Chaka Khan blasts Clive Davis' decision to host pre-Grammy gala
Chaka Khan and Whitney Houston perform during the finale of the VH1 Divas Live at the Beacon Theatre in New York on April 13, 1999.
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Frank Micelotta/Image Direct
(CBS) Chaka Khan is speaking up about Whitney Houston, pinning blame on "dangerous people" and blasting Clive Davis for hosting his pre-Grammy party just hours after Houston's death -- in the same hotel in which she died.
"I stand on, whoever flew her out to perform at that party, should have provided someone to be there," the 58-year-old Khan said Monday during an interview on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight." "To somehow, keep the riff-raff out of the situation. To keep the dangerous people away."
Davis, who was Houston's mentor and producer, said Houston would have wanted the "music to go on" Saturday night, according to the Los Angeles Times. He told the crowd that Houston's family wanted the party to continue, adding, "I don't have to mask my emotion in front of a room full of so many dear friends. I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me for so many years."
But Khan doesn't agree with the decision to host the party.
"I thought that was complete insanity," Khan said when asked about the music mogul's decision. "And knowing Whitney I don't believe that she would've said, 'The show must go on.' She's the kind of woman who would've said, 'stop everything! I'm not going to be there.' I don't know what could motivate a person to have a party in the building where the person whose life he had influenced so enormously -- and whose life has been affected by hers. I don't understand how that party went on."
Khan, who was also supposed to appear at Davis' annual star-studded shin-dig didn't attend, saying, she was "paralyzed" after hearing about Houston's death. "I couldn't put on makeup," she said. "I couldn't get dressed."
The "I'm Every Woman" singer also argued that because of Houston's addiction history, it would have been wise to have her show up the night prior to the party instead of lingering around Los Angeles many days before -- "Especially if you have not gone in and got proper treatment and gotten your situation handled," said Khan, who has battled her own addiction problems in the past.
Khan, who was close friends with Houston, was asked to sing a tribute at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night but declined, saying it was too soon.
Everyone grieves in their own way. No right or wrong here. Ms. Khan decided not to attend which is her right and Davis decided (with Whitney's family approval) to have the party.
Chaka you're a real friend to see something a little eery about this.But I think everything happened so quickly and close to the time of the gala it would be hard to call everyone to cancel. Plus, I think they were all in shock as the general public. They should after arriving have shortened the amount of time they spent there as Whitney's body wasn't transported from there for hours.
Clive Davis is just another opportunistic user. He could have cared less for her or he would have cancelled his party. Get fatter Clive your days are numbered.
People from the musical entertainment business are seldom shocked by slimy behavior within the industry. How many young and/or poor artists and bands were lead down the path and completely taken advantage of? Ever hear the Chambers Brothers story?
That said cancelling the party makes no sense to me. After seeing what she looked like the night before...that's when someone should have intervened and that someone should been from her camp. I don't blame Davis for going on with the event...people die and the world keeps spinning. In this particular case it's clear she killed herself...like so many artists before her. The entertainment industry consumes people...it's a shame she didn't get help when she needed it.
I'm sorry, but the only one to blame is Whitney !!! I am sorry she died, but she made her decisions. And to tell people to stop a party because she died?? They shouldn't stop their lives for her.
Rather than hear just her side, what did the guests of the party think and did they know that Whitney's body was still upstairs?
By the looks of the party and the Grammys, they made it all a tribute of sorts, the "she would want us to go on" idea.
If the party had been cancelled, then everyone would have gone elsewhere - home or make their own evening out - so why not stay as a group and talk about her achievements?
I have to agree with her although I am somewhat conflicted. Having the party in the same hotel while she laid upstairs dead is just creepy and wrong. I wouldn't have had the same problem if the party was in a different venue as I understand many circumstances was in play preventing the party from being canceled altogether. Hind sight is 20-20, but, after everyone showed up to the hotel, Clive should have made an announcement explaining the situation, thanking the people for coming, and sent them home. Same goes if it was held in another venue. How those people could party is beyong me, even if the atmosphere was "somber", they should have gone home. I don't even know her personally, and I couldn't sleep that night it was such a tragedy in so many different ways.
I'm glad that Chaka Khan called Clive Davis on his justification of why he would host a party while the body of someone he supposedly cared for as a person was still in the room just floors above.
i think clive davis cared a lot for her and he knew and a lot of people including her family that whitney like to party and she wouldn.t have wanted anyone just to sit around mourning and crying she would want her death to be an awaking to all that life is joyfull because u never know when ur time is over if chaka want us just to sit around and mourn her death then that's the way she want it but i don't think whitney wanted it so don't think clive is cruel or un pationate he is just like she wanted him to b and if u go to the funeral there should be love for the girl she left behind because the sadness we show will make her sad and then what will she do, think about it chaka. I know it hurts to lose your parent i no bcause i had to bury both but they knew they were going home and it is a joyful thing to no u r ready to c god. So put on that smile for the sake of bobbi love and inbrace her like her mother would have and b careful of the words u say.
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(CBS) Chaka Khan is speaking up about Whitney Houston, pinning blame on "dangerous people" and blasting Clive Davis for hosting his pre-Grammy party just hours after Houston's death -- in the same hotel in which she died. 
That said cancelling the party makes no sense to me. After seeing what she looked like the night before...that's when someone should have intervened and that someone should been from her camp. I don't blame Davis for going on with the event...people die and the world keeps spinning. In this particular case it's clear she killed herself...like so many artists before her. The entertainment industry consumes people...it's a shame she didn't get help when she needed it.
By the looks of the party and the Grammys, they made it all a tribute of sorts, the "she would want us to go on" idea.
If the party had been cancelled, then everyone would have gone elsewhere - home or make their own evening out - so why not stay as a group and talk about her achievements?