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    Houston memorial scrapped

    world entertainment news – Tue, Feb 14, 2012 19:13 GMT

    A public memorial for Whitney Houston has been scrapped.

    Fans were expected to pile into Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center on Friday for a service reminiscent of Michael Jackson's huge Los Angeles send-off in 2009 and venue bosses had begun to make arrangements for the big event.

    But on Tuesday morning, Carolyn Whigham, the spokesperson for the Whigham Funeral Home - where Houston's body currently lies - said the family feels it has "shared" the superstar "for 30-something years with the city, with the state, with the world," and relatives now insist, "This is their private time."

    And a representative for Newark Mayor Cory Booker tells TMZ.com, "In compliance with the family's wishes the city is not moving forward with any public ceremony."

    Following her death on Saturday in Los Angeles and an autopsy on Sunday, Houston's body was flown to her native New Jersey on Monday onboard a private plane owned by filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry, who is a close family friend.

    The remains were transferred to the funeral home in a hearse early on Tuesday.

    A private funeral will take place at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church on Saturday at noon.

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    11 comments

    • Michael
      Michael  •  3 months ago
      what she died.... wow when did this happen........
    • Lee Bailey
      Lee Bailey  •  Leicester, England  •  3 months ago
      So basically, Whitney made everybody buy her records, and physiclly escorted them too the cashpoint too buy her records and go to her concerts [without their consent] , and it is selfish that her daughter and her family want to bury her and grieve her [in private], in their own way. that is SOOO selfish!

      when you're loved ones have died, can we all please visit, cos that we would be soooo selfish if we couldn''t......... :)
    • Lee Bailey
      Lee Bailey  •  Leicester, England  •  3 months ago
      You #$%$ what reality do you live in?..............
    • fiona
      fiona  •  Brighton, England  •  3 months ago
      The Houston family are right to want to keep it private. People who are REAL fan's will understand and respect their wishes.
      • AJ
        AJ 3 months ago
        Memorials for celebrities are, for the majority, filled with people who have a morbid curiosity. Yes, they may have had some interest in whatever the celebrity was selling, but essentially, they just want to be part of the spectacle.
        If true fans wish to pay their respects, then I am sure that they will do so, perhaps, as I plan to, on the day of her funeral, listen to some of my favourite Whitney songs, say a little prayer(I know, that wasn't a Whitney song:D) and, perhaps have a moments solitary silence.
    • AJ
      AJ  •  Leeds, England  •  3 months ago
      You know, it's very rare that I am pleased by something surrounding the death of someone I loved(as an artist - some of her life choices were somewhat suspect for me to condone), but I have nothing but absolute respect for the family for this decision.
      I agree wholeheartedly - "we" had Whitney for 30 years, and we will continue to have her music in our lives, but the family has lost a mother, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, and it is only right that they deal with their grief in a respectful and private manner.
    • Maureen
      Maureen  •  Spalding, England  •  3 months ago
      Regardless of what kind of funeral she has.....she will leave this world as she came into it.....with nothing. Ashes to ashes dust to dust....immediately spring to mind. The only people it will matter to are those who want to keep it private or those who want to put on a show.
    • hejduk
      hejduk  •  3 months ago
      Is Newark's Prudential Centre to be the casket base?
    • susan
      susan  •  Scarborough, England  •  3 months ago
      It is fans who stand by her regardless of her death and continue to buy her music...
    • susan
      susan  •  Scarborough, England  •  3 months ago
      Whitney will probably worth more now than before she died but however just think of the money rolling in now she's died with the releases of her songs...
      • AJ
        AJ 3 months ago
        I'm sure thats a great comfort to her daughter. She's lost her mum but at least she can buy things!
    • Margaret P
      Margaret P  •  Manchester, England  •  3 months ago
      Is it dumbf@*k night!
      • Mo's Dad
        Mo's Dad 3 months ago
        Must be, you're here.
    • .
      .  •  3 months ago
      So basically, the people who have MADE her a superstar, made her a success, made her money, who have honoured her, loved her and cherished her without even knowing her can't say goodbye to her. Geez that's so selfish! I do understand that the family want quiet and just to be with her alone without any fans, but these are Whitney's fans. Anyone should be able to go to any person's funeral and say goodbye. A funeral, unlike a wedding or birthday party, is not where there is a list of who is invited. It's a time for ANYONE to say goodbye to the deceased, not just family........
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