# Why The Living Single Cast Missed Rita Owens’ Heartbreaking Funeral

In 2018, the passing of Rita Owens, Queen Latifah’s beloved mother, marked a deeply personal tragedy for the star.

Rita, a Newark, New Jersey art teacher, was the cornerstone of Latifah’s life, instilling strength and creativity in her daughter, Dana Elaine Owens. Diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004, Rita battled the illness for over a decade, with Latifah personally caring for her, transforming her home into a care center. On March 21, 2018, Rita passed away, leaving Latifah devastated.

Her funeral on March 27 at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark was a private affair, as requested by the family. Yet, the absence of the *Living Single* cast—Erica Alexander, Kim Coles, Kim Fields, TC Carson, and John Henton—sparked public shock and fueled rumors of fractured bonds from the iconic 1990s sitcom.

*Living Single*, premiered in 1993 on Fox, was a groundbreaking show depicting six young Black friends in Brooklyn navigating life, love, and careers. With Queen Latifah as Khadijah James, the series became a cultural mirror for Black audiences, outrating many contemporaries in its early seasons. However, behind-the-scenes tensions lingered.

TC Carson, who played Kyle Barker, was written out after Season 4 for criticizing Warner Brothers’ favoritism toward *Friends*, a similar show that premiered in 1994 and received vastly more resources and recognition.

Carson’s exit left a scar, with fans and media questioning the cast’s unity. Similarly, Kim Coles, who portrayed Sinclair James, endured body-shaming from producers, with scripts often including hurtful fat jokes—pressures mitigated by Latifah’s intervention but never fully erased.

When no public images or confirmations of the *Living Single* cast’s attendance at Rita’s funeral emerged, social media erupted with speculation. Had old wounds—Carson’s firing or Coles’ struggles—created lasting rifts?

Conspiracy theories suggested the TV family was an illusion. Yet, subtle gestures countered these claims.

Erica Alexander tweeted a heartfelt “Godspeed, gorgeous Rita” to Dana, using Latifah’s real name, signaling personal closeness. Kim Coles shared memories on Facebook of Rita’s warmth, hosting the cast with love. Despite these tributes, the private nature of the funeral meant no visual proof satisfied a public conditioned to demand evidence.

Reunions in 2024 and 2025 later dispelled myths of division. The cast appeared together, laughing and reminiscing, with Alexander calling Latifah a lifelong sister and Coles sharing intimate, lighthearted anecdotes of synced cycles during filming. These moments proved their bond endured beyond past studio injustices or personal scars.

The truth about Rita Owens’ funeral lies not in public absence but in the family’s choice for privacy. Love and grief, as Latifah learned from her mother, don’t require cameras. The *Living Single* cast’s friendship, forged through shared history and resilience, remains a quiet, unbreakable legacy, mirroring the strength Rita instilled in her daughter.