Whitney Houston’s Estate Fires Back At Oprah’s Cannes Story: “Whitney Was Not High, Stop Repeating Myths”

Whitney Houston’s estate is setting the record straight after comments made by Oprah Winfrey during a recent appearance at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity sparked renewed conversation about the late music icon.

During her discussion, Oprah reflected on an incident involving Whitney during a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show, recalling a moment when the singer fell on stage. The story quickly spread across social media and entertainment outlets, with some people speculating that the fall may have been connected to Whitney’s past struggles with substance abuse.

However, representatives for Whitney Houston’s estate are strongly disputing those claims.

In a statement released following the viral reports, the estate clarified that Whitney did indeed fall, but said the incident occurred during a sound check — not during her actual performance — and had nothing to do with drug use.

“From the 2009 interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Whitney absolutely fell on stage, but 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 went on to criticize the narrative that has developed around the incident, arguing that Whitney’s personal struggles should not automatically be linked to every moment of her career.

“Like many people, she faced personal battles, but it is inaccurate and unfair to attach that struggle to every performance or every chapter of her life,” the statement continued.

Representatives emphasized that what audiences witnessed from Whitney throughout her career was the result of hard work, talent and professionalism.

“What the studio audience witnessed on stage was the result of discipline, talent, and commitment — not the assumptions others project.”

The estate concluded by urging the public and media outlets to remember Whitney’s legacy with honesty and accuracy.

“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.”

The response has sparked debate online, with many fans applauding the estate for defending Whitney’s legacy and pushing back against narratives they believe unfairly overshadow her accomplishments.

More than a decade after her passing, Whitney Houston remains one of the most celebrated voices in music history, and her estate continues to protect the legacy she left behind.