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whitney houston death
The 911 call made following the discovery of Whitney Houston’s body at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11 has been released.
Whitney Houston drowned in her bath tub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at the age of 48 in what was later reported to be brought about by a drug overdose.
In the 911 call recording obtained by TMZ the caller identifies himself as a member of the Beverly Hilton security team and informs the operator about a “46-year-old female found in the bathroom” and requests for paramedics to come immediately to the scene.
“I’m not sure if she fell or if she was in the bathroom with the water,” he adds.
“Apparently she wasn’t breathing and she’s 46 years old. The person who called me was irate and I couldn’t get much out of her,” the caller said, referencing an original notification received by Beverly Hilton staff from an unknown woman who repeatedly hung up before giving requested information.
The 911 call made following the discovery of Whitney Houston's body at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11 has been released
The security member, who never identifies Whitney Houston by name, told the operator he was under the impression the woman was not breathing.
The 911 agent says emergency personnel would be dispatched to the hotel ASAP.
According to the final autopsy report, Whitney Houston’s official cause of death was “accidental drowning,” but heart disease and cocaine use were contributing factors.
Police concluded the investigation into Whitney Houston’s death yesterday and determined that no crime had been committed.
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Sony Pictures has released the first trailer for Whitney Houston’s final movie, Sparkle, which hits theaters on August 17.
Jordin Sparks takes on the lead role as Sparkle Williams, a singer from Detroit who teams up with her two siblings Sister (Carmen Ejogo) and Dolores (Tika Sumpter) to form a girl group during the Motown era.
Sparkle is loosely inspired by the story of Diana Ross’s The Supremes and is a remake of the 1976 film of the same name.
Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks in Sparkle
Whitney Houston, who tragically died on February 11 this year, plays the girls’ mother, Emma, and also served as a producer on the movie.
Whitney Houston’s final recordings – a version of gospel classic His Eye is on the Sparrow and Celebrate, written by R Kelly and performed with Jordin Sparks – will feature in the musical drama.
Sparkle is Whitney Houston’s fourth feature film, following The Bodyguard (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher’s Wife.
Cee Lo Green and Derek Luke also star in director Salim Akil’s Sparkle, which opens in the US on August 17 and October 5 in the UK.
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New reports claim that Beverly Hills detectives did recover cocaine from Whitney Houston’s hotel room after her death.
Official documents reveal “white powdery remnants” were found in Whitney Houston’s suite at the Beverly Hilton hotel and tested positive for the illegal drug, according to TMZ.
Initially it was claimed no illegal substances were discovered, however the celebrity website says sources were initially unaware cocaine was present.
TMZ further claims that Beverly Hills detectives are not investigating claims cocaine was removed from the room.
The website reports: “Cops are not focusing on anyone who possibly removed cocaine, because authorities are in possession of the goods.”
Beverly Hills detectives did recover cocaine from Whitney Houston's hotel room after her death
Cocaine was listed as a contributory factor in Whitney Houston’s February 11th death. The official cause of death was accidental drowning after she was found dead in the bathtub.
On Thursday, RadarOnline reported that police wanted to talk to Whitney Houston’s associate Raffles Van Exel after he made claims he cleared the singer’s hotel room before police arrived to the death scene.
A source told the website: “The [Houston] family has been extremely cooperative and they have been told that investigators want to speak to Raffles Van Exel about allegedly removing evidence from Whitney’s hotel room.
“The cops want to know who provided Whitney with the cocaine, but if someone tampered with the death scene, well, that could be against the law in California.”
Raffles Van Exel made the revelations about clearing Whitney Houston’s room to the Dutch Telegraph newspaper, saying: “Someone had to do it.”
However, Raffles Van Exel stopped short of saying exactly what he removed from the suite, an important omission following claims cocaine had been removed from the scene.
Celebuzz also revealed Raffles Van Exel made the confession in an interview with the respected Netherlands newspaper just four days following her death, where he also said: “The room had to be emptied.”
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston’s mother, has spoken out for the first time since the star’s death to reveal she does not hold herself responsible.
Cissy Houston, 78, opened her heart to local television station My9 following almost two months of silent mourning.
While she is devastated by Whitney’s sudden passing, Cissy Houston also said there is nothing more she could have done to save her substance abusing child.
In the interview, which airs on Monday, the elderly gospel singer said: “I know I did the best I could.
“I don’t blame myself. I know I did the best I could for everything.”
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother, has spoken out for the first time since the star's death to reveal she does not hold herself responsible
Speaking at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, Cissy Houston also said Whitney tried to help her family as much as she could.
Whitney Houston’s mother said: “My children are my whole life. She was very special to me… she was my only daughter, and a good one. [She] looked out for her family.
“I’m very proud of my daughter, she accomplished a whole lot in the short time that she had here.
“She was a very wonderful person.”
Cissy Houston spoke to the news station at the church where her 48-year-old daughter was laid to rest following her death in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11.
And she said she is still not recovered from the shock of discovering Whitney had died.
Cissy Houston, who famously appeared in the video for Whitney’s hit Greatest Love of All, said: “I have my moments.
“I’m not there yet. I don’t think I’m any more courageous than anyone else.”
“I am a true believer in God, if I could bring her back I would, but that’s not possible.”
Cissy Houston is under even more family stress at the moment, as her granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, plans to marry Nick Gordon, a longtime friend who’s known as her “adopted” brother.
According to the Star magazine, Cissy Houston vehemently disapproves of the engagement.
Bobbi Kristina Brown’s friends said she feels “lost” following Whitney Houston’s death.
Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, was admitted to hospital with stress twice in the days after Whitney Houston accidentally drowned in a hotel bath whilst under the influence of cocaine on February 11.
And with her father Bobby Brown having just been arrested for DUI, friends and family of Bobbi Kristina are said to be growing increasingly concerned about her well-being.
A source told Us Weekly: “Everyone is worried about Bobbi. Bobbi just doesn’t want anyone’s help. She’s lost.”
However, a role in Tyler Perry’s sitcom For Better Or Worse could be just the thing to help give her direction.
Bobbi Kristina Brown’s friends said she feels “lost” following Whitney Houston's death
According to RadarOnline.com, Bobbi Kristina Brown has been offered a recurring part in the show as the daughter of one of the stylists who works Angela Williams’ salon.
Bobbi Kristina Brown is also said to be drawing comfort from “adopted” brother Nick Gordon – whom Whitney Houston took in and raised as her own 10 years ago after his father was sent to jail.
Appearing to confirm their romance earlier this month, Nick Gordon tweeted: “Yeah we got a little closer and what!!!”
Bobbi Kristina Brown then fuelled speculation Nick Gordon had popped the question by wearing a ring on her wedding finger, although a spokesman for the Houston family has since denied any engagement.
Raffles van Exel is the person who leaked the casket photo of Whitney Houston, personnel at Whigham Funeral Home claimed.
Raffles van Exel isn’t anyone famous or important in the industry, he was just part of various celebrities entourages the UrbanDaily reports.
According to reports on Forbes.com, Riffles van Exel was at two private casket viewings at the funeral home. Employees of Whigham Funeral Home noticed Raffles van Exel as soon as he walked in because he was the only non-family member allowed in the private viewing. It is said he also traveled with the family from Los Angeles to New Jersey on a private jet. He was even provided with his own bodyguard.
Whigham Funeral Home personnel alerted Whitney Houston’s family of Raffles van Exel when the National Enquirer ran the leaked photo on their cover. A source said the Houstons didn’t do anything about Raffles van Exel once they learned of the funeral home’s suspicions. Some of the Whigham employees believe the family is protecting him.
Raffles van Exel is the person who leaked the casket photo of Whitney Houston, personnel at Whigham Funeral Home claimed
Despite the shock of Whitney Houston’s death, Raffles van Exel still made it downstairs to Clive Davis’s party. He was dressed in formal wear, had Whitney Houston’s tickets in his hand, and intended to sit at her table. Just inside the ballroom he was comforted by celebrities to whom he related his story: “I found Whitney.”
Gayle King hugged him. Quincy Jones listened patiently to his story. A security guard said later: “Well, he was up there.” He was also hanging around with Whitney Houston all week prior to her death. On Tuesday when she emerged from a nightclub, looking disheveled, Raffles van Exel appears in a photograph on TMZ like a deer in headlights. He is standing right behind Whitney Houston in a powder blue suit.
Raffles van Exel took Twitter and wrote: “STOP reading the stupid blogs.. Whitney had a great time, she looked amazing. Nothing was wrong, it was just DAMN hot in that club.”
But who is Raffles van Exel?
Raffles van Exel is one of Hollywood’s mysteries. He was first seen in 2005 hanging around the Jackson family during Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial.
After Michael Jackson went abroad, Raffles van Exel was often seen with Michael’s father, Joseph Jackson. He trades on being an “insider” when there’s a scandal. No one really knows him, but he’s always where there’s action and celebrities.
On the internet, Raffles van Exel claims to own a number of companies including Raffles Entertainment.
He was also been sued a couple of times, once by a partner in something called Max Records, Inc., and once by a private aviation company in Los Angeles.
On Twitter Raffles van Exel claims to be managing Chaka Khan. There are plenty of pictures of him on the internet with celebrities.
Raffles van Exel can be seen with everyone from Magic Johnson to Sandra Bullock.
Raffles van Exel came forward, claiming that he wiped Whitney Houston’s hotel room clean of any evidence that would lead to suspicion of illegal activity, Celebuzz reported.
According to a translation of Dutch newspaper The Telegraph, Raffles van Exel came forward four days after Whitney Houston’s death, admitting that he cleaned her hotel room, although he has not revealed what exactly he removed from the scene.
“The room had to be emptied,” Raffles Van Exel, who calls himself a “highly respected entertainment consultant,” told The Telegraph.
“Someone had to do it,” Raffles van Exel told the newspaper.
Raffles Van Exel stopped short of telling The Telegraph what exactly he removed from the suite.
Last week, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office declared whitney Houston, 48, died from an accidental drowning in a hotel bathtub with the “effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.”
Sources tell Celebuzz that Beverly Hills police are still investigating how Whitney Houston acquired the drugs that contributed to her death and whether they were hidden from police and first responders.
Raffles van Exel came forward four days after Whitney Houston's death, admitting that he cleaned her hotel room, although he has not revealed what exactly he removed from the scene
No cocaine or drug paraphernalia were found in the suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
However, Whitney Houston’s cocaine use appeared to have occurred “in the time period just immediately prior to her collapse in the bathtub at the hotel,” Chief Coroner Craig Harvey said when he announced the findings of his report, last week.
“[Houston’s case] is still an open investigation for us… I can’t disclose any details about the investigation,” BHPD Lt. Mark Rosen told People on March 23.
In various media released, Raffles Van Exel, a Dutch national, touts himself as a “highly respected entertainment consultant” who has “guided some of the world’s most acclaimed executives and celebrities.”
Whitney Houston’s bodyguard found the singer unresponsive in her hotel bathtub on Feb. 11. Since her passing, the headlines have focused on Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, who is rumored to be carrying on a romantic relationship with unofficially adopted brother, Nick Gordon.
Whitney Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown has also been at the center of much media scrutiny, most recently he was arrested and released later for an alleged DUI in Los Angeles on Monday.
Whitney Houston died in accidental drowning, but drug abuse and heart disease were also factors, Los Angeles coroner has ruled today.
Coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey said drug tests indicated Whitney Houston was a chronic cocaine user.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation over the cause of Whitney Houston’s death.
Whitney Houston was found submerged in the bath of her Los Angeles hotel room on the eve of the Grammy Awards on February 11.
In a statement, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office described Whitney Houston’s manner of death as an “accident”, adding that “no trauma or foul play is suspected”.
Whitney Houston’s cause of death was cited as drowning and “effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use”.
Whitney Houston died in accidental drowning, but drug abuse and heart disease were also factors
Other drugs found in her blood included marijuana, as well as Xanax (anti-anxiety) drug, Flexeril (muscle relaxant) and Benadryl (allergy medication).
But these were not factors in her death, the coroner’s statement said.
Immediately after the death, it was widely thought that drinking binges combined with prescription pills combined to make the star lose consciousness and slip under the bathwater.
But the toxicology tests did not show any significant amount of alcohol in Whitney Houston’s system.
Patricia Houston, the singer’s sister-in-law and manager, told the Associated Press news agency: “We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure.”
Whitney Houston was laid to rest at a cemetery in her home state of New Jersey after a funeral that was attended by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige.
Whitney Houston, who was one of the world’s best selling artists from the mid-1980s to late 1990s, had a long battle with drug addiction.
Dionne Warwick is opening up about the death of her cousin Whitney Houston, revealing to ABC’s Good Morning America that she spoke to the pop superstar the day she died.
Dionne Warwick, 71, said she felt Whitney Houston “had everything in the world to live for”.
“I spoke to Whitney the day that she passed,” Dionne Warwick GMA’s Robin Roberts on Thursday.
“I spoke to her that morning. She said, <<You’re here, aren’t you? You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?>> I said, <<Yeah, I’m going to be there>> and she said, <<Thank you, I want you to be here. You’ve got to be here for me.>>”
Dionne Warwick said she felt her cousin Whitney Houston "had everything in the world to live for"
“I spoke to her that afternoon once I landed in L.A. and that was it,” Dionne Warwick revealed.
“She was so up and ready and happy. She had everything in the world to live for. She had a new film that was an absolute dream to make and do. She was getting ready to go back into the studio to record. She was getting her vocals together.”
Dionne Warwick said she is still struggling to cope with the untimely death of her cousin Whitney Houston, whom she called “the little girl I never had”.
“It’s very, very surreal. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I have not had an opportunity to really mourn or completely break down, which I will do, I know that.”
