Chaka Khan has blasted Whitney Houston’s manager for continuing to hold his pre-Grammys party after the singer’s tragic death.
Clive Davis, who discovered Whitney in a New York club when she was only 19 years old, held his traditional pre-event party in the Beverly Hilton hotel. As the party started, Whitney’s body was still to be removed from one of the hotel’s suites, where she’d been found dead in the bathroom.
The party had reams of celebrity attendees, including Cee Lo Green, Miley Cyrus, P. Diddy, Gaga collaborator Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson producer Quincy Jones and Jennifer Hudson, who performed a tribute to the star at the next day’s Grammys.
"Stop everything"
Ain’t Nobody singer Chaka refused to go, though. In this video, she tells Piers Morgan on his CNN talkshow: “I thought that was complete insanity. And knowing Whitney, I don’t believe that she would’ve said ‘The show must go on.’"
"She’s the kinda woman who would’ve said: ‘Stop everything!'"
In the clip, she seems exasperated that the party went on while Whitney’s body was still in the building. She adds that after she heard the news, "I couldn’t get dressed" let alone go to the party.
When Whitney’s career started out, she provided backing vocals for Chaka’s legendary hit I’m Every Woman, and later covered the song.
Meanwhile, according to The Washington Post, Clive stood by his decision to continue with the party, saying: “[Whitney] loved music and she loved this night that celebrates music” and insisting that her family requested that the show go on.
We've got to say we totally agree with Chaka on this one. It doesn't seem right to have a party so soon after Whitney's death. What do you think?