The National Enquirer Publishes Open Casket Photo of Whitney Houston
Larry Busacca, Getty Images
There’s tacky and then there is just plain wrong. The latter is certainly the case for famed supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer, which published a photo of the late Whitney Houston laying in her open casket on the cover of this week’s issue.
Exactly how the tab got its mitts on such a private photo of Houston, who died Feb. 11 at the age of 48 in Los Angeles, is a matter of speculation. What’s less a matter of conjecture is whether or not the publication crossed the line. We think so. If this photo is indeed real, it’s private and not for the world to see. The family already let the media and her fans share in her funeral, but this photo is something we don’t need nor do we deserve to see.
The photo, which you can view below at your own discretion, is accompanied by the “Whitney: Last Photo!” tag. The image features the ‘Greatest Love of All’ singer in her casket. The cream-hued lining boasts music symbols and her nickname Nippy, which is how many who attended and spoke at her funeral last week referred to her while memorializing and eulogizing her. It looks to be stitched in purple.
Houston is draped in a purple dress, wearing dark eye makeup and shimmery pink lipstick. Her hair is pulled back, with bangs skimming her forehead.
Her look is completed by jewelry.
The tab claims that Houston was buried while wearing $500,000 worth of jewels, gold slippers and her favorite dress.
Controversy has arisen over the legitimacy of the photo, exactly who submitted the photo and if it was approved on any level. Was it a member of her family? Her entourage? It’s not likely, especially since a public memorial was eschewed in favor of a private one on Friday (Feb. 17.) It’s likely that whomever took and submitted the photo pocketed a nice chunk of change for doing so. It’s also incredibly disrespectful to Houston and her mourning family.
There is no photo credit, nor has a rep for the family come forth to dispute its authenticity, according to the LA Times.
