he was with a handsome young male in his passenger seat,” says our spy. “They were in a Mercedes SLS with the top down.” Joe, now a platinum blond, finalized his divorce from Tina Simpson in April after being married for 34 years.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds seemed less than thrilled to meet a fan at LaGuardia Airport.
REYNOLDS BARKS AT AN AUTOGRAPH HOUND
Do not ask Ryan Reynolds for his John Hancock. A spy tells us they saw an icy Reynolds shoot down an autograph-seeker at LaGuardia Airport. “He got off a Delta flight from New Orleans and said no to an autograph,” says our spy. “Then the guy told Ryan, ‘I have a gift for you,’ and Ryan said, ‘I don’t need your gift.’ ” Reynolds then ground his teeth and told the man he was going to call the police on him, according to our spy, adding that the actor yelled “Get away from me!” at the fan.
AN EAST VILLAGE FIXTURE ON THE MOVE
Last year, venerable East Village bar Heathers changed ownership. This weekend, it changed addresses, too. A throwback to grittier days, the shabby-chic spot has served as a hideaway for celebs including David Cross, Julia Stiles and Scarlett Johansson since opening in 2005. On Friday night, it moved across the street to its new digs at 448 E. 13th St. for two days of “previews,” where the regulars were invited in for boozy brainstorming over what to do with the space.
‘GREASE’ IS THE WORD FOR MADGE AND LOURDES
They go together like rama lama lama ka dinga de dinga dong. Madonna and daughter Lourdes were spotted dining at Gradisca Ristorante in the West Village, where, our spywitness tells us, they seemed to be having a great time. Perhaps they were discussing Lourdes’ upcoming role as Betty Rizzo in the LaGuardia High’s production of “Grease” — a gig first reported by Confidenti@l this month. We hear the $ 25 tickets are selling well as Madge’s fans line up to see her Mini-Me perform.
THE VEEP AND WIFE AT PLAY
The Secret Service got to see 007 in action Friday when Vice President Biden and Second Lady Jill Biden saw Daniel Craig in “Betrayal” at the Barrymore Theatre. “They made a quiet entrance with eight Secret Service men escorting them to their aisle seats,” according to our spy. The Veep’s exit was far less subtle, thanks to six cars and three motorcycles. “Nice to see government men enjoy live theater,” said our snitch, though it’s unclear what Biden and the missus thought of the play, which stars Craig as a husband betrayed by his wife, played by his real-life wife, Rachel Weisz. Critics trashed the Harold Pinter revival with scabrous reviews.
McGRAW, HILL SAY THEY’RE STILL A COUNTRY DUO
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill won’t be singing any sad songs about their broken marriage any time soon. The country crooners, rumored to be heading for divorce, say they’re happier than ever. “(Rumors) seem to be running like crazy right now for some reason. It’s perplexing,” Hill, 46, told People. “I don’t know why ‘happy’ can’t be a story.” This isn’t the first time the two have faced reports of a split. “We’ve been married 17 years, and since the first week we were married, those things were out,” McGraw, also 46, added. “We don’t even think about it. The only time we ever think about it is (when we) worry about the kids. But they’ve been around it, too, so they laugh it off.”
‘PLAYERS’ IN A DANGEROUS GAME
Confidenti@l contributor Flo Anthony tapped into her gossip-writing background to knock out her new novel, “Deadly Stuff Players,” which hits bookshelves Nov. 19. Anthony’s suspenseful tale revolves around the exploits of a fictional gossip columnist who gets caught up in a complex murder mystery. Umm … is there something you’d like to tell us, Flo?
SEEN & HEARD
“How to Make it in America” actor Luis Guzman, hanging around outside 205 Club on the Lower East Side at 1:30 a.m. Saturday … Travis Bass and Tommy Saleh throwing their Stardust Friday party at subterranean SoHo lounge Maison O … ESPN’s Tim Kavanagh serving his last shift as a bartender at the One and One pub Friday … Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine wearing a grey Dolce & Gabbana suit in Midtown after appearing on “Live! With Kelly and Michael ” Friday.
