Whitney Houston’s fall on Oprah Winfrey’s stage was not caused by drugs, according to the bodyguard who says he watched it happen.
Ray Watson, Houston’s longtime personal bodyguard, spoke with TMZ’s Charlie Neff about the singer’s 2009 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she took a tumble onstage.
According to Watson, the singer was moving toward the front of the stage when she stepped into the wrong spot. He said the edge was poorly lit, and although someone tried to warn Houston, she went down before she could stop herself.
That is not the same account Oprah has given. TMZ reported that Winfrey has said Houston was “high as a kite” when she fell. Watson rejected that idea and revealed that he said he was there and believed the fall was caused by the stage setup, not Houston’s condition. He also said Houston did not appear crushed by the moment and laughed it off afterward.
Houston’s estate has also objected to the drug-related account, placing blame on the “poorly lit stage.”
Watson worked with Houston for more than 12 years and was the first person to discover her body after her death in 2012 and also told the news platform that he does not think Winfrey needs to apologize to Houston’s loved ones or fans unless the apology would be genuine.