Maya Rudolph reveals heartbreaking question she hates being asked about late mother Minnie Riperton

Maya Rudolph sat down for an in-depth interview with Variety for its Emmys issue and within the pages, she discussed her late mother, R&B singer Minnie Riperton.

The 52-year-old actress, who just won an Emmy, revealed the question she wishes people would stop asking her about her mom.

‘My whole career, people have always brought up my mom, which is wonderful. But then they also bring up the tragedy of losing my mother when I was little. And they ask me how old I was when she died,’ she shared.

The Saturday Night Live sensation continued, ‘First of all, if you know me and you know who I am, you already have that information. And the second thing is, who wants to be asked about their childhood trauma every time they talk about their career?’

She declared, ‘I’m 52 years old, and I have survived my childhood trauma.’

‘My whole career, people have always brought up my mom, which is wonderful. But then they also bring up the tragedy of losing my mother when I was little. And they ask me how old I was when she died,’ she shared

Riperton died of breast cancer in July 1979 at the age of 31, when Maya was just six-years-old.

The Loot star added, ‘I answer the question and then afterwards, I’m like, “Why the f**k did I do that again?” Maybe this is the day where we just go, like, “You can stop asking.”

‘It just makes a sad story. But we’re talking about great things and humans are capable of so much more than one thing,’

She remarked, ‘But for whatever reason, people want to really focus on the sadness, and I’m like, “I’m good.”‘

Reflecting on her character, Rudolph explained, ‘I am a polite person, and I care about how I treat other people, obviously. 

‘And I try not to ruffle feathers. I like to be respectful. But at a certain point, you have to stand up for yourself. It took me a long time to get to feeling more comfortable in this space, but I’m in it now.’

In August the actress appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, when RuPaul was filling in for Kimmel, and was asked the very question she despises.

Maya pictured with father Richard Rudolph, mom Minnie, and brother Marc in 1978wh

She answered politely before the iconic drag queen and media personality performed a rendition of Riperton’s hit 1975 tune Loving You, which has a famously high note at the end.

Maya, the audience, and RuPaul himself erupted into laughter following the lighthearted moment.

In an Instagram post celebrating its latest cover star on Wednesday, Variety wrote referred to this point in the comedian’s career her ‘most successful era yet.’

And she was quoted saying, ‘It does feel like it’s all happening at once, which is weird.

‘If someone was like, “Hey, when you turn 52, you’re going to have a moment,” I’d be like, “Sorry, what?” I did not anticipate this. It does feel like a real convergence of all good things. Everything feels different this year, for sure.’