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Showbiz Tonight
Whitney`s Funeral Family Feud; Janet Jackson`s Advice to Bobbi Kristina; Whitney`s Blame Game; Chris Brown Grammy Controversy
Aired February 15, 2012 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, SHOWBIZ HOST: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - - the funeral family feud. Tonight, is Whitney Houston`s family really trying to ban her ex-husband, Bobby Brown, from her funeral?
And the disturbing news today that their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, may be caught in the middle of the feud. Tonight, our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint -- should Bobby really be shut out?
Bobbi Kristina`s heartbreaking struggle. Tonight, Janet Jackson`s powerful words for Whitney`s daughter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANET JACKSON, SINGER: You have to move on. You can`t hold onto that because it could be very devastating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Janet Jackson`s emotional, heartbreaking advice for Bobbi Kristina based on her own pain after the death of her brother, Michael.
The Whitney blame game about her final days. The disturbing new evidence tonight. Are police really investigating whether doctors gave Whitney dangerous prescription pills?
And is her entourage to blame for Whitney drinking at a party just two days before her death?
(SINGING)
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Thank you for watching. We`ve got big news breaking tonight. A funeral family feud?
As if all of the grief over Whitney Houston`s death is not enough, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that there is more grief tonight over whether Whitney`s family is trying to prevent her ex-husband, Bobby Brown, from attending her funeral this Saturday.
And Whitney and Bobby`s grief grief-stricken daughter, Bobbi Kristina, may be caught up in the middle of this possible family feud.
Well, it is no secret that many members of Whitney`s family blame Bobby for contributing to her fall from grace after she once ruled the music world as truly one of the greatest singers of all time, including her battles with addiction.
And now, with Whitney`s funeral days away, there were more disturbing developments today including what Bobby Brown is telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the family feud, or perhaps what he is not saying.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) The family of Whitney Houston is now preparing for the heartbreaking task of saying goodbye. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has confirmed Whitney`s funeral will be held on Saturday here at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey where a young Whitney Houston first shared her divine voice with the world.
Reps for Whitney Houston`s family tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Saturday`s services are invitation only. But the big question -- will her ex-husband, Bobby Brown, get an invite?
DAX HOLT, TMZ: Sources tell us that Whitney`s family members have been reaching out to Bobby calling him, saying, you know, "There are certain people here that don`t exactly like you, and we would rather you not be here for the funeral."
HAMMER: Will Bobby Brown be banned from Whitney`s funeral? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you this could be the next stage of grief over Whitney Houston`s death, the war over Bobby Brown.
By all accounts Bobby Brown is deeply saddened over Whitney`s death. The day it was announced, he was emotional as he took the stage with his group, New Edition.
BOBBY BROWN, WHITNEY HOUSTON`S EX-HUSBAND: I would like to say, I love you, Whitney.
HAMMER: Brown soon left the concert tour to be with his and Whitney`s 18- year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, as she plans to bury her famous mother.
HOLT: The people that we have been talking to who are close to Bobby Brown keep saying that the main reason he wants to go is to support his daughter.
HAMMER: But Bobby Brown`s funeral plans may be complicated by his relationship with his ex-wife`s family, especially Whitney`s mother, Cissy Houston.
HOLT: Our sources are telling that Cissy Houston is not a fan of Bobby Brown, that she has not liked him from the beginning.
HAMMER: Bobby`s history with Whitney`s family is reportedly almost as complicated as his relationship with Whitney was. Whitney Houston has said her time with Bobby was marked by a lot of marijuana and cocaine use.
WHITNEY HOUSTON, SINGER: One day, my mother came to my house --
HAMMER: In a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Whitney said her mother once staged an intervention to stop her drug use and dealt with Bobby very harshly.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Your mama came to your house with the sheriffs?
HOUSTON: And said it`s not worth it. She said, "If you move Bobby, they`re going to take you down. Don`t you make one move." And he stood there like he was scared.
HAMMER: Not only were there drugs in the Whitney-Bobby marriage, there was alleged abuse. In 2003, he was charged with hitting her. And now that Whitney Houston is dead, her relatives aren`t the only ones reportedly mad at Brown. Whitney Houston`s fans watched the glamorous superstar go from this to this.
HOUSTON: Crack is whack. Kiss my (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
HAMMER: During her marriage to Bobby Brown. And now that she is dead, some people are blaming him for her downward spiral.
NANCY GRACE, HOST, "THE NANCY GRACE SHOW": Everything went sideways when Brown got into the picture.
HAMMER: But is it fair for anyone, be they Whitney`s family or her fans, to blame Bobby for what happened to Whitney? Singer Jennifer Holliday tells CNN`s Piers Morgan Bobby`s not to blame for Whitney`s drug use.
JENNIFER HOLLIDAY, SINGER: We were all around a lot of drugs, and that she had -- I hate to say this. She had started before she had met Bobby Brown.
HAMMER: What does Bobby have to say about reports of a rift with Whitney`s family? Bobby Brown`s rep tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "Any reporter`s statement that does not originate from my office about Bobby Brown or his representatives is not authorized by Bobby Brown. We`re not focused on the reports, stories or false reports for that matter."
So for now, it remains to be seen if Bobby will be in New Jersey this weekend to say goodbye to his ex-wife.
HOLT: We do know that Bobby Brown is hoping for a resolution. He wants to be there for this funeral. He wants to support his daughter.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And while it is still unclear whether Bobby Brown will actually attend the funeral, late today, we did learn from sources close to the Houston family and Bobby Brown that he was never banned from attending the funeral, at least not by Cissy Houston, Whitney`s mother.
With me in New York tonight, BET correspondent, April Woodward. Also in New York, publicist and brand strategist, Marvet Britto.
Of course, we`re not going to know until the actual day of the funeral whether Bobby will actually show up. But we do have to ask this, and it`s our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, should Bobby Brown go to Whitney Houston`s funeral?
Marvet, you have ties with the Houston family. What do you think?
MARVET BRITTO, BRAND STRATEGIST: I think he absolutely should. I think this is really about what Whitney would want. And Cissy Houston is a woman of deep faith, a pillar of strength, a portrait of courage and has been for that entire family as the matriarch of the Houston family.
I don`t believe any of this one bit. I think that this is really about creating a supportive, nurturing environment, and not one of dissension.
So I don`t believe that anyone in the family would not want to show unity and show a united Houston and Brown family atmosphere for the daughter.
HAMMER: Despite the fact that we`ve heard in the past that Cissy Houston is not a big Bobby Brown fan, really from the start.
BRITTO: I don`t know that she wasn`t necessarily a Bobby Brown fan or just not a fan of what was going on in Whitney`s life at the time.
HAMMER: April, what do you think? Should he be there?
APRIL WOODARD, HOST AND CORRESPONDENT, BET: I think he definitely should be there, but I do think that there probably is some tenseness going on.
I mean, anytime you have a wedding or funeral and there are people there who have been ostracized from the family, who have been departed from the family, tend to have problems with each other.
And there are other people -- that may not be Cissy -- but there may be other people within the group or within the family that are saying, "We don`t want you here."
But I think what`s going to happen is that he`s going to have to attend. They`re going to have to invite him, and they`re going to have to pray that he doesn`t show up. I mean, that`s the best they can do.
HAMMER: Wow. Yes. And here`s the thing. You know, the sad part about all of this to me is you have Bobby Kristina, an 18-year-old who is in unspeakable grief right now dealing with all of this.
And we have heard in the past that their relationship is strained, Bobby`s and Bobbi Kristina, and we know how close Whitney and Bobbi Kristina were.
But it seems to me if, in fact, there`s sort of a movement to keep Bobby Brown out of the funeral, if Bobbi Kristina says, "You know what? I need my dad there so I can lean on him," that`s all people need to hear.
BRITTO: And that`s her parent, that`s her father. So at this point, it`s less about what everyone else thinks, what everyone else wants, and it`s what is right for the child and it`s what`s right for the child and it`s what`s right for her life moving forward.
So I think he should absolutely be there. And until -- we haven`t heard first person from him, so I think for people to make assumptions as to what the level of the relationship is, until we hear from Cissy how she feels about Bobby, I don`t think we should come to any conclusion.
HAMMER: That`s fair enough. But you guys well know what`s going on out there in the world. People are very divided over this.
BRITTO: Absolutely.
HAMMER: People have very strong feelings because they were passionate about Whitney Houston. On our Facebook wall today, we posted this subject, and people went nuts on both sides of the issue.
I want to read a few of the responses that we got. We`re just overwhelmed today. Charlene writing this, "He can be there after the funeral for Bobbi Kristina. He doesn`t need to be there. He`s no longer her husband. He`s an ex."
That`s one take. This is from Natalie, "If I was Cissy Houston, I don`t think I would want him there either. I saw how her career started spiraling out of control after she married Bobby Brown, and I`m sure the rest of the world noticed the same thing."
You know, April, Bobby and Whitney divorced five years ago.
WOODARD: Right.
HAMMER: Why do you think it is that people continually blame him for what went wrong with Whitney Houston?
WOODARD: Well, if you look at the timeline, everything, you know, looked beautiful and wonderful. We didn`t even know she was using drugs at the beginning of her career. Now, we find out she was.
And then, all of a sudden, in comes Bobby. And then we hear about this drug use and the rumors are swirling and then she admits it.
So I mean, just by the fact he was there, whether, you know, he contributed to it or not, the fact that he was there and his reputation, I think, people are saying they tend to blame Bobby.
HAMMER: It shouldn`t surprise us. All right. Marvet, April, thank you both so much for your insight. I appreciate it. So just who is to blame for Whitney Houston`s death?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you didn`t know -- if she wasn`t a star before, most of the time, you blame it on that person. You know, you don`t blame their family. You don`t blame people around them that weren`t there. So I think that, for the most part, it has to come to her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the Whitney blame game. You know, everybody is pointing the finger, but who is actually responsible for this shocking tragedy? The prescription drugs, her enablers, Whitney herself.
Plus, picking up the pieces. Wait until you hear Janet Jackson`s powerful advice for Whitney`s 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kris.
And an amazing Whitney tribute. Listen to this.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: This blew me away. Amber Riley, unbelievable. "Glee`s" incredible accidental tribute to Whitney. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT remembers the great Whitney Houston. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: More than one million Whitney Houston albums, singles sold since her death. Viola Davis opens up to Oprah about her midlife crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIOLA DAVIS, ACTRESS: I felt an emptiness. I didn`t know that success felt that way. I imagined that -- I imagined it to be more fulfilling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Wow. Tonight, the absolutely amazing and chilling accidental tribute to Whitney Houston on "Glee." That`s "Glee`s" Amber Riley right there singing what I thought was just an extraordinary cover of Whitney Houston`s "I Will Always Love You."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, that amazing tribute to Whitney Houston which actually happened quite by accident. It pure coincidence that "Glee" had already shot a performance of Whitney Houston`s iconic song only to be followed, of course, by the tragic news that Whitney had died.
In what ended up serving as a really emotional farewell to Whitney last night on "Glee," Amber Riley character, Mercedes, sings this "I Will Always Love You" and she was doing it as she was saying goodbye to her current and ex-boyfriend as part of "Glee`s" Valentine`s Day episode.
Amber also sent out a tweet in Whitney`s honor asking that she rest in peace. And I`ve got to tell you, I was sitting there on my couch as this came on. I got chills watching this last night.
And even though it wasn`t the intention to hear Amber sing, you could not help but feel the pain of the loss of Whitney Houston.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Wow. That gave me chills again. There are so many emotional tributes going out today, and they`ve really been going on every day since we heard the news of Whitney`s passing.
But what about her fans? As we now know, Whitney will be remembered and laid to rest this Saturday in a private invitation-only ceremony and burial in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
Now, there had been concerns that her millions of fans would be just shut out from the private funeral. But late today came the dramatic news that the entire world will be able to watch it on the Internet.
With me tonight in New York, April Woodard, who is a correspondent and host for BET.
And April, you and I both know a lot of people were initially very upset because they thought they might be left out of the service on Saturday.
Now, this word late today that this is going to be a worldwide event. I imagine it`s going to be a very emotional event, obviously, but I have to mention people are feeling very relieved that they can be a part of this.
WOODARD: I`m even relieved. I know that I will be outside of the church covering this. But I think people just wanted to feel connected to Whitney or connected to, you know, the passing and their grieving in their own way.
And they just want to be able to, I guess, memorialize her and see the tributes that are going to be done. There are quite a few musical tributes that are going to be done in her honor. And they just want to be a part of that.
HAMMER: And it`s going to be fascinating and so emotional just to hear the eulogies as it`s delivered. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today that Whitney Houston`s longtime friend, Marvin Winans, a member of the famous Winans family, of course, will be delivering her eulogy on Saturday.
CNN affiliate WDIB caught up with Marvin today. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me your reaction to hearing that -- to being asked to do the honors?
MARVIN WINANS, WHITNEY HOUSTON`S FRIEND: Well, you know, when I heard that Whitney was gone, I have to say I wasn`t surprised because that`s just how close our families were, as you probably heard. I would much rather have Whitney here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: As would we all. And obviously, he`s grieving, too, April. But I think the great thing that we can expect from Saturday is it certainly will be a celebration of her life and all the good things that happened to her while she was here.
WOODARD: Absolutely. I don`t think it will be somewhat ala Michael Jackson because there are going to be so many musical tributes. There are going to be so many fascinating speakers and people who are going to be able to share their personal stories with Whitney -- about Whitney.
HAMMER: Yes. And as I said, a global event. All right. April, I`ll see you out there on Saturday.
WOODARD: OK.
HAMMER: We move on to Janet Jackson`s words of wisdom for Whitney Houston`s daughter tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. JACKSON: It was hard for me. It was very, very difficult for me. I didn`t want to accept it. It`s very difficult. And you have to come to terms at some point and you have to actually give it up to God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, we have Janet`s emotional, heartbreaking advice for Bobbi Kristina. This is based on her own pain, of course, after the death of her brother, Michael.
Also, disturbing new reports tonight that police are investigating whether doctors gave Whitney dangerous prescription drugs. And there`s a big debate tonight, who is to blame for Whitney`s shocking death? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Jenny McCarthy to host new talk show launching later this year on VH1. SHOWBIZ first look: Halle Berry and fiance Olivier Martinez in "Dark Tide."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLIVIER MARTINEZ, ACTOR: I have a job offer -- a lot of money.
HALLE BERRY, ACTRESS: What can I do for you?
MARTINEZ: I`m going to offer you 100,000 euros to put me in the water with a great white shark, outside the cage.
BERRY: I`ve spent 10 years. It`s taken that long to get outside the cage.
MARTINEZ: You`re going to show us how it`s done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Adele sets the record straight. Is the Grammy golden girl really taking a hiatus after her big Grammy win the other night?
Also, stand by your woman. Why Miley Cyrus` boyfriend is now lashing out about Miley`s racy cake photos.
In a revealing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, the man who shot the video of Whitney Houston`s final performance tells all. That tops "The Buzz Today."
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive. In a brand-new interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, music executive, Steve Jones, who shot that now famous video of Whitney Houston`s final performance at a party just two days before her tragic death, is setting the record straight on what exactly happened that night.
He`s shooting down those reports which say Houston got into a fight with X Factor contestant Stacy Francis the night of the party. Check out what he told me.
STEVE JONES, MUSIC EXECUTIVE: In the VIP room downstairs, Stacy did come and introduce herself as a finalist on "X Factor." Whitney took that opportunity to speak into her life about the music industry and provide some information and some of her knowledge.
So everything was fine. I heard that when we went upstairs for the performance that something happened between the two of them.
But I was backstage capturing that exclusive footage, so I can`t speak to the conversation that took place between the two of them. But I know there was no physical altercation by any means.
Adele`s retirement? Absolutely not. Adele was just hit back at the reports that she is taking a five-year hiatus.
In a brand-new post on her blog, the singer who swept the Grammys with six awards for her album, "21," is making it clear she is still working hard, "I have a few days off now, and then it`s the Brit Awards here at home and then I`m straight into the studio. Boyyahh! Five years? More like five days."
Miley`s beau blasts her buddies. Miley Cyrus` boyfriend has just jumped to her defense. In a brand-new interview with "Details" magazine, Liam Hemsworth addresses the video that went viral of Miley at her 19th birthday party joking about smoking too much marijuana.
Liam, who first met Cyrus on the set of her movie, "The Last Song," is lashing out at Miley`s friends who leaked that private moment, "She`s in a room full of her best friends. And you have one person who comes in there and videos it. The poor girl can`t have one night where she can feel safe in her own world. It`s ridiculous."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Yes, it is a little ridiculous. Time for the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT lineup -- this is what we`ve got at the bottom of the hour for you on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Whitney blame game. You know, a lot of people are pointing fingers tonight as everyone is looking for answers in Whitney Houston`s death. Were prescription drugs to blame? Was it her entourage? Was it Whitney herself?
Also, the brand-new Chris Brown Grammy controversy. What is he doing? Wait until you hear his explosive F-bomb tweet to all his haters who still aren`t ready to forgive him for beating ex-girlfriend, Rihanna, just before the `09 Grammys. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Bradley Cooper and Chris Rock will present awards at Oscars. NBC moving forward with TV series based on fictional serial killer, Hannibal Lecter.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT -- the Whitney Houston blame game. Brand-new details about the investigation into Whitney`s death and who or what is to blame.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you didn`t know -- if she wasn`t a star before, most of the time, you blame it on that person, you know. You don`t blame their family. You don`t blame people around them that weren`t there. So I think, for the most part, it has to come to her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Was Whitney to blame for her own death, or was it her doctors, her entourage? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, who is to blame for Whitney`s sudden and tragic death?
Janet Jackson speaks out about Whitney Houston`s death and her heartbreaking at advice to daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. JACKSON: It was hard for me. It was very, very difficult for me. I didn`t want to accept it. It`s very difficult. And you have to come to terms at some point and have to actually give it up to god.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Janet Jackson opens up about losing her brother Michael and reveals how she thinks Whitney`s daughter can get through the devastating loss of her mother.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight about the Whitney Houston blame game.
The investigation into Whitney Houston`s death took a potentially disturbing new turn today with new questions raised about those prescription drugs that were found the Beverly Hills hotel room where Whitney Houston died.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT confirmed today the coroner`s office has issued subpoenas for Whitney Houston`s medical records. We also learned all the prescriptions in Whitney`s room were in her name.
And the coroner`s office is saying it does not appear that Whitney was doctor-shopping for drugs. So who, if anyone, is to became for what happened to Whitney Houston?
With me tonight from Hollywood, Jane Velez-Mitchell. Of course, her show can be seen every weekday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern here on HLN. Steve Jones is also in Hollywood tonight.
Steve shot the video of Whitney Houston at a pre-Grammy party in a Hollywood nightclub two nights before her death. It was Whitney`s last public appearance and performance. Steve is a brand management executive in the music industry and CEO of VGS & L Entertainment.
So obviously, we still don`t know exactly how Whitney Houston died or whether prescription drugs had anything directly to do with her death.
And it`s still going to be weeks before we get the results of those toxicology tests. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you this possible investigation into the doctors and the pharmacists rings really all too familiar.
We saw it first happen with Anna Nicole Smith and the conviction of the doctor who prescribed her drugs. We saw it again with Michael Jackson -- of course, Conrad Murray, guilty of involuntary manslaughter for giving Michael propofol.
Jane, it is impossible to ignore these parallels, isn`t it?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Absolutely. And here`s the thing. Oh, the coroner is saying no signs of doctor shopping, no signs of criminality.
It doesn`t have been to be doctor shopping or criminality. A couple of pills taken with alcohol that are not supposed to be taken can unfortunately be fatal.
You`re playing with fire, especially a close family friend told CNN that she was -- Whitney Houston was taking Xanax for anxiety, as an anti- anxiety.
And we know that she was drinking a couple of nights before and there were reports that there was a beer bottle and champagne bottle in her room.
Now, I`ve done a little research on this, as a recovering alcoholic and just as a journalist, and the combination, it turns out, of Xanax and alcohol is one that is very feared. It`s called playing with fire.
Xanax, according to critics, is a highly-abused prescription drug. They even have names for it "zanies" and "planks." And it`s often taken by people to magnify the high of alcohol.
And it can cause droopy eyes, nodding out, blacking out, memory loss. And then you add alcohol, magnifying that high and you get into a tub, and wow. That, in itself -- it doesn`t even need to be an overdose.
Your body can give out especially given that she was at the doctor a couple of days before for her throat problems and possibly getting antibiotics for that.
HAMMER: Wow. I mean, it`s just -- it`s so sad to hear. And again, we don`t know that that is what caused Whitney`s death. But to think -- you know, a lot of people must imagine they are impervious to something like that happening to them.
And that`s why everybody is sort of pointing fingers right now because people want answers. One of Whitney`s closest friends, Chaka Kahn, told CNN`s Piers Morgan, to her, this is more about Whitney`s entourage and the people that were there around her when she was out there at events. Watch what Chaka said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAKA KHAN, SINGER: Whoever flew her out to perform at that party should have provided someone to be there to somehow look -- just keep the riffraff out of the situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You see, I hear that, but I also have to wonder, how realistic is that for a 48-year-old superstar? Steve, you were right there in the club the last night Whitney partied with her friends.
You said the champagne was just flowing that night. Do you think that Whitney`s handlers failed her? Is it even fair in your mind to blame others here?
STEVE JONES, CEO, VGS & L ENTERTAINMENT: I know that Whitney is her own person. We`re all responsible for our actions, so responsibility does have to go first with the person.
However, as a music industry exec, as I shared with you yesterday, you know, it`s essential, your team who you have around you. You hire them to protect you. You pay them monthly, OK?
So I`m expecting my team, if I`m getting a little too out there, you know, to bring me back in. And again, with the champagne flowing with her history -- again, she is a legend. I honor her. There`s no one like Whitney Houston.
However, with her recorded reports and incidents, she was in recovery. It would be essential for her team to protect her in vulnerable moments like this, so I do agree with Chaka Khan.
HAMMER: Yes. You know, Steve -- and I hear you, but then I go back to the place of, you know, "I`m working for Whitney Houston. She is paying me. I want to stay on that payroll. I`m giving Whitney Houston what she wants, or I`m not taking away from her what she wants."
I`m not saying I would personally do that. I would have probably stepped in there and said, "Whitney, not a good idea." But I`m just trying to get in the mindset of these people who are around her.
And let me get your take on that, Jane, as someone who has been, you know, very candid about your own addictions. Is it even realistic to think that if Whitney was assigned a hand-holder that night, that person could have kept her from drinking champagne if that`s what Whitney Houston wanted to do?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Listen, a former bodyguard talked to ABC News and said they would never let her in the tub. They monitored her showers making sure she was never in the shower more than seven minutes.
He said he ultimately left that job because he felt like he was fighting an impossible war. And so ultimately, it comes down to the individuals themselves. It`s very hard to stop somebody who is in their disease and who wants to use whether it`s alcohol or drugs from doing that.
They find ways around it. They`re not always candid. They often lie and say, "I`m not doing it." So it can be very, very difficult. And as you mentioned, if they`re on the payroll, they don`t want to enrage the person by confronting them.
HAMMER: And Steve, this was a pre-Grammy party. So I imagine this club was filled with entertainers. They were there to see the performance. They got a bonus when Whitney got on stage.
I imagine though that the vibe completely changed with all of the stars that may have been here. You have Whitney Houston walk in the room, a living legend. She comes in. I imagine that drew the attention right out of the room and directly on her, doesn`t it?
JONES: Absolutely. She knew all eyes were on her, and she was having a wonderful night. Now, it wasn`t crazy, out-of-norm behavior. You know she was high energy as I said yesterday.
However, I want to speak to the fact of being on payroll. It comes down to the fact of integrity. Do you want integrity in your business and protect the name of your client, or do you just want a check? If you`re in the industry for money, you know, I understand.
However, I challenge all executives to have integrity and let`s have a sense of accountability come out of her death, A.J., if you know what I mean.
Let`s all get together and think of ways and have a think-tank to talk about it. We don`t want this to happen again. It`s happened with Michael. It`s happened with Whitney, so many people.
Where does the level of integrity come in and where`s the accountability amongst the industry executives? What happened to just say no in the `80s? Can we do something to bring it back?
I understand what you guys are saying. However, it does fall with the music executives. We have to take responsibility and we have to look out for our clientele. And that particular night, things could have been done that this did not have to happen.
HAMMER: Yes. And sadly, every time it does happen, we always say, "Let`s keep it from happening again," and then it happens again. Gosh, I hope this is the really the last time.
JONES: It happens again.
HAMMER: I really, really do hope that people learn a big lesson here because it`s a pretty loud statement. Got to leave it there. Steve Jones, Jane Velez-Mitchell, thank you both.
Well, no matter who is to blame for Whitney`s death, a young woman has now lost her mother. And tonight, Janet Jackson has an incredible advice for Whitney`s daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. JACKSON: It was hard for me. It was very, very difficult for me. I didn`t want to accept it. It`s very difficult it. And you have to come to terms at point. You have to actually give it up to God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Janet Jackson opens up about losing her brother Michael and about why she thinks young Bobbi Kristina can get through the devastating loss of her mother.
Also, this blows me away, a brand-new Chris Brown Grammy controversy. Brown firing back at on Twitter at the stars and critics who are still slamming him for beating Rihanna three years ago. I`ve got to ask, did his Twitter rant do more harm than good? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "Gossip Girl" star, Blake Lively, granted restraining order against obsessed fan. Taylor Swift tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what she`s working on for her next album.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR SWIFT, SINGER: You know, I`ve been working on a new record for the last year and a half so I`m always doing that. I like to keep people guessing when I put out a new record and especially with this one. Something about this one feels different. It`s hard to say how.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, we have Janet Jackson`s touching words of wisdom.
Janet Jackson obviously knows what it`s like to lose somebody very close to her. She went through an unbelievable tragedy, of course, losing her brother Michael back in 2009.
And now, she`s sharing her thoughts about Whitney Houston`s death with Anderson Cooper on his show, "Anderson." I want you to listen to this very moving interview. Janet gives heart-wrenching advice to Whitney`s daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON": What advice do you have for her family, for her kid?
J. JACKSON: For her --
COOPER: For her child?
J. JACKSON: It`s a very, very tough time. I mean, it`s -- even though -- it`s still a loss. I lost my brother. She lost her mother. There`s still a difference, even though it`s still a loss from the family.
So I can`t truly -- I don`t truly know what that is like, and being so young. But it was hard for me. It was very, very difficult for me. I didn`t want to accept it. It`s very difficult, and you have to come to terms at some point. You have to actually give it up to God.
And it sounds so mean, but you have to move on. You can`t hold onto that, because it can be very devastating. And sometimes, therapy is the best thing.
COOPER: And TV people always use that word "closure" when they`re talking about loss. And as someone who has lost family members as well, I don`t think there is such a thing as closure. I think that`s a made-up TV word.
J. JACKSON: No. I don`t think there is either, but you have to go on with life. You figure out a way to move on with life, but it would always -- it`s always right there.
And there`s never a day that where I don`t think about -- not one day has gone by where I don`t think about my brother. And my other brothers and sisters have said the same thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. So powerful hearing that from Janet Jackson. And to see that entire interview, make sure you tune in to "Anderson" on February 20th. And I`ve got to say I give Janet a lot of credit for being so open about such a painful time in her life. It`s not like it just goes away because it has been a couple of years.
Joining me from Atlanta right now, actress Kim Fields, who is starring in GMC TV`s original movie, "A Cross to Bear." Great to have you here, Kim. With us in New York tonight, Marvet Britto, entertainment PR and brand strategist, who knew Whitney and the Houston family.
You know, Janet obviously coming from, as I said, a huge place of experience, having lost her brother, Michael, over two years ago. Janet has had some time to process Michael`s death. Whitney`s death obviously is still so very raw.
But Marvet, what do you think it`s going to take for Bobbi Kristina to get to that place that Janet is talking about, where she can live her life without her mom in a healthy way?
Because it`s different obviously than what Janet had gone through losing a brother. This is her mother and somebody who is arguably one of her best friends.
BRITTO: And it was the person who was her guiding light, the person who she really depended on to lead her, to teach her, to nurture her.
So I think it`s definitely different than losing a brother, but I think that, really, she`s going to have to rely on the Houston family, the Brown family, and be really incubated by people who love her and really also depend on her faith. I mean, everyone knows that Whitney was brought up in the church and that the family has a strong foundation --
HAMMER: Really strong, yes.
BRITTO: A really strong foundation in God. And I know that that will play a large part in really guiding her through this difficult journey. It`s very difficult with a parent, so it`s really hard.
HAMMER: Yes. Unfortunately, there are other challenges and pressures as well. Bobbi Kristina has grown up in the public eye. We all remember seeing those films and video of a very young Bobbi Kristina.
And Kim, you know what that`s like. Of course, you starred on "The Facts of Life." You were in the spotlight when you were a kid. Now, all eyes are on Bobbi Kristina. I have to imagine that really will have an impact on the way Bobbi Kristina will be able to deal with this unimaginable loss.
KIM FIELDS, ACTRESS: It absolutely is a very crucial time for her, quite honestly. Again, like Janet was saying, you know, I`ve not experienced loss of a parent, loss of my mother.
But at the same time, it is extraordinarily difficult growing up in a fishbowl. And unless you`ve got that incubation, as you mentioned, where you are surrounded with love and faith and prayer and wisdom and not just about celebrating all of the wonderful accomplishments and the gifts that Whitney had, but also learning from the life so that -- you know, right now, Bobbi Kristina is at such a -- it could go either way for her, you know.
And our prayer is that she is able to get to that point, as Janet mentioned, where not only are you able to move on with that love and is that strength and that presence of your loved one with you, but also moving on in a healthy place where you`re able to say, "This is what happened, and here`s how I can, at some point, become stronger and better and wiser from it."
HAMMER: Yes. And do it in a way where she can live her life as a normal 18-year-old. But again, going back to the point of all of the attention from everybody who wants to know how she`s doing and wants to see her and everybody who`s going to be demanding of her time.
Marvet, you know, you mentioned the word "incubate," and I think really to the point of being around family members and close friends. But I hate the idea that she`s probably going to have to be isolated as well.
BRITTO: Well, it`s going to be difficult for her, because she`s at such an impressionable age. And she`s really going to have to initially deal with the pain of the loss before she can ever begin to try to heal from the loss.
So "incubated" means simply that, you know, there will be a lot of people pulling and interested in talking to her. And it will be hard for her to integrate back even into a school environment or an environment with friends.
HAMMER: Yes.
BRITTO: So I think it will be important for her to be around people who can give her great counsel, great wisdom and, most of all, love. I think she needs to feel the love and the support from family and friends that she will definitely need during this time.
HAMMER: Kim, let me ask you very quickly. What would you say to Bobbi Kristina right now?
FIELDS: Just stay connected. Stay connected to God. Stay connected to your family and your friends, really create that gatekeeper system in terms of what you let in and out of your own psyche at this time.
Right now, you`re so impressionable and going through some much, and making sure you remember your own gifts and bless your family with that when you are at a point realistically to do that.
HAMMER: Great advice. Marvet Britto, Kim Fields, thank you so much. And make sure you check out Kim in her new movie. It`s called "A Cross to Bear." It will be on GMC this Saturday night. Thanks again.
FIELDS: Thanks.
HAMMER: Well, we move on now to a brand-new Chris Brown Grammy controversy. I don`t know what is up with Chris. He`s firing back on Twitter at stars and critics who are still slamming him for beating Rihanna three years ago. Did he really have to add fuel to the fire? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "The Vow" earns $11.6 million yesterday, breaking Valentine`s Day film record. Khloe Kardashian says Kim felt guilty after splitting from husband Kris Humphries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KHLOE KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: I don`t think Kim regrets it. I know how guilty and how bad she felt. When she was having doubts about her marriage or questioning things, I do know how she guilty she felt like, "I can`t believe I did all of this, and I took everyone on this ride." And I was like, "But you can`t live your life for everybody."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Chris Brown`s Grammy tweet controversy. Chris nearly got away with a clean comeback to the Grammy stage three years after he assaulted his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. He performed twice and even won a Grammy.
But when stars and other critics slammed his return, Chris shot right back with a fiery tweet. Was that a bad move?
With me right now in New York, entertainment PR and brand strategist, Marvet Britto.
So let me read this tweet. It was captured by "The Huffington Post." Chris fired this off and then it got deleted. But fortunately, "Huff Po" was on it and they put it up.
Here`s what he said. "Hate all you want because I got a Grammy now! That`s the ultimate (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off."
You know, what Chris? Time to man up. Time to rise up. You`re a grown man now. You look like an ass when you lash out like that.
Marvet, honestly, as long as he feels the need to speak out, should he not just say something appreciative and leave it at that? I mean, come on.
BRITTO: I think he should. I think that, really, he has to be more mature about the situation. I`m sure he`s still hurt that he`s not accepted for his performances and people still look at the unfortunate situation that took place between him and Rihanna.
HAMMER: Unfortunate? He beat a woman up.
BRITTO: Well, it was, but he`s young and he made a mistake. And I think he should be allowed to redeem himself without --
HAMMER: I agree.
BRITTO: So therefore, I think he should just perform.
HAMMER: Yes.
BRITTO: And he should not fuel people`s perception of him or fuel people`s like or dislike for him. He should just stay laser-focused on really performing and shifting people`s perception of him.
This doesn`t help matters when people have negative things to say and then he comes out and lashes people`s opinions. So it`s not the best way for him to reposition himself.
HAMMER: It is amazing to me he does not have somebody in his camp to simply take the computer or phone away from him so he doesn`t do this. We saw this happen before. I fear we`re going to see it happen again. Hopefully, he`s getting the message this time loud and clear. Marvet, I thank you.
Well, let`s move on to Kim Kardashian? What do you think? Should she be a surrogate mom? You`re not going to believe what Kim just revealed about possibly having her sister`s baby. But will she do it? Will Kim be the surrogate? I`ll tell you what Kim said, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: So will Kim Kardashian be a surrogate mom for Khloe Kardashian? Well, maybe. Kim actually just opened up with a brand-new issue of "Allure" about this. And she said that she and her sister kind of joked about it.
Here`s what she tells the magazine, "Khloe joked and said, `Will you be my surrogate?` I said, `I think I have a couple more years when I just want my body to myself. At 35, I promise I`ll consider it.`"
Kim also says in the interview that she`s going to be more cautious about sharing her relationship with the world once she finds someone new. Good move, Kim. Kim Kardashian`s interview with "Allure" will be on newsstands on Tuesday.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively weeknights. We`re on at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
Stay right here for "DR. DREW," next. Tonight, Dr. Drew answering your questions and asking where did Whitney get her prescription medication? That starts right now.
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