Rosie O’Donnell Recalls Trying to Intervene During Whitney Houston’s Struggles

Speaking on an episode of Watch What Happens Live, O’Donnell told Andy Cohen that she felt compelled to act after Houston missed a screening of a Cinderella program she produced. Describing the absence as a major red flag, O’Donnell stated she recognized the signs of a downward spiral and felt a moral obligation to alert those around the singer. Her intervention was met with resistance, as members of Houston’s team reportedly told her to mind her own business. O’Donnell maintained that her outreach was driven by love and a desire to protect the singer's legacy, even if it risked their professional relationship.

This sentiment stands in stark contrast to recent remarks made by Oprah Winfrey, who claimed during a Cannes Lions appearance that Houston was under the influence during a 2009 talk show taping. Winfrey’s assertion that the singer fell off the stage due to drug use triggered a swift rebuttal from Houston’s estate. Pat Houston, the singer's estate manager, clarified that the fall was caused by an unfamiliarity with the stage layout rather than intoxication. The estate’s statement emphasized that while Houston faced real battles, it is unfair to characterize every moment of her career through the lens of her addiction. Houston’s former hairstylist, Tiffanie Dixon, corroborated this, labeling Winfrey’s account a lie and noting that the stage was not properly secured at the time of the incident.