Queen Latifah sparked health concerns after she arrived at the 2026 North Carolina A&T graduation ceremony with a walking cane.
The commencement speaker is seen walking with a cane in viral video footage from the ceremony on May 9.
Fans expressed concern after viewing the video online. Many wondered if she had knee surgery or if she was in an accident. There were rumors recently that she died. Fans wondered if something serious happened to her.
One person wrote on X.com: “Wait! What happened to the Queen?” Another person wrote, “What’s wrong with my auntie knee?!”
A third person commented: “At our age over 50, it could be the hip, could be the knee who knows. As long as she’s alive and at least walking with a cane.”
like????? ??? https://t.co/NGz31FCmt8 pic.twitter.com/ZemH6LsyZp
— DE'RON ? (@deronworld) May 11, 2026
Latifah is 56, and knee surgery at that age can cause serious mobility issues. Studies show that some people are worse off after they had knee and hip surgery.
There are no official reports that Latifah went under the knife. Weeks earlier, Latifah told HOT97 that she’s fine after an AI-generated video claimed she was hospitalized with a terminal illness.
“Can’t believe what you read on the internet or see. I’m good. Peace. Everybody’s sharing such care and concern, but honestly, what you saw on Facebook was fake. I’m fine. I’m 100 percent a-ok,” she said at the time.
During her commencement speech, Latifah told graduates to create their own path in life. She said her faith in herself enabled her to create her own niche in the entertainment industry.
The “U.N.I.T.Y” rapper said she faced many obstacles and still managed to launch a successful rap career in New York City.
She stressed the importance of believing in yourself and not seeking validation through others. She said her confidence and optimistic attitude served her well in her career as she made the leap from rap star to Emmy-winning actress.