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    Bobby Brown Explains Early Exit From Whitney Houston’s Funeral

    Bobby Brown arrives for Whitney's funeral. (Getty Images)Bobby Brown made a brief appearance at his ex-wife Whitney Houston's funeral on Saturday at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, but he didn't stay for long -- reportedly due to a seating dispute.

    According to TMZ, Brown received an invite for him and two guests, but showed up with an entourage of nine. The singer was obviously not happy when security told him there wasn't room for his entire crew in the church, and was further disappointed when he was blocked from sitting in the front row next to his 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina, his only child with Houston. Upset, the singer made his way to Houston's casket, gave it a kiss, and exited the church about 10 minutes into the service.

    To clear up all the speculation, Brown's rep released the following statement explaining his early departure:

    "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."

    Following the service, CNN spoke with Reverend Jesse Jackson, who witnessed the situation and tried to convince Brown to stay. "That was a very difficult moment for all of us," he said of watching Brown be asked to leave the front row. "It seems to me that they could have accommodated him better than they did."

    Houston and Brown were married for 15 years.

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    609 comments

    • maggie hanks  •  Houston, Texas  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Folks let's let Whitney rest in peace. Leave the anger and blame to a higher being. We all will answer for our transgressions, don't add to yours with blame,slurs and just pure ugliness. Most of us never met these people so we only have opinions, therefore we should keep them to ourselves.God forgives.... are we greater than God? These families need tons of prayer.
    • Montgomery  •  Conroe, Texas  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Whitney's last song Jesus Loves You, sings it all in her soul! To all who are being destroyed by drugs, Jesus knows you and wants you to be set free, take his hand and leave all others and cling to him. I've seen my brother and his wife die in a fire together because of drugs and the pain lives but Jesus and the angels came for them, yes for a moment there was saddness in his eyes but greater love exist so cling to him here on earth he will set you free he loves you, Yes Jesus loves you, he and no one else loves you forever! Whitney, my sister give my brother and his wife a kiss for me, and sing to Jesus forever in His Love we are forgiven!
    • Not Again  •  Jackpot, Nevada  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Brown had two kids (sort of 3) when he married Whitney. One boy was older from a marriage (or girlfriend) when he was 17, named Landon, and the other one was the child called, LaPrincia he had with girlfriend Kim Ward. Right after she was born he started dating Whitney. Within a year, Whitney and him had a spat and he went back to former girlfriend Kim Ward. He knocked her up and quickly returned to Whitney and asked her to marry him. So at this time Kim Ward had Robert Barisford Brown, Jr. in the oven, Bobby got Whitney pregnant with Bobbi Kristina (Krissy) and was born 9 months after they were married.

      The older boy was not allowed to stay (maybe sleep) in the main house but kept in a guest house. So I don't think he was well accepted by Whitney and her family. At the funeral I would guess Krissy sit with her grandmother, and probably 3 spaces were made beside them, one for Bobby, LaPrincia, and maybe Robert Jr. That's the 3 I would guess.
    • Lane-Johnson  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  1 month 28 days ago
      I'm actually proud that he decided to leave rather than make a scene. If it was me of course I would have stood I wouldn't have minded. But for those who keeps blaming Bobby for all of Whitney's problems, shame on you. Yes he may have introduced her to some bad things, but we are all our own person and make our own choices. Just because her husband did those things doesn't mean she had to, she made the decision to take the drugs on her own. Personally, I don't hold that against her we are all human and make mistakes. I think no lower of her and think that she was an amazing artist that will be sadly missed.
    • debbie  •  Knoxville, Tennessee  •  1 month 28 days ago
      i want to thank whitney's mother for sharing her with us in so many ways even to the end. I cried all day the day of the funeral as I watched it on TV but Sissy didn't have to share this with us. It was a special day when we were able to honor whitney and relive our lives when we were younger and grew up with whitney in our every day lives. THANK YOU SISSY HOUSTON!
    • brenda  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  1 month 28 days ago
      psalms 83:18 THAT MEN MAY KNOW THAT THOU, WHOSE NAME ALONE IS JEHOVAH GOD, ART THE MOST HIGH OVER ALL THE EARTH AMEN. YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH JESUS, TO GET TO JEHOVAH GOD. JESUS IS THE RANSOM LAMB SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS AND TRANSGRESSIONS. CHICAGO, ILL NATIVE WHO WORKS AT WALMART STORES EVERGREEN, PARK ILLINOIS.
      • Dick 1 month 28 days ago
        Walmart?
    • jazzdiva  •  Lubbock, Texas  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Yeah, well, I have never known a druggie who DIDN'T want thier friends, family on drugs too! He was also very jealous of her successful career. So, don't tell me that in the back of his mind he wasn't gloating over it when she and her career went down. His actions at the funeral just cement what I just said.
      • Dick 1 month 28 days ago
        ?!!!!!
    • thediva  •  Long Beach, Mississippi  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Jesse Jackson is a media hog. i was ashamed by the way he was behaving right in the front facing row and after when he so obviously sought out the media down the street. He is so irrelevant now and aside from accompanying MLKJr, what has he done!
      • Native 1 month 28 days ago
        You are right. I was so shocked to see Jesse Jackson stand there and say what he did. He didn't ever know the reason Bobby Brown left so why not be quiet. I was so very disappointed in Mr Sharptin and what he said. Bobby Brown should have been thankful he was even allowed to attend! Whitney's family was attempting to do the Godly thing and Bobby just couldn't help being what he is long enough to respect the woman who went down the tubes becaous of her love for him. It would appear that the only thing Bobby loved about Whitney was her money and what he got as a result of being associated with her. He wouldn't have gotten the attention he did had he not been Whitney' husband. He shows how overbearing and abnoxious he is. That is probably part of the reason Whitney started on drugs.
    • Trixie  •  Dallas, Texas  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Whatever his reason was for leaving the funeral early, that's absolutely NO EXCUSE AT ALL. Not only that, but it was also very disrespectul to the rest of Ms Houston's grieving loved ones. My guess is that he just wanted attention... probably just wanted to make the occasion all about him when it was supposed to have been about her.
    • SHARON  •  Normal, Illinois  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Bobby loved Whitney & Whitney loved Bobby, so all this talk about who started who on the drugs is irrelevant, they both used & I'm proud of him for not making a scene at the funeral, because I would have went completely off, being asked to move several times.
    • SandySk8tes  •  1 month 25 days ago
      I'll all sum up his early exit. 1. it wasn't about him 2. His daughter Bobbi Kristina......hasn't had any use for him for him in years.( Only in his company when Whitney made her).3. it would garner him media time.$. He lacks in the social graces & is ignorant.
    • sc 1  •  1 month 28 days ago
      As others have said - it's not about you Bobby B.
    • Asylum  •  Kennesaw, Georgia  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Bobby Brown is a prime example of a pathetic POS their cocaine addiction was responsible for losing a home in Alpharetta Georgia amonst other things that sorry N/i/g/g/e/r should have died right along with her.
      • maggie hanks 1 month 28 days ago
        God forgives, why can't we. Mr Asylum, I know you were obviously a close friend or relative to know their intimate and personal issues. Wont address you improper name calling. I yield to your upbringing....you are from Ga. huh?
      • sylvia 1 month 27 days ago
        Wow!! Is all that negativity necessary and the use of the N-word come on now!! Sorry that's you Asylum where u belong
      • Tracy 1 month 27 days ago
        Really!!!! Yes, we all have the right to our own opionions, but that is uncalled for. Its sad when you hear someone have so much hate inside.
    • Lynn  •  Fair Oaks, California  •  1 month 27 days ago
      A father should be able to sit next to his daughter at his X-wifes' funeral, you would think. Well, he did the right thing..he kissed his wife goodbye like a gentleman and made no scene.
    • Sharon  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  1 month 28 days ago
      Bobby and Whitney loved each other.and have a beautifu daughter,I'm proud of him for leaving. He felt like he wasn't wanted there.God Bless all of the and to God Be the Glory
    • Mares eat oats  •  Indianapolis, Indiana  •  3 months ago
      The front row is for spouses and immediate family. Everyone knows that. Eve Bobby Brown.
    • CHERYL  •  Buffalo, New York  •  3 months ago
      The invitation was for 3, he chose to bring 9. What did he expect? I respect that he did not make a scene, but in he then left Bobbie Kristina alone. HIs "entourage" should have waited outside and honored the family's wishes.
      • Mrs Peaches 3 months ago
        i think they should have made accomondations no matter how many ppl he brought..there r a lot of ppl that loved her as well as her immediate family..her family was on some old #$%$.they handled that very tacky..i mean they wouldnt even let fans come pay respects ..sad
      • uplandlady 3 months ago
        We have no indication that the entourage was part of the problem. The article states that he was told there was no room for them. The issue seems to be that he and his two children were asked to move at least twice. To me, it seems that the security personnel did not handle this at all graciously but that Bobby actually did. He paid his respects and left rather than allow his distress to disturb any one else at the service. A reporter who was fortunate enough to attend was not at all aware of any problem until Sharpton and Jackson followed him out of the church. And he did not leave Bobby Kristina alone. He was not allowed to sit with her, so apparently the Houston family intended to give her whatever support she needed.
      • Bay 3 months ago
        i thinkthey shoulda ran all them over with a bus including the whole funeral home
    • Belinda  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      This is a difficult situation, but if he could only bring 2 other people he should have done that. He should have been able to sit with his daughter during the services
    • R  •  3 months ago
      what was jesse jackson doing there
    • TXJeff  •  Dallas, Texas  •  3 months ago
      This apparently is about the security people "disrepecting" (is that a verb?) Bobby. Apparently, he feel no shame in what he did to Whitney. I know she was an adult and responsible for her own decisions and actions, but she went downhill immediately after getting with this guy and was quoted on TV as saying he was her "drug partner". I feel he deserves no respect, since he apparently has no idea what that word entails. RIP, Whitney.