Whitney Houston’s family is furious and speaking out about Kanye West using a controversial photo of the late singer’s bathroom for an album cover. In 2012 Houston was found dead in a Beverly Hilton Hotel. Near her body were prescription drugs and bottles of alcohol were found in adjacent rooms. She was only 48 years old at the time of her death.
Whitney Houston’s family reacts
The son of Houston’s cousin Dionne Warwick, Damon Elliot, said that he first found about Kanye’s decision to use the photo after his daughter called him “frantic.”
Elliot said that he felt sick to his stomach and that the photo took him back to six years ago. The music producer accused Kanye of being “tacky” and that it was only a stunt to sell records. Elliott reportedly worked with Kanye in the past to write songs for R&B singer Keyshia Cole.
Elliot went on to call Kanye’s recent actions a “train wreck happening.” In recent weeks Kanye has exhibited some odd behavior including statements on slavery, an out of control TMZ interview, and odd tweets about President Donald Trump.
What does Kanye do next
The picture is not being used for Kanye’s album; instead, it will be used for Pusha T’s next album. West produced the album and have been heavily involved in promoting it. The actual photo is not from the night Houston died.
The photo was taken in 2006 and shows Houston’s bathroom full of what looks like drug paraphernalia. Originally the photo was published by the national enquirer and was secretly taken by a member of Houston’s family.
In an interview, Pusha T said that West paid nearly $85,000 to use the photo. At the current moment, it looks like the album will be released with the photo.
West tweeted out, “album 1 PUSHA T DAYTONA dropping 2mrw.”
Houston’s family has not said if they will try to take legal action against West. In an interview with People Magazine, Elliott said that he wants West, “to tell me why he did. What is the creative side of this? What’s the point? It shows no creativity.”
Houston’s brother and mother have not responded.
