Bobby Brown at Whitney Houston funeral but does not stay
NEWARK, N.J. (CBS/AP) Yes, Whitney Houston's ex-husband, singer Bobby Brown, was at the funeral. But no, he didn't stay.
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Brown arrived as the service began. He walked to the casket, touched it and walked to the back of the New Jersey church Saturday, the AP is reporting.
Security guards were saying Brown would be seated but the nine-person entourage that accompanied him were led to seats elsewhere. Instead, Brown left and appeared upset.
The Newark Star-Ledger is quoting a person familiar with the situation in reporting that Brown wanted his entourage to sit with him in the family section.
Speculation on whether Brown would be at the funeral has been bubbling all week, with some reports claiming the family did not want him there. A publicist later said he had been invited. Brown is scheduled to perform tonight at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn."They were asked to leave," the person said, referring to the entourage. Brown was not asked to leave, but "he left with the other people," according to the person, who was not at liberty to discuss the situation publicly.
Houston died Feb. 11. A cause of death hasn't been determined.
Houston and Brown were married 15 years and have one daughter, Bobbi Kristina. In 2003, police responding to a domestic violence call about Brown found Houston with a cut lip and bruised cheek. Their tumultuous relationship ended with a 2007 divorce.