The National Enquirer sparks outrage with Whitney Houston open-casket photo

By: Lauren Moraski
Topics: Celebrity

The hearse carrying the body of singer Whitney Houston leaves the Whigham Funeral Home on Feb. 18, 2012 in Newark, N.J., en route to a private funeral at the New Hope Baptist Church.

(Credit: Getty Images)

(CBS) The National Enquirer is causing a stir after publishing a photo purported to be Whitney Houston in an open casket.

The cover image sits alongside the caption: "Whitney: The Last Photo! Inside Her Private Viewing."

Complete Coverage: Death of a pop diva
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It's a bold move even for the Enquirer, especially considering the tight constraints Houston's family put on the media during the late singer's wake and funeral. Several media outlets have since re-posted the magazine shot online.

The photo was reportedly taken at the Whigham Funeral Home in New Jersey. It's unclear how the Enquirer obtained the still-unverified shot.

In the image, Houston is seen in a purple dress with a brooch pinned to her chest. According to the Enquirer headline, the singer was buried wearing $500,000 worth of jewelry with gold slippers on her feet.

Since its publication on Wednesday, the photo has ignited an outrage against the tabloid on Facebook and Twitter.

In response to the reaction, publisher Mary Beth Wright told FoxNews.com, "I thought it was beautiful," referring to the photo.

Still, it's not the first time the Enquirer has shocked readers. In 1977, it published a picture of Elvis Presley in his casket. Three years later, the magazine followed suit after John Lennon's assassination.

Houston was laid to rest on Saturday in her hometown of Newark, N.J. -- a week after she was found dead in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton. She was 48.

Tell us: Do you think the National Enquirer crossed the line?

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by Robert_M1 February 24, 2012 8:21 PM EST: I thought Elvis was still alive? Whitney Houston may she RIP. It's hard for me to believe she was buried wearing $500,000 in jewerly. I hope the copper thieves that have been stealing copper all over the place don't get to her grave. Hope her grave is secured.; Reply to this comment


by jrespondek February 24, 2012 1:44 PM EST: I have to say that given the significance of the deaths of performers such as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and many others that influenced many generations.
That it is understandable for many fans to want to see the performers in repose as their final chance to say good bye to one of the lifetime Icons.
Tho it may seem somewhat heartless, I bet that even some of those criticizing the photo have gone out and bought a copy to always remember an American Princess laid to her eternal sleep.
Who won't miss the music that was and might have been to come we have lost a light and it is ok to hurt, to mourn and to want to have a final picture of good bye.; Reply to this comment


by HHileman February 24, 2012 12:46 PM EST: I think this is a glaring example of just how corrupt the media has become. It's obvious that this picture was taken secretly! Has anyone given any thought to how her daughter must feel when she sees this picture?
I speak from personal experience. When my dad passed away a few years ago I foolishly agreed to allow a person to take photos of my dad in his casket. I thought there would be no harm done and that "everyone grieves in their own way." The problem wasn't in the fact that she took the pictures - it was that she had them on her computer and on more than one occasion the photo was mistakenly plastered across her screen. The shock isn't from the image itself but from what the image represents. That was the hardest time in my life and I'm not sure I could ever be able to explain the feelings loss/heartbreak/abandonment/pain that I felt.
My point is that NOBODY should get the right to force you to relive the period of time. Now Whitney's family can't even go to the grocery store without this constant reminder of the pain of losing someone.
I suppose some people might not ever be able to understand that feeling - not unless you've lost a parent - but it's that actual FEELING that makes this photo a disgrace.
I wonder how the photographer of such a despicable photo sleeps at night?; Reply to this comment


by 0ofarley February 24, 2012 10:26 AM EST: If the family felt it okay to release it then it is fine. Our culture has sterilized death to the point where we only see it as a violent if we see it at all. She may have died prematurely but she is a human being who we can morn respectfully and a photo such as this should not be precieved and morbid, it is death, it's part of the natural world and awaits us all. R.I.P Whitney.; Reply to this comment

by RichardAWelch February 24, 2012 9:16 AM EST

Such a photo should only have been released by the family. However, I can clearly see why it happened. I totally agree with bringing Whitney home to her childhood neighborhood and church for her funeral and burial. However, be it Newark, New Jersey or any other smaller city or town.. they simply do not have the security or safeguards in place as you would in LA to insure such photographs where not taken. You never saw this happen to Michael Jackson because his body was handled by people who handles high level/celebrity services all the time. In Newark, that funeral home was not setup to insure the level of privacy needed. End result, Whitney's body ends up photographed. I will end by saying she did look beautiful.. it was just not up to this magazine to show us.

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by mercyniyah February 24, 2012 10:26 AM EST: Well said and I agree with your comment. I hope that others would get off of the negative and focus on the positive.


by THGdriver2 February 24, 2012 6:59 PM EST: You obviously don't have a clue. How do you account for the picture of Elvis if what you say is fact?

Fact is some slime bucket of a person took a picture and made a few bucks. I hope he/she rots.

You folks that care like I do? Don't buy/read that despicable rag that calls itself a paper.

by CWOODS8178 February 24, 2012 5:10 AM EST

I THINK THAT BEAUTIFUL AS SHE WAS, THE PHOTO ONLY SHOWS GRACE IN DEATH . MOST FUNERALS ARE OPEN CASKET .I THINK THE OUTRAGE IS MISPLACED .JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS IN FULL VIEW .

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by moonflower2010 February 24, 2012 1:54 PM EST: I agree with you. I'm outraged by people who are calling Whitney vile names. No one is perfect on this earth.


by themanfrombrum February 23, 2012 11:15 PM EST: What's the big deal?; Reply to this comment

by mstant February 23, 2012 9:50 PM EST

Enough is enough. She's gone and that's not going to change. Lets see some real news.

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by REDBEAR57 February 24, 2012 12:40 AM EST: Real News in the National Enquirer? Really?

by Galactic Cannibal February 23, 2012 9:16 PM EST

Show us the image or the pic of Whitney. Aside from having a fantastic natural singing voice * What the tell did Whitney ever do that was worthwhile....NOTHING Get over it media and get over it people. Sensation and hype is nothing more than sensation and hype. RIP Whitney you did the wrong drugs.

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by mercyniyah February 24, 2012 9:23 AM EST: People always take the negative and run with it. Well, I saw 5 young woman that shared with the world what Whitney did for them. They were in a video as little girls. One of them very sick with cancer. Whitney paid for all of her medical expenses and made one of the girls her god-daughter. She gave back and just because everyone did not receive anything....don't minimize what she was to other people. It's a shame that people walk around with so much negativity. Who said that she died from a drug overdose. Wait for the autopsy report before you blurt out your diagnosis. I am not a family member, but a person that has compassion for someone that has experienced such a loss. Sure everyone goes through it, but do you have to go through all of the hell that the people that commented yesterday is taking them through? I mean yall have no mercy and it is sad. I just look at life in a different light and cannot understand this way of thinking. You should pray that God gets them through this time of mourning. Not what did Whitney ever do that was worthwhile....SIMPLY CRUEL. All I can say is, one day you will look back and say, how could I be so heartless....trust and believe something will bring you back to this day.

by justsane-2009 February 23, 2012 7:49 PM EST

i can't believe than anyone, let alone 28% of respondents, think that this is ok.

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by Galactic Cannibal February 23, 2012 9:21 PM EST: Show us the image or the pic of Whitney in her coffin Aside from having a fantastic natural singing voice * What the tell did Whitney ever do that was worthwhile....NOTHING Get over it media and get over it people. Sensation and hype is nothing more than sensation and hype. RIP Whitney you did the wrong drugs.