Outraged over the National Enquirer Whitney Houston casket photo?
My coffee table.
Are you outraged over the National Enquirer’s cover photo of Whitney Houston lying in repose?
It’s generated a great deal of criticism, but it’s not a new idea.
The photo on the right is the National Enquirer from Sept. 6, 1977, showing Elvis in his open casket. I bought it at a silent auction for 20 bucks at a charity event last year. I keep it on my coffee table, to keep me humble and reflective.
When John Lennon died in 1980, the National Enquirer was back with more necro journalism, featuring the slain Lennon’s final image on its front cover. This time the photo was in color, and was a closer shot of Lennon’s face, but the layout was otherwise very similar to the Elvis shot, which was in black and white. Even the text blocks about “The Untold Story” and “The Last Picture” were identical. Makes you wonder if they had a celeb death template at the ready.
These covers have much in common with the Whitney Houston open casket photo that the National Enquirer just ran. The current cover’s headline says “Whitney: The Last Photo!” while the others say “The Last Picture.” (Coincidentally the Elvis cover teases to a story on how to be more creative.)
Celebrity open casket photos aren’t common (thank goodness) but not terribly rare, either.
AP photo
When James Brown died a few years ago, photos of his open casket were kind of hard to avoid. Images of his final viewings ran in numerous publications.
The hardest working man in show business kept a busy tour schedule even days after he’d gone on to glory, with viewings at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and then a huge public home going service held in the Augusta venue that bears his name.
More than 8,000 people filed past the late Godfather of Soul when his carefully coiffed remains were laid out in the James Brown Arena. Celebrity guests included Michael Jackson, and Brown’s widow Tomi Rae performed, serenading her late husband’s body. It was a memorable event.
But back to Houston. The National Enquirer, never a stranger to controversy, is taking quite a bit of flack for running the unauthorized photo from Houston’s funeral. (Actually it’s thought to have been taken during the funeral home viewing, not the home going service).
This Detroit Free Press article notes that the National Enquirer publisher says the photo was “beautiful,” but that the decision to publish it has been criticized by a number of other media outlets. And questions are swirling. Who took the photo? How did they spirit a camera into the service? Did they get paid? Scratch that. How much did they get paid?
My point: this is nothing new.
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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278 comments Add your comment
Arleen
February 24th, 2012
3:22 pm
I don’t find the photo shocking. It’s a little on the ghoulish side but people are fascinated by death and celebrities. Honestly, she looks really good in that photo.
latest and recent alerts « Michael Jackson 1958 – 2009
February 24th, 2012
3:23 pm
[...] Are you outraged over thecover photo of Whitney Houston lying in repose? Written by admin in: Michael Joseph Jackson News | [...]
blkshepherd
February 24th, 2012
3:29 pm
Ok people, it is not that serious. Actually the picture of her is the Best she has look in over 20yrs. She looks peaceful, and Beautiful. She just looks like shes sleeping(much like my moms did when they had an open casket(against my wishes but i was so upset through the whole ordeal I just went along with it).
Also to be Bluntly Honest, the picture (probably the best picture of a dead person I ever saw, her makeup is outstanding) looks a thousand time better than when she was Alive on tour last year all bloated disoriented and a Mess. Not to mention the years she was on crack and those Horrible pictures the tabloids had of her. If there should be an uproar it should have been of those pictures when was strung out and wearing that fur coat, tennis shoes and sweats. Those pictures were HORRID. and she was still alive. Look at the picture of her performing at Michael Jackson 30yrs Special. she was Skin and Bone. Now if pictures should have been Blocked those pictures should Never had seen the light of day. The woman is DEAD now. They did a wonderful job in laying her to rest. GET OVER THE DAMN PICTURES OK! I get so Sick of people making a mountain out of a mole hill. And if the family is upset the should have been upset when she looked like a bag lady on crack.
Whitney unfortunately was in the Public eye from the day she became famous. Its something that goes with the terroritory. FAME. I bet when those checks start rolling in when her music is in demand I bet the family will quit whinning then. Pay checks close a lot of mouths.
JH
February 24th, 2012
3:32 pm
Obsessed “fans” were up in arms because the family decided on a private memorial. Now those same “fans” are glad they have seen the casket photo so they can have some closure. What the ….?
IMO, this kind of be bizarre behavior and attitude by “fans” is part of the reason the so many celebrities and athletes end up the way they do. Insane!
Adrienne Bing
February 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
I don’t know how these people can live with themselves, this is not beautiful but a complete disgrace. There are lots of living photos of Whitney that you can keep in your bible. It is a travesty that she died so young and her family is going through enough. This only adds to it, there was a reason the casket was closed and the family’s privacy should be respected period. The Inquirer is a complete disgrace and I will make it a point to never purchase one. I hope people show their complete disgust by buying the magazine and writing to them. This is disgusting and it does not matter who the celebrity is they are still people and should get to rest in peace. Nobody needs to see a picture of Whitney lying in her casket and the family is entitled to some privacy. I wonder what our society is coming to.
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
They should have taken a Photo of somebody that ACTUALLY wrote the songs WHITEee sang. She is NOTHING Special. She WAS a singer. She didn’t do Anything but give Voice to Somebody else’s song.
Shawn
February 24th, 2012
3:36 pm
Come on people don’t act surprised. It’s now just a matter of time before we see her death photos from the living room. This gives a lot of us closure. If the family wanted such a private affair they should have had a private funeral and not streamed it across the internet.
SMB
February 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
The Paper shouldn’t have published the photo It was in poor taste
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
Adrienne Bing
February 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
It is a travesty that she died so young and her family is going through enough.
Like Michael Jackson? MJ that WAS $440 Million in debt? her FAMILY is MAKING MONEY and that is all they care about. She was wasting ALL her money on drugs and was not giving any to the FAMILY. Now the FAMILY is making all the MONEY they can off anything MORONS will pay to see or hear.
She DIED because SHE was STUPID. Now if you want to say her being STUPID is a TRAVESTY then you are right.
Shawn
February 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
@ blkshepherd – spot on!
Shawn
February 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
Sorry, replace living room with hotel room.
Keeping it real
February 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
If it were meant for everyone to see her, there would have been an open casket homegoing service. This is disrepsectful and tasteless.
Adrienne Bing
February 24th, 2012
3:43 pm
Celebrities are people too and our society as a whole has gone too far with it’s obsession with them. I don’t care how nice the picture is this should not be done. Celebrities are entitled to a little bit of a personal life and privacy. The way they are violated by the media (and let’s be clear it’s all about making money) is disgusting. Why did we need to see photos of a dead person? We don’t have to know every last detail, it is a big deal and I think what they did was disgusting. I wish somebody would start harassing some of these media people they way they harass some of these celebrities so they could get a taste of their own medicine. We as a society need to stop supporting this and make sure that media outlets like the National Enquirer don’t make money so it will discourage this. We encourage this celebrity obsession by supporting newspapers like this. What if that were your relative?
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
3:45 pm
blkshepherd
February 24th, 2012
3:29 pm
much like my moms did when they had an open casket.
How many MOMS did you have? I guess the VILLAGE gave Birth to you too. LMAO
JSD
February 24th, 2012
3:46 pm
Hasn’t all this just ran its course already? Whitney have moved on. Why don’t you? The children are the future. NOT
Miles1
February 24th, 2012
3:46 pm
No offense to anyone but it appears there is no one in the room except photographer. I would not be. Surprised if an employee or associate at the funeral home took the photo. Whitney is bueatiful
Keeping it real
February 24th, 2012
3:46 pm
@KimZ’s package You need help because you are STUPID. Now when your STUPID self dies, I hope your family will cash in BIG on you… Maybe not because you are not SPECIAL at all.
JH
February 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
Am I the only one that finds it freakishly odd that “fans” need closure – over this or any other death of someone they did not personally know?
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
Keeping it real….are you one finger typing while you are holding your JUNK or Weave?
Shawn
February 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
Look anyone that has dealt with funeral homes know they take pics when they have completed all the dressing. That’s when the pic was most likely taken.
alwaysloveyou
February 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
Nothing about her death was a travesty. More like expected or a matter of time. The only complete disgrace in all of this what what she did with her talent.
Shawn
February 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
@KimZ’s – you are just wrong.
Keeping it real
February 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
No bitch. Get it right I have beautiful long hair that is mine. You are the one who wishes you could have this junk…trust me. But no, you have a flat ass pancake to hold on to…maybe. Kick rocks with no socks. (smile)
Shawn
February 24th, 2012
3:55 pm
@ KimZ’s – don’t pack the dirt too tight? You are just pathetic.
John
February 24th, 2012
3:56 pm
If you think that’s in bad taste, wait until someone tries to dig up Whitney and steal her $500.000.00 worth of jewelry, count on it.
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
Shawn…Just Keep’n It Real Bro.
blkshepherd
February 24th, 2012
3:59 pm
KimZ’sPackage
What are you some type of Stupid head or something? Dont bother to answer You are a stupid head. Who the hell ask you for your critique of our posts? If had 200 moms what the hell is it to you? I tell you what you got the right blog now..we have no problem going right back at you.
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
3:59 pm
John…….. $500.000.00 worth of jewelry….Bobby Kristina will be digging her up just to that money to get more Drugs.
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:02 pm
blkshepherd….your sheep don’t need NO SHEPHERD they already have a Prison Cell, Prison Guard, or Parole Officer.
Ivan Cohen
February 24th, 2012
4:03 pm
What is the issue here? Oh yeah, a photo of Whitney Houston which made the cover of the National Enquirer. The issues flew off of the racks especially those in the grocery stores by the cash registers. Look at this column, exhibit A- photo of Elvis Presley, exhibit B- photo of John Lennon from the same tabloid. This will and may sound crass but it’s true. You ain’t made it in America until you make it on the cover of the National Enquirer. In spite of our “righteous indignation” we eat this stuff up. Who’s kidding who here? People in other countries say those Americans, they sure are strange. They(National Enquirer) knew the audience they wanted to reach. For them it’s mission accomplished. To liberalefty: similiar sentiments were probably said about Sandra Ilene West. Sandra who, you might ask. Sandra Ilene West who was the young widow of a Texas oil millionaire. Sandra Ilene West who died in 1977 from a drug overdose at the age of 37. Sandra Ilene West who tasked her brother-in-law to bury her in her 1964 blue Ferrari 330 America. What’s that saying, only in America…. Brother-in-law, Sol West, sibling of her late husband, Ike West Jr. would get $2,000,000 if he carried out her wishes or $10,000 if her request was not honored. Brother-in-law went to court to get out of such a stipulation. No dice, he lost and had to carried out his sister-in-law’s request. Sandra West was buried at the wheel of her car, clad in her lace nightgown with the driver’s seat adjusted to a comfortable angle. I have chosen not to include some macabre moments of humor here because it would serve no purpose. May Whitney Houston along with Ike and Sandra West rest in peace. The three of them probably caught enough hell on this side of the dirt.
Pearl
February 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
Sorry to inform you all that more people will be making money off her death as they pop out of the wood work with tell-all books and exclusive “I did this with Whitney” stories and magazines will eat them up so settle in for a long ride….
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
What are you some type of Stupid head or something? Dont(Don’t) bother to answer(.) You are a stupid head. Who the hell ask {or is that AXE (asked)} you for your critique of our posts? If had 200 moms what the hell is it to you? I tell you what(.) (Y)you got the right blog now. (W)we have no problem going right back at you.
blkshepherd
February 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
KimZs Package
How bout you keeping it real. go back and stick your head in the toliet you took it out and drown yourself. Now thats keeping it real.
dont bite me bro
February 24th, 2012
4:08 pm
Mary J fights dogs..
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:10 pm
blkshepherd..how many Bros were killed today by other Bros?
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:12 pm
How bout you keeping(keep) it real. (G)go back and stick your head in the toliet (toilet) you took it out(of) and drown yourself. Now thats keeping it real.
justin
February 24th, 2012
4:15 pm
@KimZ’sPackage
February 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
They should have taken a Photo of somebody that ACTUALLY wrote the songs WHITEee sang. She is NOTHING Special. She WAS a singer. She didn’t do Anything but give Voice to Somebody else’s song.
You obviously have issues with your own screwed life to say something like this!
Roz
February 24th, 2012
4:18 pm
National Enquirer is “WRONG” bottom line…although “Whitney Houston” look so “BEAUTIFUL”…they have totally disrespected her “MOTHER’S” wishes…I would have liked to see her too but if her family wanted to keep it private, then thats what it should have been…I “PRAY” to “GOD” they shut them “DOWN”….
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:22 pm
OK Justin you taking time to respond speaks VOLUMES about your life too than I guess. Yes, my life is not what it was before OBAMA got in the White House.
blkshepherd
February 24th, 2012
4:22 pm
Kim Z I bet you got a package alright..STD and dumb ass I dont have any sheep I own german shepherd dogs crap face.
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:22 pm
life too THEN I guess.
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:25 pm
blkshepherd…well you are black I was guessing with the Shepard part you were a Reverend.
ic1
February 24th, 2012
4:26 pm
@KimZ’sPackage – go slap yourself, a$$!
Muffin
February 24th, 2012
4:27 pm
I feel that it was great for the national enquirer to post Whitney’s photo…Do people not relize that this is something we all mu do one day.. Would it have made any difference it this was not a famous person.. No it would not have made a difference…So get over it people I am so very glad they posted that Pic.. of such a beautiful person.
jdcmego
February 24th, 2012
4:27 pm
I, like others, believe that the cover story of WH photo was sadly disappointing. (I didn’t see it, and I’m sure she was beautiful). I was discouraged by the eager, selfish desire that the photographer
had for exploiting Whitney and her grief stricken family.
I have read all of these postings, and I can tell there is real anger and outrage.
But, what does the American public do? They go right back out and buy the National Enquirer. It may take some time, but they’ll go back to the grocery store and pick it up as they check out.
After years of misrepresentation, fabrication, and sensationalistic “journalism,” we’re still buying it.
Want to make a difference? STOP buying it. Stop your moms, grandmas, aunts, cousins, and friends from buying it. If not forever, at least a week, a month, a year. The publication deserves the interruption in their cashflow.
This is America…….and we’ve forgotten how to BOYCOTT. Give it a chance.
blkshepherd
February 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
Hey Kim…BITE ME!
Muffin
February 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
I feel that it was great for the national enquirer to post Whitney’s photo…Do people not relize that this is something we all must do one day.. Would it have made any difference it this was not a famous person.. No it would not have made a difference…So get over it people I am so very glad they posted that Pic.. of such a beautiful person.
justin
February 24th, 2012
4:30 pm
@ KimZ’sPackage – You are a internet ho!
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:30 pm
blkshepherd I will let my Akita-Chow mix have that pleasure. I prefer to bite the breast meat not the leg.
KimZ'sPackage
February 24th, 2012
4:31 pm
WHO put her CRACK PIPE in the casket?