Whitney Houston's estate has strongly denied Oprah Winfrey's assertion that the late singer was under the influence of drugs when she fell off the stage during a 2009 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In a statement released on Wednesday night, the estate called Winfrey's claims 'inaccurate and unfair,' insisting Houston was 'absolutely not high' at the time.
Oprah's Comments at Cannes Lions
Speaking at the Cannes Lions conference in France on Tuesday, Winfrey recalled the incident, claiming Houston had 'relapsed' and was 'back on drugs' during the two-part interview. Winfrey said Houston 'fell off of the stage' and that she later pleaded with the audience not to share photos of the fall to protect the singer's reputation.
'I knew that if that story got out … she would be destroyed by that,' Winfrey stated. 'And so even though the audience was there and the audience had cameras, I begged them not to put those pictures out because it would ruin her life, and they did not. That would not happen today, I can tell you.'
Estate's Response
The Houston estate confirmed that the singer did fall from the stage, but attributed the mishap to poor lighting and unfamiliarity with the venue, not drug use. 'It was during a sound check and it was due to the darkness of the area and her unfamiliarity with the stage,' the statement read. 'She was absolutely not high.'
The estate acknowledged Houston's personal struggles but stressed that not every moment of her life should be viewed through that lens. 'Whitney's humanity included triumphs and struggles, but on that day, she showed up as the professional and gifted artist she always worked to be. We owe her the dignity of telling the truth not repeating myths.'
Houston's Legacy and Death
Whitney Houston, one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 170 million albums sold, achieved numerous accolades including two Emmys and six Grammys. Her iconic hits include 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),' 'Saving All My Love For You,' and 'I Will Always Love You.'
Houston died at age 48 in 2012 from accidental drowning in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The autopsy report cited the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors, with marijuana and several prescription medications also found in her system.
Winfrey has not yet responded to the estate's statement.
