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Whitney Houston’s Estate Challenges Oprah’s Claim of On-Stage Fall Due to Drug Use

Whitney Houston’s estate refutes Oprah Winfrey’s recollection that the singer fell off a talk show stage during a 2009 appearance because she was high. The estate clarifies Whitney fell during a sound check, not the live show, and drug use

Variety Music·Jun 24, 2026·via Variety Music

Whitney Houston’s Estate Challenges Oprah’s Claim of On-Stage Fall Due to Drug Use

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Jun 24, 2026 2:24pm PT

Whitney Houston’s Estate Refutes Oprah’s Claim That Singer Fell Off Talk Show Stage While High: ‘Inaccurate and Unfair’

By Marc Malkin

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Marc Malkin

Senior Editor, Culture and Events

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The Whitney Houston estate is refuting Oprah Winfrey recalling that the late singer was high and fell off the stage during an appearance on her talk show .

“From the 2009 interview on the Oprah Winfrey show, Whitney absolutely fell off stage, but it was during a sound check and it was due to the darkness of the area and her unfamiliarity with the stage,” reads a statement posted on the official Houston Instagram page. “She was absolutely not high.”