National Enquirer casket photo: Whitney Houston funeral home reacts
The National Enquirer's photo of the late Whitney Houston in her casket was unauthorized and had nothing to do with the funeral home where the singer's body was prepared, the funeral home's owner told The Times on Thursday.
Outrage has followed the publication of the photo in the latest issue of the Enquirer, as have questions about how it was obtained. That has cast suspicion on Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, N.J., but owner Carolyn Whigham insisted that the funeral home did not play a role.
"I'm going to answer you as the publicist told me to answer you: We have no comment. But it was not the funeral home," Whigham said. She then expressed irritation with the media. "You guys are getting me in the middle," she said, adding that the publicity is making her business look bad.
Photos: Whitney Houston's funeral
Asked to elaborate, she said: "I am very angry, very upset, just like the family, just like the fans," referring to the publication of the photo. "We don't like it because it implicates us. Whitney was a personal friend to me and my family. We would not do that."
She said a publicist for Houston's relatives would release a statement to the media shortly.
That statement could help clarify the circumstances surrounding the image, and how it was obtained. Among the questions: Was it authorized by anyone related to Houston? Or was it possibly a clandestine image sold to the tabloid?
Houston, 48, died in a Beverly Hills hotel room earlier this month. Officials said she was found submerged in a bathtub just hours before she was scheduled to attend a pre-Grammys soiree hosted by her longtime mentor, Clive Davis.
The National Enquirer's photo of the late Whitney Houston in her casket was unauthorized and had nothing to do with the funeral home where the singer's body was prepared, the funeral home's owner told The Times on Thursday.
Outrage has followed the publication of the photo in the latest issue of the Enquirer, as have questions about how it was obtained. That has cast suspicion on Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, N.J., but owner Carolyn Whigham insisted that the funeral home did not play a role.
"I'm going to answer you as the publicist told me to answer you: We have no comment. But it was not the funeral home," Whigham said. She then expressed irritation with the media. "You guys are getting me in the middle," she said, adding that the publicity is making her business look bad.
Photos: Whitney Houston's funeral
Asked to elaborate, she said: "I am very angry, very upset, just like the family, just like the fans," referring to the publication of the photo. "We don't like it because it implicates us. Whitney was a personal friend to me and my family. We would not do that."
She said a publicist for Houston's relatives would release a statement to the media shortly.
That statement could help clarify the circumstances surrounding the image, and how it was obtained. Among the questions: Was it authorized by anyone related to Houston? Or was it possibly a clandestine image sold to the tabloid?
Houston, 48, died in a Beverly Hills hotel room earlier this month. Officials said she was found submerged in a bathtub just hours before she was scheduled to attend a pre-Grammys soiree hosted by her longtime mentor, Clive Davis.
( Justin Lane / EPA / February 18, 2012 )
The hearse that carrying the body of singer Whitney Houston drives past the New Hope Baptist Church before Houston's funeral in Newark, N.J. Houston died Feb. 11 in Beverly Hills, where she had planned to attend a pre-Grammys event.
FULL COVERAGE: Whitney Houston | 1963-2012
Funeral for Whitney Houston
( Michael Nagle / Getty Images / February 18, 2012 )
The Rev. Jesse Jackson talks to reporters before Whitney Houston's funeral.
Funeral for Whitney Houston
( Justin Lane / EPA / February 18, 2012 )
A television reporter yells to her cameraman as photographers watch mourners arrive for Whitney Houston's funeral at the New Hope Baptist church in Newark, N.J.
A television reporter yells to her cameraman as photographers watch mourners arrive for Whitney Houston's funeral at the New Hope Baptist church in Newark, N.J.
Funeral for Whitney Houston
( Michael Nagle / Getty Images / February 18, 2012 )
A fan signs a picture of the late Whitney Houston before her funeral in Newark, N.J. Houston died Feb. 11 in Beverly Hills.
( Michael Nagle / Getty Images / February 18, 2012 )
A fan signs a picture of the late Whitney Houston before her funeral in Newark, N.J. Houston died Feb. 11 in Beverly Hills.
Funeral for Whitney Houston
( Michael Nagle / Getty Images / February 18, 2012 )
Fans gather in Newark, N.J., for Whitney Houston's funeral.
From : www.chicagotribune.com
Aretha Franklin is not amused by the rumors swirling about her absence from goddaughter Whitney Houston's funeral this past weekend. Franklin was expected to sing "Greatest Love of All" at the funeral, but was a last minute no-show.
Franklin told Extra that she needed to stay off her feet until her concert the night of the funeral. "Regretfully, I am so sorry that I was unable to be with you at Whitney's service today. I had every intention of being there," she said in a statement. "But unfortunately I had terrible leg spasms and locked leg muscles until 4:00AM this morning following my concert last night, which I've been having for the last few days. I feel it necessary and very important to stay off my leg today as much as possible until concert time this evening. My heart goes out to my dear friend Cissy, Dionne, Bobbi Kristina and the rest of the family. May God keep them all."
Despite the statement, some fans and media members speculated that Franklin was missing from the event due to a feud with Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston. Word was that Cissy was offended by an interview Franklin gave to "Today" which may have implied that Whitney's drug problem was related to her upbringing. Franklin says that is simply not the case.
Franklin issued the following statement to E!.
"Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) should stop the BS. Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me for the funeral. Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) are more interested in sensationalism and negative speculations than the truth. People are getting their information from the wrong source. The intelligent and the thoughtful thing to do would be to respect and have some sensitivity to the moment. If you don't know how, at least try. Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I--particularly at this time. Also, with respect to the Today Show, my entire statement was pretaped. However, the Today Show did not air the part of my statement, which said, 'This is no reflection on Cissy or Nippy's upbringing.' Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry. I was not speaking of anyone specifically."
Fans gather in Newark, N.J., for Whitney Houston's funeral.
From : www.chicagotribune.com
Aretha Franklin is not amused by the rumors swirling about her absence from goddaughter Whitney Houston's funeral this past weekend. Franklin was expected to sing "Greatest Love of All" at the funeral, but was a last minute no-show.
Franklin told Extra that she needed to stay off her feet until her concert the night of the funeral. "Regretfully, I am so sorry that I was unable to be with you at Whitney's service today. I had every intention of being there," she said in a statement. "But unfortunately I had terrible leg spasms and locked leg muscles until 4:00AM this morning following my concert last night, which I've been having for the last few days. I feel it necessary and very important to stay off my leg today as much as possible until concert time this evening. My heart goes out to my dear friend Cissy, Dionne, Bobbi Kristina and the rest of the family. May God keep them all."
Despite the statement, some fans and media members speculated that Franklin was missing from the event due to a feud with Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston. Word was that Cissy was offended by an interview Franklin gave to "Today" which may have implied that Whitney's drug problem was related to her upbringing. Franklin says that is simply not the case.
Franklin issued the following statement to E!.
"Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) should stop the BS. Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me for the funeral. Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) are more interested in sensationalism and negative speculations than the truth. People are getting their information from the wrong source. The intelligent and the thoughtful thing to do would be to respect and have some sensitivity to the moment. If you don't know how, at least try. Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I--particularly at this time. Also, with respect to the Today Show, my entire statement was pretaped. However, the Today Show did not air the part of my statement, which said, 'This is no reflection on Cissy or Nippy's upbringing.' Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry. I was not speaking of anyone specifically."
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