Whitney Houston’s former attorney now representing the Houston family attorney, Mark G. Trigg, called in to the Frank and Wanda Show on Atlanta’s V-103 to give an interview regarding the events of the funeral. Trigg began by clearing up the misconception that the family ever intended to have a large public gathering. That was false information in the media. When the public expressed such desire to have access to the service the family made the decision to allow one camera into the service.When asked to explain what happened with Bobby Brown at the service, Trigg stated, “It is important to the family that this issue not continue to be a distraction; something that takes away from the beauty of the service. Something that takes away from everything that happened that was positive on Saturday.”
Trigg explained that there were pre-arrangements made between Whitney’s family and Bobby Brown regarding the invitations, seating, and approaching Bobbie Kristina. Trigg personally spoke with Bobby Brown’s attorney, Chris Brown, and worked out the details of the arrangements. At no time did the family tell Bobby he was not invited nor that he was not allowed to sit with the family. Bobby, his brother Tommy, and Bobby’s three adult children, La’Princia, Landon and Robert Jr. were all invited to the service. There were three rows reserved for the family. Only Bobby was invited to sit in the first three rows. His children were supposed to sit “a few rows behind” with their uncle. Click through for Trigg’s version of exactly what went down at the service.
Upon arrival, Bobby and his children all sat in the family section within the first three rows. Tommy sat further back in the church. Security approached Bobby and reminded him of the agreed upon situation, and according to Trigg, discretely asked for children to move back and sit with their uncle. At that point, Bobby attempted to get Bobbi Kristina to intervene and tell security to allow them all to stay. Part of the agreement between the attorneys for the two parties was that Bobby was not to approach Bobbi Kristina unless she initiated the contact. When he went to interact with her, security intervened and asked him to return to his seat and have the rest of the party go to their seats and not to cause a scene. At that point Bobby and the kids became distraught. They each approached the casket, kissed it, and left the church. Trigg stated that Cissy Houston made all the decisions regarding arrangements regarding who would speak, and apparently who would sit in the family section. My guess it the stipulation about approaching Bobbi Kristina was her decision as well. I have no idea if Bobbi Kristina agreed to it or not.It seems rather cruel to Landon, Bobby Jr, and La’Princia to exclude them from the family section of the service. Would it have killed Cissy to have had four rows for the family? Also, it is now clear that there were five members in Bobby Brown’s “entourage” and all were invited family. Trigg says the kids were to sit “a few rows behind” with their uncle but other sources indicate that the kids were asked to move to the back of the church.
Bobby Brown’s statement said:
“My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston. We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi-Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honor Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how.”
It seems to me that the truth lies somewhere in between these two versions. Clearly, Bobby and his children were deeply hurt by whatever happened. Bobby Brown Jr. took to twitter to tell Bobbi Kristina and his step-mother that he loved them. He was very upset and angry in his tweets over the media making his father look bad. He said that even though his father encouraged him to let it go, he could not be silent on the issue. Take a look at the “entourage of 9” and tell me if you see people looking to start trouble at a memorial service or five grieving family members.
On an unrelated note, Bobbi Kristina is back in Atlanta staying in a condo she once shared with Whitney. Warren Boyd, the guy the show The Cleaner is based on is with her as all times acting as an interventionist and sober coach. This is likely a temporary measure designed to get her to agree to an in-patient rehab.
Good God Bobby Brown looks bad. And honestly…I find myself not caring one tiny bit about Bobbi. The girl is probably so fucked up already – it's going to take Dr Drew three, maybe FOUR seasons to straighten her out. *eyeroll*WD
What I don't care about is Bobby or his feelings, he & they seem to have forgotten one huge issue…it wasn't about them. And obviously his daughter with Whitney: Bobbi Kris wasn't on his crap either, she had other stuff to focus on than his attempt at revitalizing his way-over dead career by grandstanding @ her mother's funeral. Can we stop giving this man and his other children time in the spotlight. Whitney is dead, the funeral is over and any relevance he had was over when he was foolish enough to show how truly repulsive he was during the filming of Being Bobby Brown. Cissy didn't make any decision Bobbi Kris didn't want, think about it, she was trying to tell him in a nice way that right now Bobbi Kris doesn't want to talk to you so don't push it HOWEVER IF she changes her mind and initiates contact with you then go for it but not unless SHE initiates contact with you. As for making 4 rows for family to include them, ppl can say whatever they like but no one can tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do for their mother and/or daughter's funeral. I wish he'd just go the fukk away.
Funerals are held so that the LIVING can grieve. It's not FOR the dead person. Also, the relationship between a father and daughter is their responsiblity. Any other person who intervenes in that is overstepping boundaries not matter how well intentioned.
Tamara I so agree with you and I have to think this is not what Whitney would have wanted. Any Mother who loves her child knows how important it is for that child at all ages to have a good relationship with her Dad if at all possible. Whitney is gone now and Bobbi Kristina needs her Dad. This was a huge funeral and a big family so the logic of three rows for family boggles my mind. Heck my family has much more than 3 rows to hold all the relatives. I have to wonder if the sacrifice of family seats was for the benefit of having celebrities and their bodyguards, makes no sense whatsoever. I remember being shocked when On Being Bobby Brown aired, I was shocked to see how he came across as a good and responsible parent (not withstanding the drug BS of course). Does anybody remember the episode where he treated Whitney to a SPA for Mother's Day and went and got the kids so that she could still celebrate that day w/ her kids? Whitney was mad about that but let me tell you as a Mom myself, that would have been the greatest treat.Whitney was the stepmother to these kids for 15 years that means they are family. And Bobbi Kristina is 18 who has the nerve to tell Bobby when he can contact his daughter. I side 100% with Bobby on this one and admire him for walking out rather than letting it be a scene. He wasn't allowed to support Bobbi Kristina but he did make sure to support his other kids, can't blame the man for that.
Technically, Bobby is NOT a member of the family anymore. And I guess it's obvious the family did NOT know he was bringing all those additional people. So unless it was Bobbi Kristina herself who wanted all those extra people why should they accomodate Bobby?I'm thinking they had room for Bobby and the two people they said he could bring. And they probably wanted the rest to sit elsewhere. So Bobby just decided to leave. Damn shame.So obviously he was NEVER there to be by his daughters side. He just wanted attention. Bobby makes me sick. He had to know that that service was going to be packed to the gills and that there would be many who had a reason to be there who wouldn't be able to attend because there just wasn't room — so he decides to act like a spoiled toddler and throw a tantrum because his entourage can't get in? What a colossal asshole this guy is.
Sandy, if you read the article then you know that the HOUSTON FAMILY ATTORNEY acknowledges that all five people in Bobby's group were family, and INVITED. The HOUSTON FAMILY ATTORNEY says there was no tantrum. I don't understand why Bobby is being the bad guy in this situation.
Ha! just noticed the PMSing part. I totally get it. Disregard my previous post. 🙂 Feel better.
Thanks Tamara!I've been sooo bitch lately ! Enjoying posting here and bitching about everything ! LOL!
Love your blog. You always have the real tea! First time chiming in: I'm so over Bobby. Somehow he made Whitney's funeral about him and his hurt feelings. Classic! What seems to overlooked is, Bobby chose to leave. Yeah, it was probably an ugly situation and maybe he and his children were treated rudely..but it's a funeral. Just take a deep breath and sit where they tell you. Everyone knows that weddings, baby baptisms, and funerals bring out the worst in people. Emotions are running high. You just have to be the bigger person, and not be reactionary. Bobby just ended up looking selfish and small that day.
Well he rebut bitally could of been a real dick he he came in with his family so you know she’s in heaven and it’s sad cuz Bobby’s always got the shaft when her family she was paying her family and paying them big big money me and said by the pricking end of her career and the money she was completely dry is she paid her her brother is that we’re just on payroll her father stole from her constantly it’s sad love you Whitney you are
I will be brief, despite wanting to say more on all points.Aretha Franklin had 8 invitations and she did not show. They could have sat it her place. Just saying…
Wow great point. She was definately in the family section. Would love to hear your other points.
Who cares about Bobby Brown? He's a washed up has been who rode on the coat tails of his ex-wife until she let him go….NEXT!
Step children usually sit in the family row, especially if their father is in the family. It was handled poorly by the Houston’s and reflects poorly on them.
I’m just seeing this, so pardon the response. I watched two episodes of Being Bobby Brown, and remember very clearly that Whitney and Bobby’s children were not on all that great terms, and that they saw Bobbi Kris as spoiled and had little time for her, even though their father kept trying to get them together. But putting that aside, as step children, there really was no reason for them to be seated in the family section at the funeral, and I would presume that Bobby agreed to that before attending the funeral. Now, as I recall the photos from the funeral, I could have sworn Bobby had two women with him. One would be his eldest daughter, while the other looked a whole lot like photos of his girlfriend I’ve seen. Maybe she wasn’t there, and I hope he didn’t bring her, as that would have been very disrespectful. In any regard, the Houston family had the right to decide who would or would not sit in the family section, and really it is not up to anyone else to decide whether their decision was right or wrong, considering the rather difficult relationship between the Houston family, Bobby Brown and his daughter Bobbi Kristina.
He just should of been a better father to Bobbi Kristina, and now it’s to laye