Is Queen Latifah  finally ready to come out of the closet? The star and talk show host was spotting kissing her reported girlfriend, Eboni Nichols, on vacation in Sardinia, Italy. Latifah has remained tightlipped about her reported sexual orientation over the years, but as photos of the two surfacing, it seems as though that might be about to change. Maybe she’s hoping to generate some much needed buzz for her daytime series, the Queen Latifah Show, which has been struggling to stay on the air.

Queen Latifah’s love life has been the subject of speculation for years, but in the past the star has dodged questions on the subject, even when she was living with female personal trainer Jeanette Jenkins. Last summer she told the Hollywood Reporter; “There’s the part of my life that the public and I share together, and there’s the part that’s mine to keep to myself.” 

Of course, the appeal of  media attention could be enough to change anyone’s tune. It was reported today that Latifah’s CBS talk show is hanging on by a thread. Despite good reviews, the show’s 9 a.m. time slot has made it difficult to generate a sizeable audience. As of now, it is unclear whether or not it will continue on through fall. Could a major personal announcement of this nature be just what the queen needs to get viewers to tune in?

As for the potential paramour in question, Nichols is a professional dancer, who choreographed a number that Latifah performed for a guest appearance on Dancing With The Stars in 2009. It has been reported that Nichols was at least partially responsible for Latifah’s split with Jenkins in 2010. Shortly after the two parted ways, the star was photographed numerous times, arm in arm with the dancer.