Why Whitney Houston Got Into a Major Argument With Another Singer Days Before She Died
Whitney Houston’s legacy typically focuses on her immense talent. With the exception of her marriage to Bobby Brown and her known history with drug addiction, there’s not much scandal involved in Houston’s life known to the public. But, just days before her death, Houston allegedly got into a major altercation with singer Stacy Francis over Houston’s belief that Francis was after her then-boyfriend, Ray J.
Who is Stacy Francis?
Like Houston, Francis is also a singer and actor, most notable as a part of the girl group Ex Girlfriend, and as a contestant in the inaugural season of The X Factor USA.
Francis’ television and film credits include Strong Medicine, Half & Half, and Phil of the Future. She also has appeared in several Broadway productions, including Mama, I Want To Sing!, and Footloose.
Her work on X Factor began in 2011. In 2011, auditioning by singing Aretha Franklin’s “You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)”. Francis’ mentor on the show was The Pussycat Dolls lead singer, Nicole Scherzinger. Her elimination came during week four of the competition.
Since her stint on X Factor, Francis has continued singing and making appearances. In February 2015, she began her own talk YouTube talk show, The Stacy Francis Show. She was also a cast member on the third season of the TV One reality series, R&B Divas: Los Angeles.
In 2017, Francis became a new star housemate on the 19th season of Celebrity Big Brother in the UK.
Whitney Houston’s alleged confrontation with Stacy Francis is due to Francis’ involvement with Ray J
Two days before Houston’s death, rumors began swirling of a confrontation between her and Francis. Sources allege that Houston confronted Francis over Francis’ interaction and supposed involvement with Houston’s younger boyfriend, Ray J.
Paparazzi snapped photos of an angry Houston leaving a party, which is said to have occurred in the immediate aftermath of her argument with Francis. Francis spoke of the incident during her time on Celebrity Big Brother. At the time, she said Ray J did nothing to defend her.
Francis told Daily Mirror UK in 2012 that Houston’s issue was that she believed Francis wanted Ray J and said Houston was aggressive toward her.
“She was out of control and put her hand in my face. She was screaming at me and called me a b**ch and just went crazy – like Jekyll and Hyde,” Francis said. “I turned to look at her and she pushed my forehead and turned my face away. I grabbed her hand and said, ‘Please don’t do this. You’re everything to me. You’re my idol, you’re a legend.’ I was crying and screaming out, we were both screaming until eventually we were pulled apart.”
Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law seemingly confirms Houston’s relationship with Ray J
Houston’s sister-in-law and manager, Pat, confirmed the altercation between Houston and Francis during a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“There were words back and forth between [Whitney] and a young lady I believe was on The X Factor,” Pat told Winfrey. “[Francis] comes over, and she says hello, but you keep seeing her. Every corner that we go to, here she comes. Didn’t know her. She didn’t know her from Adam. I don’t know what the initial conversation was. I just know that it didn’t feel right.”
Houston died on the evening before the 2012 Grammys.
