Soul diva Whitney Houston has confirmed long-running rumours about her drug use, but says her “party days” are now behind her.
In a television interview, the troubled singer admitted: “I partied a lot. Trust me – I partied my tail off,” but added “you get to a point when you know the party’s over.” Over the course of her career Whitney has used alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs.
In January 2000, stories about the star’s problems dominated the tabloid press after an airport security guard reportedly found marijuana in her handbag. She was charged with possession of illegal narcotics, but proceedings were later dropped. In spring of that year her scheduled performance at the Academy Awards was cancelled at the last moment and soon afterwards she failed to show up for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame appearance.
Fears about her health were further fuelled when she appeared looking extremely thin at a Michael Jackson tribute concert. The “Queen of Pop” seemed unsteady on the stage and rumours that she was suffering from anorexia or bulimia spread like wildfire. When she missed a follow-up concert a few days later, there were even reports that she had died.
Some industry insiders blamed the singer’s problems on her turbulent ten-year marriage to R&B wildman Bobby Brown, who himself has a history of drug and alcohol abuse. He crashed his Porsche into a lamppost while driving under the influence in 1996 and went to jail a few years later after his probation officer said he had tested positive for cocaine.
In the interview Whitney offered her apologies to fans she had let down over the years but declined to promise she would never use drugs again. The singer says that she now has a group of “prayer partners”, however, and that her days of self-destructive excess are over.
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