Funeral home owner Carolyn Whigham says she knows who took the photo of the late singer Whitney Houston that was displayed on the cover of the National Enquirer. But, she says, it’s up to Houston’s family members to reveal the name, reports The Star Ledger.
The photo showed Houston wearing a purple dress and resting in an open casket. It ran under the headline “Whitney: The Last Photo!” The issues captions declared Whitney was buried in $500,000 worth of her favorite jewels. The gossip rag sold out quickly, and some say the photo may have earned the photographer a quick $500K.
Whigham, who has known the Houston family for decades, held a press conference on Thursday in Newark, NJ, to clear her name.
“I want to clear my name and my funeral home,” said Whigham, who said she had received dozens of threatening emails and was also spit on following what Slaughter called “false and unsubstantiated rumors.”
“The Whigham Funeral Home is not responsible and had no role in this shameful betrayal,” said the Rev. Jethro James, pastor of Paradise Baptist Church.
Whigham was the flamboyant figure, in gold jacket and white pants, seen directing Whitney’s opulent funeral in the live video feed from New Hope Baptist Church on Feb. 18.
While the lavish ceremony may have seemed a little over-the-top, longtime residents of Newark faithfully choose Whigham’s funeral home for the homegoing ceremonies of their loved ones.
She said the funeral home’s investigation revealed that the picture was taken on Feb. 17, a day before the homegoing services.
Whigham said a security detail from Nippy Inc., the singer’s management company, was with the singer’s body around the clock while it was at Whigham. Houston’s body was at the Central Ward funeral home for five days.
Whigham said that although the Houston family has ended their inquiry, her investigation into who took the photo continued.
She said she is considering taking legal action.
