When I initially heard that Whitney Houston passed away, I was floored. I could not believe that the woman with “the voice” was gone.
As the news of Houston’s death dominated media coverage throughout the weekend, people began talking. The things some people said were not only highly insensitive, but also blatantly disrespectful.
It is no secret that Houston had a problem with drugs. We all remember the singer’s infamous interview with Diane Sawyer where Houston boldly proclaimed “crack is whack.” We also remember the images of her when she was frightenly thin and the off-the-cuff behavior she exhibited in the past…particularly during her marriage to Bobby Brown.
Over the weekend, I heard and read people joke about all of the things I just listed and more. One person even posted “RIP Whitney…that whack crack finally caught up with you.”
Other people did precisely what we aren’t supposed to do: they judged her. A close friend of mine called Houston, selfish and a bad mother.
So while many people were either joking about Houston’s tragedy or judging her, I tried to look deeper.
I don’t think any of us can truly identify with the level of stress that many of today’s celebrities endure. When they succeed at something and they’re on top for so long, there is an expectation that they should always have high levels of success. New album sales must exceed the previous record, a new release has to do better than the one before it, celebrities have to look a certain way to properly brand themselves…the list could go on and on. I know that there are certain aspects that come with the territory of being a celebrity, but with that also comes immense pressure.
For the past few years, all we’ve heard is that Houston lost her voice, she didn’t have the ability to hit the notes that she used to. When singing is your life and you’re always criticized for it (after previously being praised), that is difficult to deal with. Who wants to hear that type of criticism all the time? I’m sure some of Houston’s abuse of drugs was simply coping mechanisms; a way to escape. I am not making excuses for her, but it does put things in perspective.
As much as I know that drugs and alcohol are bad and that they can result in bad things happening, I also understand that many people are addicts. Drugs and alcohol can become serious addictions, which are incredibly hard to overcome.
What is sad is that with money and fame comes power. Just like with Michael Jackson, Houston probably had people on her staff who were enablers – people who allowed her to do whatever she wanted (even if it was detrimental to her health) because they were on her payroll. There is a certain responsibility we must all take when it involves someone’s quality of life. Sometimes that means going against your boss or doing things that may not be popular.
My heart goes out to Houston’s daughter. The two seemed to be incredibly close. I pray that 18-year-old Bobbi Kristina is able to better deal with her loss in time. To lose a parent at such a young age is heart wrenching. Now is the time for her support team to hold her close and equip her with the necessary tools to properly grieve, but also lead a healthy life moving forward.
While we don’t yet know the exact cause of Houston’s death, we should all look at it as a wake-up call. Life is not promised and it can be short. Let’s do all we can to lead healthier, more spiritually-filled lives.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
