Jess Hardiman
Queen Latifah went viral this week after people confused the rapper and actor with the late Queen Elizabeth II. No, seriously.
On Thursday (8 September), it was confirmed that the Queen had passed away ‘peacefully’ at her home in Balmoral.
A statement from the Royal Family said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
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However, as the news began to circulate around the globe, the message ended up getting slightly miscommunicated as it reached the other side of the pond.
Not long after the confirmation of Queen Elizabeth’s death came, one Twitter user in Houston, Texas, tweeted: “I told my mama the Queen died, she talking about ‘LATIFAH????’”
The post soon went viral, racking up almost 275,000 likes and more than 37,000 retweets.
And they weren’t the only person, either.
“No cuz this was my exact reaction when I heard the news!” someone else admitted.
Another person said their mum had the exact same reaction, sharing a screengrab of their surreal conversation after the news broke.
"I’m crying why did my mom say the same s**t," they said.
Others, meanwhile, genuinely thought the news related to Beyonce:
Hopefully, the accurate news of Queen Elizabeth's death has begun to sunk in around the world, with many leaders sharing their condolences - including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He reached out to King Charles to say: "Your Majesty, please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
"The most important events in the recent history of the United Kingdom are inextricably linked with the name of Her Majesty.
"For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage.
"I wish you courage and perseverance in the face of this heavy, irreparable loss. I ask you to convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the members of the royal family and all the people of Great Britain."
French President Emmanuel Macron also issued a lengthy statement, saying the UK would 'forever bear the seal of she who embodied it for seventy years with unwavering strength and moral authority'.
"France pays tribute to she who marked the History of her country, our continent and her century," Macron said, later adding: "She held a special status in France and a special place in the hearts of the French people.
"No foreign sovereign has climbed the stairs of the Elysée Palace more often than she, who honoured France with six state visits and met each of its presidents.
"For her, French was not a mere relic of Norman ancestry that persisted in so many customs, but an intimate, cherished language.
"The Queen of sixteen kingdoms loved France, which loved her back.
"This evening, the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth are mourning their Queen. The people of France join them in their grief."
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