Whitney Houston’s family, which runs her estate, is pushing back against comments from Oprah Winfrey after the media icon claimed the late singer was under the influence of drugs when she allegedly fell off a stage during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
The controversy began when Oprah spoke at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, reflecting on one of Houston’s last appearances on her talk show. During the discussion, Oprah said she had witnessed Houston’s relapse after previously getting sober.
“I think that was her last show with us and she had gone back on drugs,” Oprah said, recalling the singer’s 2009 performance. “She wasn’t (clean) and she fell off the stage.”
According to Oprah, she feared that the incident becoming public would ruin Houston’s reputation.
“I knew if that story got out … she would be devastated by it,” Oprah said. She added that she personally asked the audience not to release any photos or footage and they complied with her request. “It wouldn’t happen today.”
But Houston’s sister-in-law Pat Houston says Oprah’s account is off the mark.
In a statement made to TMZrepresentatives of the estate acknowledged that Houston did indeed fall. However, they strongly disputed Oprah’s claim that drugs were involved.
“Whitney absolutely fell off the stage, but it was during a sound check and it was because of the darkness of the area and her unfamiliarity with the stage. She was definitely not tall,” the estate said.
The estate went on to argue that Houston’s addiction struggles should not automatically be linked to every moment of her career.
“Like many people, she faced personal struggles, but it is inaccurate and unfair to attach that struggle to every performance or chapter of her life,” the statement continued. “What the studio audience saw on stage was the result of discipline, talent and commitment – not the assumptions others project.”
Houston’s last appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show came in 2009 when she promoted her comeback album I Look to You. During the highly publicized interview, she opened up about her struggles with addiction and her turbulent marriage to Bobby Brown. The appearance was seen as a major attempt to rebuild both her career and public image.
Oprah shared the story while discussing the responsibility that comes with having a public platform. She said protecting Houston from further humiliation was one of the moments that reinforced her belief that media should be used to help people rather than exploit them.
The newly revealed incident has sparked debate online, with some fans praising Oprah for shielding Houston from further scrutiny at a vulnerable time, while others questioned whether it was necessary to revisit the story more than a decade after the singer’s death.
Houston died in February 2012 at the age of 48. The singer’s death was ruled an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors. Her struggles with addiction have been widely documented, but her family and estate continue to challenge what they see as inaccurate portrayals of her final years.
📸 carrie nelson
