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Whitney Houston cause of death, Bobbi Kristina Oprah Interview shameful.

March 17, 2012 by  
Filed under Ent., News, Opinion, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) That’s what Kanye should’ve said!

Whitney Houston was barely dead a month before Oprah swooped in to participate in the exploitation of Houston and her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. Yeah, you were tuned in, riveted as Oprah showed so much concern for Bobbi Kris and empathy for the rest of the Houston clan. That’s what you saw. I saw a businesswoman with a floundering network that instantly recognized a ratings grab at the expense of the pain of a family, friends and community. Yeah, Oprah knew you would tune in.

I was a bit uneasy watching that awkward conversation near the piano. I felt bad for Bobbi Kris, felt badly for the decisions the adults around her had made throughout her entire life. I watched a girl barely nineteen publicly trying to deal with the loss of her mother amid a media frenzy and whirlwind of activity that have thrust her square in the crosshairs of the media and Oprah. I was saddened as she talked about lights going on and hearing her mom’s voice and how she stumbled to put together sentences when asked how she was doing, which was more of an indication of how she wasn’t dealing well.

I lost my grandmother at 18 and was extremely traumatized by the loss, so imagine losing your mother at the same age on a very public stage and then having cameras and lights in your face barely a month later? While trying to  deal with all of this, you’re talking about launching a career in singing, dancing and acting, what about the recovery? Did I miss the portion of the conversation when it was said there would be ongoing therapy, regular consultations with a pastor, some form of structure to picking up the pieces? What we do know is that she stands to inherit millions.

Cue the vultures…

Auntie Pat seems to be so caring and trying to keep Bobbi Kristina so close, because she loves her and the girl needs to be loved on right about now, but it’s more likely that she’s trying to stay close to the gravy train. That was Whitney’s house where the interview took place and mostly everything they have is courtesy of Nippy, Inc. The most telling part of the conversation was when Oprah asked where Bobbi Kristina was living and Auntie Pat said she was “between homes, she stays here sometimes”, so where else is she staying?Anyone with internet access has seen the blogs document Bobbi Kristina’s wild behavior, so now that she’s lost her mother and is seemingly estranged from her father, who’s exactly going to rein her in? I would have much rather Oprah sat down and had an adult conversation with the child, talking to her about the pitfalls that come with the newfound fortune and how those around you can drain you, much like she witnessed with her mother. Perhaps she did it privately, but publicly, she made the girl look like an idiot.

The bulk of the show was sent talking to Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law, best friend and manager, that’s a lot of hats to wear and can be quite confusing when the cameras are on. She looked like she was in business mode that night, trying to ensure she preserved the brand, but she came across emotionally detached from the situation and seemed more intent on placing herself in the top position of Whitney’s hierarchy. For all things Whitney, Pat Houston is now the expert and I’m sure we’ll see her often cashing in on the legacy. The streets are talking and saying that it was her that took the picture of Whitney in the casket, that she’s trying to hold on to Bobby Kristina because of the $20 million windfall the woman-child is said to inherit.

Another disturbing moment for me was when Whitney’s brother Gary was asked what he would miss most about his sister and his response was “singing duets” with her. Really? You’re not going to miss her fried chicken or the way she laughed heartily at times or just the conversations you had? These are some of the things we miss when we lose people, part of a relationship and intimate moments between people who love. It was all just weird to me. However, you do notice there was one person missing from the circus, Cissy. Cissy wasn’t ready to talk in front of a camera; she’s hurting, smarting from the pain of losing her daughter. She’s still searching for answers, asking God why, wondering if she could have done anything differently to avoid the pain she’s feeling.

I’m sure Bobbi Kristina is in a similar place and would rather had none done the interview, but she’s being lead to the wolves by the hounds and Oprah was there to capture it all to the tune of 3.1 million viewers. 3.1 million people haven’t watched OWN in months, but Oprah was sure that Black America would take a break from NeNe Leakes to tune in as she put pain on parade. That’s exploitation, but we’re so needy for information and to feel like part of what’s going on that we completely ignored the pain for the story.

Sad.

Maybe I just hate Oprah, but I love Black people…

Staff Writer; Al-Lateef Farmer

More of his work can be found over at: The World According to Teef

Also feel free to connect via Twitter; http://twitter.com/wrldacrdng2Teef

 
 

Comments

19 Responses to “Whitney Houston cause of death, Bobbi Kristina Oprah Interview shameful.”
  1. toomanygrandkids says:

    anything you wanna ask me.” So that’s what Oprah did.

    I felt that there was such a connection, especially when Whitney said that she knew that Oprah was praying for her too. Oprah looked as though she was ready to cry when she replied, “I was. I was.” My gut feeling tells me that Oprah was beyond shock to hear of Whitney’s passing. Probaby still in shock when she interviewed Bobby Kris. IMO, this girl is a spoiled, whiny, Bobby-like brat.

    I understand that she indeed lost her mother. But I don’t remember her shedding any tears during that interview. Pat cried on television. Gary broke down a bit, but I didn’t see any tears. Oprah had more tears than anybody.

    I don’t know if it’s true or not that Oprah did that show for high ratings. But I do know that that family didn’t even have to sit w/ Oprah. On the second part of Whitney’s interview after she sang I Didn’t Know My Own Strength, Whitney told Oprah that she felt more comfortable being interviewed by Oprah. Maybe Whitney’s family felt the same way.

  2. toomanygrandkids says:

    When folks became aware of Whitney possibly having a drug problem, so did Oprah. When Kevin Ammons penned the novel, GOOD GIRL BAD GIRL, he stated how before Bobby entered Whitney’s life, she was doing drugs with her brothers Michael and Gary. According to the author, stints in rehab didn’t work for her brothers. It wasn’t until after Whitney’s passing did Michael confess that he introduced his sister to crack cocaine. It was obvious by Cissy’s facial expression that she had no idea that it was Michael. All those years she and damn near everybody in the whole wide world accused Bobby. I know I did.

    Anyway, before she had ever appeared on Oprah’s show, Whitney said that she would never go on Oprah b/c she knew that Oprah would delve into her and Bobby’s business. However, Whitney did go on Oprah w/ Angela Bassett to promote the movie, Waiting To Exhale. During a break, Whitney suppose to have had broke down in tears b/c movie was about bad and unhealthy relationships/marriages like hers. Oprah asked Whitney if she wanted to talk about it, and Whitney no. Then she pulled herself together after the commercial break.

    Lo and behold after Michael Jackson’s death, Whitney does an interview w/ Oprah. She’s also promoting her disappointing CD. She basically told Oprah what the world already knew, except for Michael intoducing her to cocaine. We also found out that Cissy obtained a court junction that forced Whitney to enter rehab. Which didn’t work for her either b/c she said that she contiued using drugs. In the very beginning of that interview there’s a picture of Whitney sitting in a limo. She looked like a crackhead in the projects yet she was rich and considered an icon. Also, Oprah stopped tape and wanted to speak w/ Whitney in private. It wasn’t until after Whitney passed that Oprah told us what it was that she wanted to gain out of their discussion or something like that. Oprah said Whitney rolled her neck a little and said, “You can ask me

  3. Penny says:

    This is a very sad time, and why it has to be public is just beyond me. I think it’s in very poor taste for anyone to invade the family’s privacy now. Shame on the media for intruding, it’s just wrong.

  4. Alicia Ana says:

    100% CORRECT. Bobbi Kristina lost her beloved mother at a very young age. I lost mine at 35, & facing marriage, and giving birth to my only child within 1.5 years, I can tell you I needed my mom more than ever. If you can’t catch the implication of brother Gary hinting at a career, read the article again. Thank you, Mr. Al-Lateef Farmer for having the guts to write what I would bet the majority of us who have suffered the loss of our mothers think. I applauded you!

  5. MyJen says:

    Wow! Sounds like someone has double standards. Oprah looking to cash in? Really? With all the money she has? Before you start pointing on people doing their jobs as cashing in you should look at this article and your job as well. So when you were writing this article you were hoping nobody would come to this site to read it?? Of course not, so by you claiming that someone is cashing in, it looks like so are you; it is your job however to write stories like this so you can also cash in; otherwise if you had a problem with Oprah you would have sent her an email. It is the media’s job to tell us what is happening around us, it would be nice for you to continue doing so without judging people who do exactly what you’re doing.

  6. EIleen says:

    Wow, such pure and utter hatred for the most part. My question is this, how can you demonize Oprah for doing her job by interviewing mentally capable, consenting adults. If you hate Oprah, fine, but do not make her a wrong doer in this situation, everyone had a choice as to whether or not to participate. Bobbi Kristina is 19, men go off to war and die at that age, she may be young but she isn’t mindless. Every one is entitled to their opinion, but cheapening your opinions with such obvious venom is really uncalled for. Oprah haters listen up, when is someone a has been, at what age. Was Whitney a has been at 48 years old? Not in my opinion, they both still had/have a whole lot to offer the world and their number of loyal fans can prove that. Who are any of you to judge so harshly.

  7. CaliGirl says:

    Oprah is need of money? Really?! You do know, she is the richest women on the planet, and among the top richest people in the world? So please with your “starving for rating”. That woman could lose all of her network and TV productions and still be among the rich from all the other businesses and forms of revenue streams…

    I am not surprised that a ‘blackguy’ website has nothing positive to say about its own, I mean a black woman. I guess your perception would have been different had Diane Sawyer got the first interview with the fam? *rolling eyes*

    As for BobbiKris, she isnt new to being in the spotlight! Hello… Her mother was the most famous female R&B/POP/ICONIC singers of the twentieth century.

    This author is clueless and cant seem to put a comprehensive logical thought together.

  8. JBean says:

    I think it’s safe to say that Oprah was a close family friend of the Houston’s, and if they didn’t want to do the interview, they could have declined.

    It’s a double edged sword, because on the one hand, Oprah could be perceived as a vulture, but on the other hand, the family wasn’t forced into the interview, and they were able to squash rumors about Whitney that had been circling around her death.

    Of course it’s going to help Oprah’s ratings, but if anyone was going to get the first interview with them, it would be her.

    I think this article is negatively skewed, and we can all sit here and speculate, but truly, the bottom line is, the family choose to do the interview to get some of their emotions out there, and if this helps them to grieve, so be it.

    PS: There is absolutely nothing wrong with Whitney’s brother saying he’ll miss singing duets with her. Did you not see the way he broke down crying when he was signing the final song? That is the most outrageous piece of this article, and beyond judgmental.

  9. Deeann D. Mathews says:

    I didn’t tune in, and was glad I didn’t… praying for Bobbi Kristina and the family…

  10. Authoritync says:

    I AGREE 100%. IT WAS CLEAR TO ME WHAT OPRAHS MOTIVES WERE AND IT PAID OFF. OPRAHS NETWORK IS FAILING AND SHE KNEW THIS WOULD BRING IN VIEWERS.

  11. LadyGwenavere says:

    It’s still amazes me how someone can be so one sided on an issue. It is the Houston family’s right to speak to whomever they choose on their loss. It was a huge loss to the world and Oprah did a fine job interviewing them and informing Whitney’s fans on what really happened. It’s been a month yes, but let’s not forget how the media was so ugly and told many false details just to get the story out. Never thinking about the family’s feelings. Talking about swarming on someone how hideous to watch Bobbie Kristina being carried away in an emergency vehicle.

    And being so hurtful in your blogs to Oprah means…

  12. Wilma says:

    All business
    Gary: Remember, I got royalties coming. I sang backup on…
    Pat: Are u serious; lets review your statements. security guard j did not call 911 instead he exhausted himself performing cpr my ass. Exhausted? definitely not. at what point are they going to put together a time line on this bunch of crap she was un accounted for such a few moments. she was on camera… it takes a certain amount of time to fill the tub. then that little circus routine they all do when they tried to revive her… or not… the business manager said it herself exhausted. to the point of exhaustion she reiterated. I’ve done a lot of cpr I would not be exhausted breathing for someone else for 20 minutes.. I mean a bodyguard what kind of physical shape is this asshole in. who are we hiring for bodyguard these days. and don’t bug me it’s just my opinion
    Exhausted of lying. Bob brown say, gimme some more money whitney this aint crack it’s rock cocaine ha ha ha ha. cuz whitney darlin crack is whack you make too much money for us to do crafts. I don’t need love I mean I don’t need money I need is your love wit. I can just hear this load of crap of a lifestyle.
    oprah: please stop and why are you hugging bobbi kristina your distant friend child?
    especially after you ambush everyone… go in a room by yourself for 5 years an ambush the truth about why every diet you ever said now you understood your so full of bullshit oprah go away already
    sissy you can try to smart from the pain till the cows come home you will never be smart enough to figure out who you are: a pleasure victim. and whitney always calling in reminding in begging people to be there for her. poor daughter couldn’t even shack with her own step brother with whitney sleeping wIther all day all night all day all night well it did not take too long for bobbi kristina to find your way back into her step brothers arms
    totally disgusting people including boy kristina spend some of that crack money your mother borrowed from clyde and get your teeth fixed
    cold and calculated: no matter which way you come at her she talks about she will be doing the
    singing
    4 whitney from here on out

  13. Krissy says:

    I’m sorry that so many people on here are seeing only the negative. But has anyone considered that Bobbi Kristina has ALWAYS been in the spot light her entire light and that maybe just maybe that is where she feels comfortable, Also everyone grieves in their own different ways. Whether it be by themselves, With friend’s and or Family. Or is they have the means to and feel most able to grieve their own proper way, in the spot light. Be that as you may, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and please express them but always remember the people that you are trash talking do reads these and maybe just maybe you are the reason why the grieving process just became that much harder. Oprah is an amazing woman and has done so much for this world and people. She is in no way selfish, she is the most selfless woman on the face of this earth. I mean come on, She has spent time and got to know on a personal level with many different walks of life when she never truly had to. What you also need to remember is that she once also came from pretty much nothing and so when she can share her time, money, love, pretty much her entire self she is the first one there! Please just always keep in mind that these people that you are deciding to so cruelly “trash” talk have hearts, souls, feelings and a life just like you and I. Like I said it is completely preferred to state your opinion but please let your readers know that it is ONLY your opinion, nothing more nothing less. I am truly sorry to the Houston family and have nothing but uplifting prayers to them and their loved ones, But just because others have been so called “gold Diggers” or Hopped on the “Gravy Train” or whatever anyone might want to call it, does not mean that everyone else in this world will do the same. Pat Houston was her Bestfriend but First and for most her Family! Once again please please please keep in your mind always that these are real people just like you and I, Put yourself in their shoes, would you want someone making all these accusations about you and your family just like you are doing to them or would you just wish for everyone to stop with the rumors, trash talking and accusations atleast for a couple months so that your family could grieve in what ever way you chose to do so?!

    I am not posting this to anger anyone I am simply just posting my opinion and putting myself in their shoes and how I would feel if I were to read this about my family.

    God Bless You All!!:)

  14. Doris Gorgo says:

    I agree with the writer of this blog. Absolutely. Shelly: I could not have said it better! They are all riding the “gravy train”. Oprah did with Whitney’s family as she did with Michael’s family. Oprah cannot accept that she is a “has been”. Perhaps, her viewers finally realized what the real Oprah is all about. Where has true sentiment gone? Is money the only thing that matters?

  15. Judgement says:

    Wow! Very opinionated…….yet, you’ve not sited any previous incidents or scenarios to substantiate your shallow claims!

  16. 1floridagal says:

    My, this was a very negative article – especially when the writer went in on Gary Houston because he said he would miss singing duets with his sister. The last time I checked there was no mandated way to mourn or to miss something about someone. And did they not come from a singing family?! I don’t get why that shouldn’t be a fond memory. Maybe the writer missed the part where he became overcome with emotion while singing his sister’s song. Maybe the interview was to early, but I assume they agreed to it so they could lay some rumors to rest. Perhaps her family didn’t know it was too themselves because they haven’t really had much time to grieve.

  17. TheresaB says:

    Well said, Staff of MyBlackMan.com. The vultures with Oprah front and center are circling. I truly hope that someone is helping Whitney’s young daughter to cope with her mother’s passing and the vultures.

  18. I agree with Shelly, this is one stellar forum about a young girl lost in grief so vulnerable, in need of private time with someone, anyone, that truly cared enough to give Bobbi Kristina the support she needed without the sensationalism that presented itself so soon after the shock of it all. I adored Whitney Elizabeth Houston, not just for her vocal contribution globally, but she radiated presence of open and honest heart throughout her life and loved like no other entertainer. For now, all any of us can do is hope Whitney’s faith guide the right person in Krissy’s life. Al-Lateef Farmer, maybe this post will shed light and see human dignity restored.

  19. Shelly says:

    Bravo! I couldn’t have said it better myself! Did not and would not watch that shameless exploitation of a naive young girl by a desperate…what’s the word or description I seek? “has been”? Oprah needs to go sit down, enjoy her money, get up in the morning and sip tea as she watches Gayle on morning talk. She doesn’t need to prove anything! We would respect her more if the papz catch her pruning her roses rather than watching her phony “Mother O” act with a girl she hardly knows and probably cares or even less.
    Thanks for being the brave one and calling her out – everyone else is afraid to disturb that pedestal made of sand…

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