Pat Houston, Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law and former manager, has publicly denied Oprah Winfrey’s account that the late singer was under the influence of drugs during a 2009 performance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” In a statement posted to Instagram on Tuesday, Pat Houston, who also serves as executor of Houston’s estate, pushed back against Winfrey’s description of the incident, which recently went viral after Winfrey shared it at the Cannes Lions festival.
“Whitney absolutely fell off stage, but it was during a sound check and it was due to the darkness of the area and her unfamiliarity with the stage. She was absolutely not high,” Pat Houston wrote. She emphasized that while Houston faced personal battles, it is “inaccurate and unfair” to attribute every struggle to every performance. “What the studio audience witnessed on stage was the result of discipline, talent, and commitment not the assumptions others project,” she continued.
Oprah’s Account of the Incident
During a June 2026 appearance at Cannes Lions, where she received the LionHeart Award, Winfrey recounted the 2009 episode. She said Houston was “clean” for the interview portion of the show, which promoted her final studio album “I Look to You.” However, when Houston returned for a live performance, Winfrey claimed the singer “had gone back on drugs” and “fell off of the stage.” Winfrey said she begged the audience not to share photos or videos, fearing it would “ruin her life,” and they complied. “That would not happen today, I can tell you that,” she added.
Mixed Reactions to Winfrey’s Remarks
Winfrey’s comments sparked debate online. Some criticized her for sharing the story years later, with one commenter writing, “But what’s the point on saying that now? Why? Allow her to rest in peace.” Others defended Winfrey, suggesting that publicizing the fall might have led Houston to seek help. Houston died in 2012 at age 48; an autopsy ruled her death an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.
Pat Houston’s statement underscores the family’s desire to protect Houston’s legacy. “We owe her the dignity of telling the truth not repeating myths,” she concluded.
