Was Whney Hoton gay? New book claims livg a closeted life stroyed legend | MEAWW

Contents:

• WAS WHNEY HOTON GAY? EXPLORG THE LEGENDARY SGER’S SEXUALY
• INSI WHNEY HOTON’S SECRET TORMENT FOR BEG GAY, FALLG FOR A WOMAN
• WHNEY HOTON’S DARK FAY SECRET UNVERED NEW DOCUMENTARYIN KEV MACDONALD’S WHNEY, PREMIERG AT CANN WEDNDAY, HOTON’S NER CIRCLE NFIRM A CHILDHOOD TRMA HOTON SUFFERED.BY JULIE MILLERMAY 16, 2018WHNEY HOTON AT THE AMERIN CONCERT CELEBRATN ON JULY 4, 1986 JERSEY CY, NEW JERSEY.BY RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAG.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEOSR-WNG FILMMAKER KEV MACDONALD (ONE DAY SEPTEMBER, THE LAST KG OF STLAND) DID NOT SET OUT TO BREAK NEWS WH WHNEY, HIS HEART-WRENCHG DOCUMENTARY ABOUT WHNEY HOTON THAT PREMIERED AT THE CANN FILM FTIVAL WEDNDAY. HE WANTED TO SCB OFF THE SAD, TABLOID NARRATIVE THAT BASED THE SGER’S REPUTATN HER FAL, DG-ADDICTED YEARS, TO SHOW HOW ONE OF THE GREATT VOL TALENTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY—A SWEET GIRL OM NEWARK, NEW JERSEY—SELF-STCTED AND DIED 2012 AT THE AGE OF 48 UNR TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANC. BUT AFTER WATCHG HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PRIVATE HOTON FOOTAGE—TAKEN AT HOME, ON TOUR, AND BACKSTAGE—MACDONALD BEGAN TO BE HNTED BY A SAD SPICN.“THERE WAS SOMETHG VERY DISTURBED ABOUT HER, BEE SHE WAS NEVER FORTABLE HER OWN SK,” MACDONALD TOLD VANY FAIR ON WEDNDAY. “SHE SEEMED KD OF ASEXUAL A STRANGE WAY. SHE WAS A BETIFUL WOMAN, BUT SHE WAS NEVER PARTICULARLY SEXY. I’VE SEEN AND DONE SOME FILMG WH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABE, AND THERE WAS JT SOMETHG ABOUT HER MANNER THAT WAS REMISCENT TO ME OF THAT SORT OF SHRKG—A LACK OF FORT HER OWN PHYSILY THAT FELT, MAYBE THAT IS WHAT WAS.” MACDONALD WASN’T POSIVE THAT HIS HUNCH WAS RIGHT—BUT “SHORTLY AFTER THKG THAT, SOMEONE DID TELL ME OFF THE RERD ABOUT BEG TOLD BY WHNEY ABOUT BEG ABED, AND BEG ONE OF THE CENTRAL REASONS BEHD HER SELF-TORTURE. IT TOOK AWHILE FOR ANYONE TO GO ON RERD ABOUT , AND EVENTUALLY THE FAY DID.”THE BOMBSHELL IS DROPPED ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH WHNEY—THAT BOTH HOTON AND HER HALF-BROTHER, GARY, WERE ALLEGEDLY MOLTED AS CHILDREN BY THEIR DEE DEE WARWICK, THE SISTER OF DNNE WARWICK AND THE NIECE OF HOTON’S MOTHER, CISSY HOTON, WHO DIED 2008. DEE DEE AND DNNE PERFORMED TOGETHER AS THE GOSPELAIR THE 1950S AND 1960S, SOMETIM SGG WH CISSY’S GOSPEL GROUP, THE DRKARD SGERS. DEE DEE WENT ON TO SG BACKUP FOR ARETHA FRANKL AND WILSON PICKETT, AND BE NOMATED FOR TWO GRAMMY AWARDS. CISSY ALSO SANG BACKUP FOR FRANKL, ADDN TO ELVIS PRLEY. WHEN SHE WAS ON TOUR, CISSY LEFT WHNEY, GARY, AND THEIR BROTHER MICHAEL FOR EXTEND PERDS OF TIME WH RELATIV.ASKED ABOUT WHAT LED TO HIS OWN ADDICTN ISSU THE FILM, GARY TELLS MACDONALD, “BEG A CHILD—BEG SEVEN, EIGHT, NE YEARS OLD—AND BEG MOLTED BY A FEMALE FAY MEMBER OF ME. MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE GONE A LOT, SO WE STAYED WH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE . . . FOUR, FIVE DIFFERENT FAI WHO TOOK RE OF .”IT WASN’T UNTIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE LOCKG THE ED ON THE DOCUMENTARY THAT MACDONALD GOT ON-THE-RERD NFIRMATN THAT HOTON HAD ALSO BEEN ABED.“I FALLY MANAGED TO PERSUA MARY JON, WHO WAS WHNEY’S LONGTIME ASSISTANT AND PROBABLY KNEW HER HER LAST YEARS MORE THAN ANYBODY, TO TALK [ON-MERA],” MACDONALD SAID. “SHE TALKS ABOUT WHAT WHNEY FELT AND WHAT EFFECT HAD ON HER. SO WE CHANGED THE WHOLE CUT AT THE VERY LAST MUTE. IT WAS KD OF A TECTIVE STORY TO GET THAT PIECE OF RMATN, WHICH CHANGED HOW I FELT ABOUT WHNEY AND HOW I FELT ABOUT THE STORY.”MACDONALD RE-EDED THE ENTIRE FILM TO BUILD TO THAT REVELATN. IN JON’S EMOTNAL TERVIEW, SHE RELLS A NVERSATN SHE HAD WH THE LATE SGER, DURG WHICH JON REVEALED THAT HER SISTER HAD BEEN MOLTED AS A CHILD.“[HOTON] LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, ‘MARY, I WAS MOLTED AT A YOUNG AGE TOO. BUT WASN’T BY A MAN— WAS A WOMAN,’” RELLS JON THE FILM. “SHE HAD TEARS HER EY. SHE SAYS, ‘MOMMY DON’T KNOW THE THGS WE WENT THROUGH.’ I SAID, ‘HAVE YOU EVER TOLD YOUR MOTHER?’ SHE SAYS, ‘NO.’ I SAID, ‘WELL, MAYBE YOU NEED TO TELL HER.’ SHE SAID, ‘NO, MY MOTHER WOULD HURT SOMEBODY IF I TOLD HER WHO WAS.’ SHE JT HAD TEARS ROLLG DOWN HER FACE, AND I JT HUGGED HER. I SAID, ‘ONE DAY WHEN YOU GET THE NERVE, YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR MOTHER. IT WILL LIFT THE BURN OFF YOU.’”HOTON NEVER SPOKE PUBLICLY ABOUT THE ALLEGED ABE—BUT, AS MACDONALD UNVERS, SHE DID DROP CLU ABOUT . ASKED A PRS TERVIEW ABOUT WHAT MAK HER ANGRY, HOTON RPONDS WH SUDN, PALPABLE RAGE: “CHILD ABE MAK ME ANGRY . . . I HATE TO SEE KIDS . . . BOTHERS ME THAT CHILDREN, WHO ARE HELPLS, WHO PEND ON ADULTS FOR SECURY AND LOVE, JT BOTHERS ME. IT MAK ME ANGRY.” HOTON ALSO MA A POT TO BRG HER DGHTER, BOBBI KRISTA, ON ALL OF HER TERNATNAL TOURS, RATHER THAN LEAVE HER DGHTER AT HOME. SHE ALSO URGED JON TO BRG HER DGHTER ALONG WH THEM ON TRIPS.ASKED WHY HOTON NEVER TOLD HER MOTHER ABOUT THE ALLEGED ABE, JON SAYS, “I THK SHE WAS ASHAMED . . . SHE ED TO SAY, ‘I WONR IF I DID SOMETHG TO MAKE [DEE DEE] THK I WANTED HER.’ I SAID, ‘STOP. A PREDATOR IS A PREDATOR IS A PREDATOR.’ IF CISSY HAD KNOWN, SHE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHG ABOUT , BEE CISSY LOV HER CHILDREN.’”MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYMACDONALD SAID THAT CISSY HOTON HAS BEEN RMED THAT THE ACCATN IS MA THE DOCUMENTARY: “CISSY KNOWS. SHE WAS TOLD, AND VERY UPSET. I THK SHE WILL WATCH THE FILM AT SOME STAGE, BUT ’S OBVLY UP TO HER WHEN SHE WANTS TO DO THAT.”MACDONALD ALSO SAID THAT PAT HOTON—WHNEY’S FORMER SISTER--LAW, MANAGER, AND TATE EXECUTOR, WHO IS TERVIEWED THE FILM—HAS TOLD DNNE WARWICK ABOUT THE ALLEGATNS.“SHE HAS BEEN RMED. SHE HASN’T WANTED TO SEE THE FILM . . . BUT VERY MUCH MYSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE, WE ALL DON’T WANT HER TO SUFFER BY THE ACTNS OF HER FAY. ANY NEGATIVE FEELGS TOWARD HER WOULD BE PLETELY WRONG. SHE HAD NOTHG TO DO WH . SHE KNEW NOTHG ABOUT . WE FELY DON’T WANT ANY REPERCSNS FOR HER.”MACDONALD HAD NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY TERTED MAKG A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HOTON UNTIL SPEAKG TO HOTON’S AGENT NILE DAVID, WHO REPRENTED HOTON OM 1986 UNTIL HOTON DIED 2012.“SHE KNEW WHNEY PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANYBODY OUTSI OF HER FAY. AND SHE SAID TO ME, ‘THE THG IS, I LOVED HER SO MUCH, BUT I STILL DON’T UNRSTAND WHY WHAT HAPPENED HAPPENED TO HER FAY.’ THAT WAS THE KEY FOR ME. BEE, I THOUGHT, THAT’S SO TERTG SHE HAD SUCH VOTN AND LOVE FOR THIS WOMAN, YET SHE NEVER FELT LIKE SHE UNRSTOOD HER. SO THERE WAS A MYSTERY THERE. AND I APPROACHED THE FILM LIKE A MYSTERY. WHO WAS SHE? WHY DID SHE END UP AS SHE END UP? AND HOW N WE ACCS HER, WHEN SHE NEVER WROTE ANY DIARI? HER TERVIEWS ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY HER AVOIDG THE SUBJECT. ALL YOU HAVE IS THE PURY OF HER VOICE, AND THE BETY OF HER VOICE, AND THE EMOTN TRANSMTED BY THE VOICE A NONVERBAL WAY. ONE OF THE BIGGT PUZZL, FOR ME, WERE THOSE FAL YEARS OF HER LIFE. IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS SOME STORYLE THAT THE PUBLIC DIDN’T REALLY KNOW. HER VOLVEMENT WH BOBBY BROWN, HER DGHTER. THERE WERE MORS OF SUBSTANCE ABE.”“I IALLY THOUGHT THE STORY WAS MAYBE ABOUT HER SEXUALY—THAT SHE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO BE GAY [PUBLICLY],” SAID MACDONALD, REFERRG TO THE ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP HOTON ALLEGEDLY HAD WH HER LONGTIME BT IEND AND EMPLOYEE ROBYN CRAWFORD—A UPLG THAT IS NFIRMED THE DOCUMENTARY BY SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO SCRIBE HOTON’S SEXUALY AS “FLUID.” MACDONALD E-MAILED WH CRAWFORD, WHO TOYED WH THE IA OF TAKG PART THE FILM BUT ULTIMATELY CID NOT TO.“I REALIZED THAT ACTUALLY IS NOT THE STORY,” SAID MACDONALD. “[HOTON] ONLY HAD, AS FAR AS I’M AWARE, ONE PROPER HOMOSEXUAL RELATNSHIP, WH ROBYN CRAWFORD, WHICH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT. I THK THAT ONLY LASTED QUE A SHORT TIME. I FOUND SOME DOCUMENTATN THAT PROV, WHOUT A DOUBT, THAT WAS A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP BETWEEN THEM . . . THE REAL STORY, AS I DUG EPER, HAD TO DO WH HER FAY, AND TO DO WH RACE, I SUPPOSE, AND HER CHILDHOOD.”MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYMACDONALD’S VTIGATN FELT, AT TIM, LIKE HE WAS NOT MAKG MUCH HEADWAY—EVEN THOUGH PAT HOTON PROVID MACDONALD WH ACCS, WHNEY’S ARCHIV, AND FAL CUT ON THE FILM. MACDONALD SAID THAT, HIS TWO- REER, HE HAS NEVER ENUNTERED AS MUCH “LYG AND OBFTN” AS HE DID WHILE SPEAKG TO WHNEY’S CIRCLE OF ASSOCIAT.“SO MANY PEOPLE I SPOKE TO WERE JT UNTTHFUL TO ME, JT BULLSHTG. I NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT ANY DOCUMENTARY BEFORE. AND I HAD TO TERVIEW MANY MORE PEOPLE, MANY MORE TIM THAN I EVER HAVE ON ANYTHG ELSE, ORR TO TRY AND STILL GET SOME B OF TTH.”THE FAY ULTIMATELY OPENED UP TO MACDONALD, PART, HE THKS, BEE HOTON STROYED HER REPUTATN BEFORE SHE DIED. “WHAT ARE YOU PROTECTG ANYMORE? THIS FILM HOPEFULLY KD OF FIV [HOTON] FOR THIS EXTRAORDARY SELF-STCTN AND STCTN OF HER DGHTER’S EXPERIENCE, AND HOPEFULLY HELPS PEOPLE UNRSTAND HER A DIFFERENT [LIGHT]. I THK THIS IS SOMETHG THAT PAT HOTON AGRE WH—THAT WE HOPE, THE END, THIS REALLY HELPS WHNEY.”MACDONALD’S FILM EXAM THE GHT RELATNSHIP WHNEY HAD WH CISSY, A PROFSNAL SGER WHO REALIZED EARLY ON HOW CREDIBLE HER DGHTER’S TALENT WAS. HAVG WORKED AROUND STARS FOR S, CISSY GROOMED HER DGHTER EXTENSIVELY TO BEE THE LEGEND SHE BEME—TEACHG HER TO BE POISED AND GRACEFUL, HOW TO NTROL HER VOL STMENT, AND SENDG HER TO A CATHOLIC ALL-GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. THE RIGORO PREPARATN PAID OFF PROFSNALLY, BUT CREATED SOME RENTMENT WHNEY. WHEN CISSY ALLEGEDLY HAD AN EXTRAMARAL AFFAIR WH THE MISTER AT THE FAY’S CHURCH— SPE OF WHNEY’S FATHER’S OWN PHILANRG—THE MOTHER-DGHTER RELATNSHIP WAS FURTHER MARRED.“WHNEY WAS VERY RELIG, AND HER LIFE WAS AROUND THE CHURCH—SO WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HER LIFE, HER UNIVERSE, EXPLOD. AND SHE BLAMED HER MOTHER [FOR HER PARENTS’ DIVORCE]. THAT ALLOWED HER FATHER TO GET HIS CLAWS TO HER,” MACDONALD SAID. ACRDG TO THE DIRECTOR, HOTON’S FATHER, JOHN, WHO DIED 2003, “JT WANTED TO GET AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF HER AS HE ULD, THE SHORTT PERD OF TIME.”IN THE FILM, HOTON’S NER CIRCLE RELLS STAGG AN TERVENTN FOR THE SGER—ONLY TO HAVE JOHN TELL HIS DGHTER THAT REHAB WAS NOT NECSARY.“THERE’S A SAD THG I LEARNED, WHICH ISN’T THE FILM—BUT WHNEY’S PUBLICIST, LYNN VOLKMAN, SAID THAT SOMEONE JOHN’S OFFICE HAD A DG PROBLEM. AND JOHN SENT THAT PERSON OFF TO REHAB—HE WAS VERY GENERO, GAVE THEM TIME OFF, AND WAS REALLY RG. AT THE SAME TIME, HIS OWN DGHTER, WHO WAS ON DGS, HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHG ABOUT . HE DIDN’T TRY TO STOP THE TRA.”MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYTHE FILM ALLEG THAT JOHN, WHO WORKED AS HIS DGHTER’S MANAGER, ALSO STOLE MONEY OM HER. WHEN HOTON LEARNED OF THE BETRAYAL—AS HER MARRIAGE TO BROWN WAS CMBLG—SHE WAS CSHED. HER DG HAB LATED—SHE PREFERRED SMOKG E WH MARIJUANA—AND SHE WOULD DISAPPEAR BEHD CLOSED HOTEL-ROOM DOORS FOR UP TO 10 DAYS. RATHER THAN TERVENE, THE FILM ALLEG THAT HER LABEL POURED OVER $5 LN TO ILL-FATED RERDG TRIPS—LIKE A THREE-MONTH JNT TO MIAMI THAT PRODUCED LS THAN TWO SONGS. A PRODUCER RELLS HOTON SAYG AT THE TRIP’S END, “I DON’T THK I SLEPT 45 MUT THIS SUMMER.”MACDONALD ALSO DISPELS THE MYTH THAT BROWN WAS RPONSIBLE FOR HIS WIFE’S DG ADDICTN. IN ONE SCENE, GARY TELLS MACDONALD THAT, WHEN HE WAS WH HOTON, THEY WOULD DO DGS EVERY DAY. “A LOT EVERY DAY—SH THAT UALLY KILLS MOTHERFUCKERS, AND WE KEEP ROCKG.” AS FOR BROWN’S DG TAKE, GARY TELLS HIM, “LET’S JT SAY BOBBY WAS A FUCKG LIGHTWEIGHT WHEN ME TO DGS. HE ULD NOT . . . WE ED TO PASS BOBBY BY LAPPG HIM. TST ME.”OVER THE URSE OF MAKG THE FILM, MACDONALD SAYS THAT HE STARTED THKG ABOUT HOW HOTON’S TRAGIC PATH MIRRORED THAT OF HER FEW PEERS THE MIC DTRY.“IF YOU THK ABOUT THE THREE BIGGT STARS OF THE 1980S—PRCE, MICHAEL JACKSON, AND WHNEY—THEY ALL DIED WH A FEW YEARS VERY SIAR CIRCUMSTANC, BETWEEN THE DG ABE, THE ISOLATN, AND THE ECCENTRIC BEHAVR. AND YOU THK: WHY IS THAT? THAT IS NOT A CINCE. I THK YOU N TRACE ALL THAT BACK TO THEIR CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE. THEIR PARENTS HAD ALL E OM EXPERIENCG TRMA THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH—THE GREAT MIGRATN, WAS LLED. THEIR PARENTS WERE VERY POLIL AND VERY ENGAGED BLACK RIGHTS. WH WHNEY, MICHAEL, AND PRCE, YOU ULDN’T THK OF THREE LS POLIL PEOPLE. AND THERE’S A SORT OF POPPY IVOLY—THE WAY THEY WERE THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE ACCEPTED TO THE WHE MASTREAM WORLD—TO ALL THREE OF THEM.”THOUGH SHE IS GONE, THE FILMMAKER HOP THAT WHNEY WILL HELP REVER THE SGER’S REPUTATN AND REMD THE WORLD OF HER CREDIBLE GIFT. FOR THOSE WHO WERE CLOSE TO HER, THE PROJECT HAS ALREADY HELPED HEAL.“WH A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HER, THERE WAS A SENSE OF GUILT, BEE THEY FEEL LIKE, ‘MAYBE IF WE’D BEEN MORE STRONG WH HER AT THE TIME, MAYBE NONT HER DG ISSU PRIMARILY, MAYBE THGS WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN SO BAD,’” EXPLAED MACDONALD. “YOU GET THIS OPPORTUNY WH A MERA TO BE THIS KD OF PORTABLE PSYCHIATRIST UCH, TO S WH OTHER PEOPLE. MICHAEL HOTON, ONE OF WHNEY’S BROTHERS, SAID TO ME AFTER TERVIEW NO. 3 OR 4, ‘WE SHOULD JT DO THIS EVERY MONTH. I’M FDG THIS VERY THERAPTIC.’”“I SAW PAT YTERDAY, AND SHE SAID SHE TALKED TO MICHAEL AND TO GARY, AND THEY BOTH, THROUGH THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF MAKG THE FILM, FELT LIKE WAS A THERAPY SSN, AND OPENED UP A LOT OF STUFF. IT IS VERY PAFUL FOR A FAY TO DISCS [THE SUBJECTS], BUT THEY ARE VERY GRATEFUL, A WAY, THAT THEY HAVE.”JULIE MILLER
• ONE OF THE MOST UNR-EXAMED DIMENSNS OF WHNEY HOTON’S LEGACY IS HER STAT AS A GAY IN
• WAS WHNEY HOTON GAY? NEW BOOK CLAIMS LIVG A CLOSETED LIFE STROYED LEGEND
• WHNEY HOTON’S ‘LBIAN ROMANCE’ AND THE TYRANNY OF THE ’80S CLOSETSILENCEDBOBBY BROWN HAS REVEALED HOTON WAS A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH HER PAL ROBYN CRAWFORD, MEANG THE BIGGT POP STAR AND MOVIE ACTRS OF THE ERA ULDN’T LIVE OUT LOUD. JEN YAMATOUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 7:40PM EDT DAVE HOGAN/GETTYSHORTLY AFTER TAKG TO WORK TELEVISN TO TELL ALL THE WORLD ABOUT WHNEY HOTON’S ADDICTN, ACCE NICK GORDON THE UNTIMELY ATHS OF BOTH HIS EX-WIFE AND THEIR DGHTER, BOBBI KRISTA, AND CLAIM THAT ONCE UPON A TIME HE HAD SEX WH A GHOST, BOBBY BROWN HAD ONE MORE BOMBSHELL TO DROP ON THE PROMO TOUR FOR HIS NEW BOOK, EVERY LTLE STEP.THE LATE WHNEY HOTON WAS BISEXUAL, BROWN TOLD US WEEKLY FOLLOWG HIS HOUR-LONG 20/20 TERVIEW, NFIRMG LONGSTANDG MORS ABOUT THE “I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” SUPERSTAR AND HER BFF, ROBYN CRAWFORD.“I KNOW,” BROWN, 47, TOLD US. “WE WERE MARRIED FOR 14 YEARS. THERE ARE SOME THGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WERE PERSONAL TO …”BUT NOTHG, SEEMS, TOO PERSONAL TO SHARE WH US WEEKLY. HOTON DROWNED 2012 A BATHTUB AT THE BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL, AND WAS DISVERED TO HAVE HAD A CKTAIL OF DGS HER SYSTEM. TWO DAYS EARLIER, SHE HAD PERFORMED AT A PRE-GRAMMYS PARTY HOSTED BY HER LONGTIME MENTOR AND IEND CLIVE DAVIS—WHO HIMSELF ME OUT AS BISEXUAL 2013. “I OPENED MYSELF UP TO THE POSSIBILY THAT I ULD HAVE A RELATNSHIP WH A MAN AS WELL AS THE TWO THAT I HAD WH A WOMAN,” HE TOLD KATIE COURIC A TELEVISED TERVIEW, ALSO PROMOTG HIS MEMOIRS. “I’M STILL ATTRACTED TO WOMEN… YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ONLY ONE THG OR ANOTHER. FOR ME, ’S THE PERSON.” FOR YEARS LEADG UP TO HER TRAGIC ATH, HOTON NIED PERSISTENT GOSSIP-RAG REPORTS THAT SHE WAS NOT ONLY GAY, BUT VOLVED ROMANTILLY WH CRAWFORD, WHO SHE’D MET AS A TEENAGER EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, BEFORE HER IMMENSE TALENTS SKYROCKETED HER TO GLOBAL FAME. HOTON WAS 16 AND CRAWFORD WAS 19 WHEN THE TWO WOMEN FIRST BEME IENDS AND THEN QUICKLY BEME SEPARABLE. THEY LIVED TOGETHER AS ROOMMAT A NEW JERSEY APARTMENT, RAISG EYEBROWS AND SPURRG SPECULATN THAT THEY WERE MORE THAN JT BT IENDS. CRAWFORD LATER BEME THE POP DIVA’S ASSISTANT AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, OFTEN APPEARG BY HER SI PUBLIC—AND THE MEDIA TOOK NOTICE, HOUNDG HOTON TIME AND AGA TO SET THE RERD STRAIGHT.“I TELL MY FAY, ‘YOU N HEAR ANYTHG ON THE STREETS, BUT IF YOU DON’T HEAR OM ME, ’S NOT TE,’” CRAWFORD MENTED A 1987 TIME MAGAZE PROFILE OF HOTON. IN THE SAME ARTICLE, HOTON ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HER CLOSENS WH CRAWFORD MA PEOPLE WONR, BUT SAID EXPRSLY, AND NOT FOR THE LAST TIME, THAT SHE WAS NOT GAY.“MY MOTHER TGHT ME THAT WHEN YOU STAND THE TTH AND SOMEONE TELLS A LIE ABOUT YOU, DON’T FIGHT ,” SAID HOTON. “I’M NOT WH ANY MAN. I’M NOT LOVE. PEOPLE SEE ROBYN WH ME, AND THEY DRAW THEIR OWN NCLNS. ANYWAY, WHOSE BS IS IF YOU’RE GAY OR LIKE DOGS? WHAT OTHERS DO SHOULDN’T MATTER. LET PEOPLE TALK. IT DON’T BOTHER ME BEE I KNOW I’M NOT GAY. I DON’T RE.”BUT SOON AFTER HOTON MARRIED R&B SGER BROWN 1992—WH CRAWFORD SERVG AS HER MAID OF HONOR—THE BTI SEEMGLY GREW APART. BACK THEN THE MID-’80S, BEFORE SHE MET AND MARRIED BROWN—THE MAN SHE’D BE MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WH FOR THE RT OF HER LIFE AND REER—BEG OPENLY GAY OR BISEXUAL WAS NOT AN EASY OPTN FOR HOTON. AFTER WHNEY’S ATH, CISSY HOTON CLARED TO OPRAH WEY THAT SHE DID NOT APPROVE OF HER DGHTER’S CLOSE RELATNSHIP WH CRAWFORD. SHOULD WHNEY HAVE E OUT, SAID CISSY, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SUPPORTED .“I KNEW I DIDN’T WANT ROBYN AROUND MY DGHTER, AND I TOLD [WHNEY] THAT,” CISSY WROTE HER OWN BOOK, REMEMBERG WHNEY. “THERE WASN’T MUCH I ULD DO THOUGH. [WHNEY] LIKED ROBYN. SHE WAS PAST THE AGE WHEN I ULD FORBID HER OM SEEG SOMEONE. KIDS HAVE A MD OF THEIR OWN WHEN THEY GET OLR. THEY WANT TO EXPERIMENT WH ALL KDS OF THGS. AND I DON’T KNOW IF WAS MORE THAN THAT.” AT THAT TIME, BEFORE FEMALE STARS LIKE ELLEN DEGENER URAGEOLY BROKE THROUGH THE LGBT CURTA AND CLARED THEMSELV OUT AND PROUD ON THE WORLD STAGE, ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD DARLG WAS LIVG THE CLOSET. JODIE FOSTER HAD BEEN ACTG SCE THE AGE OF 3 AND LEARNED THE HARD WAY, AS THE OBJECT OF WOULD-BE PRINTIAL ASSASS JOHN HCKLEY’S OBSSN, TO FORTIFY THE WALLS AROUND HER PERSONAL PRIVACY. BUT EVEN WHOUT NCRETE NFIRMATN, FOSTER’S MORED FLG WH HER THE ACCED -STAR KELLY MCGILLIS STOKED THE FIR OF TSELTOWN GOSSIPMONGERS PLENTY. WHEN BOTH WOMEN NFIRMED THEIR HOMOSEXUALY YEARS LATER, FOSTER ACKNOWLEDGG GRADUALLY PUBLIC BEGNG AROUND 2007 AND MCGILLIS 2009 AFTER SEVERAL RELATNSHIPS WH MEN, ONLY REIGNED THOSE VTAGE MORS—CLUDG NEVER-NFIRMED SCUTTLEBUTT OF A LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN FOSTER, MCGILLIS, AND… HOTON.THE MORS, OFT-CHRONICLED BY THE VILLAGE VOICE’S MICHAEL MTO, ALLEGED A HEATED CINT VOLVG THE THREE WOMEN, WH SOME VERSNS SETTG THE SO-LLED ALTERTN AT NYC’S LBIAN HANGOUT THE CUBBY HOLE. BUT ASKED YEARS LATER, MCGILLIS NIED EVER HAVG MET HOTON—AND HOTON’S REPEATED NIALS OF BEG GAY STYMIED THE TTH-SEEKERS YEAR AFTER YEAR.MUCH LIKE HIS OVERSHARE ABOUT DISVERG WHNEY DOG BLOW ON THEIR WEDDG DAY, BOBBY BROWN’S REVELATN OF HER BISEXUALY SEEMS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE YET ANOTHER GROSSLY EXPLOATIVE WAY FOR THE FORMER NEW EDN SGER TO THROW HIS LATE EX UNR THE B AND SELL MORE BOOKS. BUT IF TE, MEANS THERE WERE MORE TERNATNAL SUPERSTARS LIVG THE CLOSET THE ’80S AND ’90S THAN HOLLYWOOD HISTORY PREVLY KNEW.AND MEANS THAT BOTH THE BIGGT ACTRS HOLLYWOOD AND THE BIGGT POP SGER MIC AT THE TIME WERE HIDG THEIR SEXUALY DUE TO OUTSI PRSUR TO PROTECT THEIR IMAGE, FAY, REERS, AND PRIVACY.BROWN LEFT THE TOPIC OF WHNEY’S SEXUALY OUT OF HIS MUCH-HYPED S-DOWN WH ROB ROBERTS ON TUDAY. PERHAPS ROBERTS, WHO REVEALED SHE IS GAY A FACEBOOK POST 2013, CHOSE LIBERATELY NOT TO GO THERE OUT OF RPECT FOR THE LATE HOTON, WHO WAS HOUND FOR THE LAST FEW S OF HER LIFE BY TABLOID MORS OF HER CREASGLY ERRATIC BEHAVR, SPECTED LBIAN RELATNSHIP, AND DG ABE.EVEN ATH HOTON PARRIED SPECULATN OVER HER SEXUALY OM EVERYONE OM SOMETIME DAILY BEAST LUMNIST MTO, WHO PONRED THE “OPEN SECRET” OF HER ROMANCE WH CRAWFORD A PIECE TLED “WHNEY HOTON’S LBIANISM: LET’S DISCS,” TO SANDRA BERNHARD, WHO OUTED HER ON ROSIE O’DONNELL’S OWN SHOW AND SUGGTED THAT THE PRSUR OF HIDG HER SEXUALY NTRIBUTED TO HER ATH.IN A 2000 TERVIEW WH OUT MAGAZE, HOTON ONCE AGA NIED THAT SHE WAS ANYTHG BUT STRAIGHT.“THAT A’T ME, I KNOW WHAT I AM, I’M A MOTHER. I’M A WOMAN. I’M HETEROSEXUAL. PERD,” HOTON SAID. “BUT I LOVE EVERYBODY. IF I WAS GAY, I WOULD BE PROUD TO TELL YOU, ’E I A’T THAT KD OF GIRL TO SAY, ‘NAW, THAT A’T ME.’ THE THG THAT HURT ME MOST WAS THAT THEY TRIED TO P SOMETHG ON ME THAT I WAS NOT. MY MOTHER RAISED ME TO NEVER, EVER, BE ASHAMED OF WHAT I AM. BUT I’M NOT A LBIAN, DARLG. I’M NOT. “I AM ME, I’M A MOTHER. I LOVE TO HEAR MY CHILD LL ME MOMMY. THAT’S WHAT I AM, NOT LBIAN, NOT GAY, NOT ALL THE BULLSH. I DON’T WANNA HEAR THAT. IT’S OVER. IT’S DONE.”ACRDG TO BROWN, HOTON WAS SEXUALLY TERTED BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. “I’M A MAN AND SHE WAS ATTRACTED TO ME!” HE TOLD US WEEKLY.BROWN, WHO ON 20/20 BLAMED WHNEY’S ATH ON GORDON, POTED MORE FGERS. HER ABILY TO LIVE AND LOVE EELY AS SHE CHOSE, HE SAID, REFERRG TO THE DISAPPROVG CISSY, ALSO LED TO HER MISE. “I REALLY FEEL THAT IF ROBYN WAS ACCEPTED TO WHNEY’S LIFE, WHNEY WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY,” BROWN TOLD US WEEKLY. “SHE DIDN’T HAVE CLOSE IENDS WH HER ANYMORE.”BUT THIS IS ALSO NOT THE FIRST TIME BROWN’S SOLD OUT HOTON’S PERSONAL LIFE AND PURPORTED SECRETS ORR TO PROMOTE A BOOK.IN 2008, THE NEW YORK POST PUBLISHED AN EARLY EXCERPT OM HIS THORIZED BGRAPHY, BOBBY BROWN: THE TTH, THE WHOLE TTH, AND NOTHG BUT, WHICH HE CLAIMED SHE ONLY MARRIED HIM TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE LBIAN MORS THAT DOGGED HER AND CRAWFORD: “I THK WE GOT MARRIED FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS,” HE CLAIMED. “NOW, I REALIZE WHNEY HAD A DIFFERENT AGENDA THAN I DID WHEN WE GOT MARRIED… I BELIEVE HER AGENDA WAS TO CLEAN UP HER IMAGE, WHILE ME WAS TO BE LOVED AND HAVE CHILDREN… THE MEDIA WAS ACCG HER OF HAVG A BISEXUAL RELATNSHIP WH HER ASSISTANT, ROBYN CRAWFORD. SCE SHE WAS THE AMERIN SWEETHEART AND ALL, THAT DIDN’T GO TOO WELL WH HER IMAGE... IN WHNEY’S SUATN, THE ONLY SOLUTN WAS TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE KIDS. THAT WOULD KILL ALL SPECULATN, WHETHER WAS TE OR NOT. IN THE SHORT, I THK I GOT UGHT UP THE POLICS AND END UP MARRYG ONE OF THE BIGGT STARS THE WORLD.”IN THAT BOOK, HE ALSO BLAMED WHNEY FOR TRODUCG HIM TO HARD DGS LIKE E, STEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND.MEANWHILE, THE ONLY PERSON WHO MIGHT NFIRM THE CLAIM BEYOND ANY DOUBT IS KEEPG MUM—AS SHE HAS FOR THREE S. “I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT HER UNTIL NOW. AND SHE KNEW I WOULDN’T. SHE WAS A LOYAL IEND, AND SHE KNEW I WAS NEVER GOG TO BE DISLOYAL TO HER. I WAS NEVER GOG TO BETRAY HER,” CRAWFORD WROTE A 2012 ESQUIRE OBUARY MEMORIALIZG HOTON.IT WOULD SEEM BROWN, WHOSE NEW BOOK HS SHELV NEXT WEEK, HAD NO SUCH QUALMS. JEN YAMATO
• ROSIE O’DONNELL: WHNEY HOTON DIDN’T WANT GAY PART OF HER LIFE EXPOSED!!
• "WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?": THE HOMOPHOBIA THAT KILLED WHNEY HOTONA NEW SHOWTIME DOCUMENTARY TRAC THE DOWNFALL OF A LEGEND.BY TRISH BENDIXAUGT 25, 2017/12:35 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}PHOTO BY DAVE HOGAN/GETTY IMAGAMERIN SGER WHNEY HOTON (1963 - 2012), CIR 1988. (PHOTO BY DAVE HOGAN/GETTY IMAG)BY TRISH BENDIXAUGT 25, 2017 / 12:35 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?\": THE HOMOPHOBIA THAT KILLED WHNEY HOTON","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-08-25T16:35:24.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-08-25T16:35:24.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"TRISH BENDIX"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY HOTON IS AN UNDISPUTED GAY IN, BUT HER STAT AS PART OF THE LGBT MUNY SELF HAS ALWAYS BEEN RELEGATED TO WHISPERS RATHER THAN ACKNOWLEDGED TTH. A NEW DOCUMENTARY, WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?, IS THE FIRST TO PRENT ANYONE CLOSE TO THE LATE POP STAR WHO INTIFI HER ON THE RERD AS BISEXUAL. IN , IENDS AND FAY—CLUDG HBAND BOBBY BROWN—ACKNOWLEDGE HER ONE-TIME ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH ROBYN CRAWFORD, AN OUT LBIAN.RDA/GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PREMIERG TONIGHT, CAN I BE ME? IS A CELEBRATN OF HOTON'S S-LONG REER, BUT LARGELY FOC ON THE LIFE SHE LIVED PRIVATELY—THE HIGHLY NTROLLED ATMOSPHERE SHE EXISTED DICTATED BY HER MOTHER, GOSPEL SGER CISSY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CISSY TELLS THE MERA SHE TGHT HER DGHTER EVERY THG SHE KNOWS, A SENTIMENT SHE'S LONG EXPRSED AND, OTHERS SAY, ONE SPIRED BY HER FAILURE TO BEE MORE OF A STAR HERSELF. INSTEAD, DIRECTOR NICK BROOMFIELD (KURT AND COURTNEY, BIGGIE AND TUPAC) SUGGTS, CISSY PUT ALL HER ENERGY TO WHNEY AND WORKED ALONGSI RERD EXECS TO MAKE SURE HER DGHTER'S EARLY RERDS WERE ACCSIBLE. (READ: DIDN'T SOUND "TOO BLACK."){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY WANTED TO PRENT HER AS THE PRCS—THAT'S WHO WHE AMERI WAS PRENTED," BACKUP SGER PATTIE HOWARD SAYS THE FILM.WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOTON WOULD EVENTUALLY REJECT SOME OF THE MANDS OTHER PEOPLE PUT ON HER— CAN I BE ME?'S TLE IS A PHRASE THE GRAMMY WNER WOULD EQUENTLY UTTER WHEN SHE FELT SHE WAS BEG PHED AWAY OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THAT WAS THE NUNDM," SAYS A DMMER WHO WORKED WH HOTON. "LIKE 'DAMM, I HAVE MA ALL THIS MONEY AND MA ALL THE PEOPLE HAPPY AND I STILL N'T BE ME?'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE THG HOTON WAS PERSISTENTLY DISSUAD OM WAS HER RELATNSHIP WH ROBYN CRAWFORD, A LONGTIME IEND SHE MET THROUGH HER BROTHERS 1979. AN TERVIEW OM THE LATE '90S THAT'S FEATURED THE FILM SE CRAWFORD LAYG SUALLY ON A HOTEL BED, SCRIBG THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WE HAVE A IENDSHIP—THAT'S OUR FOUNDATN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A A 1987 PROFILE TIME, BOTH HOTON AND CRAWFORD WERE ASKED IF THEY WERE A UPLE. THEY BOTH NIED THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAYS ROBYN: "I TELL MY FAY, 'YOU N HEAR ANYTHG ON THE STREETS, BUT IF YOU DON'T HEAR OM ME, 'S NOT TE.' "{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY ALSO ALLUS TO FAY: "MY MOTHER TGHT ME THAT WHEN YOU STAND THE TTH AND SOMEONE TELLS A LIE ABOUT YOU, DON'T FIGHT . I'M NOT WH ANY MAN. I'M NOT LOVE. PEOPLE SEE ROBYN WH ME, AND THEY DRAW THEIR OWN NCLNS. ANYWAY, WHOSE BS IS IF YOU'RE GAY OR LIKE DOGS? WHAT OTHERS DO SHOULDN'T MATTER. LET PEOPLE TALK. IT DON'T BOTHER ME BEE I KNOW I'M NOT GAY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BROOMFIELD AND DOLEZAL LVE TO HOTON'S RELATNSHIP WH CRAWFORD EARLY ON, AND LOOMS LARGE THROUGHOUT CAN I BE ME?. PEOPLE HOTON'S LIFE—MICIANS, IENDS, SECURY GUARDS—TALK OPENLY ABOUT HOW CLOSE THE TWO WERE. HOTON'S FIRST APARTMENT WAS WH CRAWFORD, WHO LEFT A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP AT MONMOUTH COLLEGE TO BEE HOTON'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT.WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?WHNEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE BEGNG, HOTON EQUENTLY THANKED ROBYN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. BUT AFTER HER SELF-TLED BUT BEME A SMASH H—THE BT-SELLG SOLO ALBUM EVER BY A WOMAN AT THE TIME—THE PUBLIC MAND TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HER, AND THE GAY MORS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY SAY, 'HEY MAN, IS WHNEY GAY?' IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE,'" AN ARISTA RERDS EXECUTIVE SAYS. "RUMORS HAD ALREADY STARTED ABOUT HER SEXUALY. WHEN WE TRAVELED, ROBYN WAS WH . YOU HAD TO GET THROUGH ROBYN TO GET THROUGH WHNEY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE NOT THAT MIC PROGRAMMERS ARE MOSTLY STRAIGHT GUYS WHO ARE "99.9% HOMOPHOBIC." THE IA THAT HOTON MIGHT NOT BE TO MEN? "THEY HAD A FIELD DAY WH THAT."WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TALKG TO KATIE COURIC, HOTON ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR UP THE CHATTER: "THIS WASN'T HER WORLD," SHE SAID OF CRAWFORD. "I BROUGHT HER TO THIS MADNS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"SHE GO 'WHY AM I THE TARGET? WHAT DID I DO?' I SAID 'YOU'RE MY IEND... YOU PLAY BASKETBALL. THEY THK YOU'RE A MAN, I DON'T KNOW!' SHE'S A DAMN GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER, SHE N BEAT ANY GUY THERE IS," HOTON ADDS WH A NERVO LGH. "SHE'S A VERY TALL VERY BROAD WOMEN. SHE'S BEEN MY IEND FOR YEARS. I DON'T KNOW — WE JT STUCK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT CISSY, AMONG OTHERS, WAS ANGRY ABOUT THE TWO WOMEN'S CLOSENS, AND MPAIGNED HARD TO GET HER CRAWFORD OUT OF THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLISON SAMUELS, A HOTON FAY IEND, SPEAKS ANKLY THE FILM ABOUT THE NCERN OVER HOTON'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HER MOTHER WAS VERY MUCH AGAST . [BISEXUAL RERD PRODUCER] CLIVE [DAVIS] WAS VERY MUCH AGAST . IT WASN'T OL TO HAVE A LBIAN AFFAIR," SHE SAYS. "I ALWAYS THK IF SHE WERE AN ARTIST TODAY, SHE'D BE FE. EVERYTHG WOULD BE LOVELY. SHE PROBABLY WOULD STILL BE HERE. BUT BACK THEN, THERE WAS THIS TREMENDO EMPHASIS ON BEG THIS PERFECT GIRL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAMUELS ADDS SHE WAS UNNERVED HOW THE FAY FOCED ON THE POSSIBILY OF A QUEER RELATNSHIP MORE THAN HOTON'S SUBSTANCE-ABE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU HAVE THIS FAY RIDDLED WH DGS AND YET HOMOSEXUALY IS WHAT YOU WANT TO FOC ON. YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER TIME, PROBABLY, TRYG TO HANDLE THOSE DGS. BUT I THK THAT FIERCE RELIGN CISSY HAD WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER. [THE MORS] HAD PEOPLE TALKG; HAD THE CHURCH TALKG. SHE'S AN ELR THE CHURCH, A TSTEE, AND YOUR DGHTER'S A HOMOSEXUAL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE VERY TOPIC WAS TABOO, SAYS SAMUELS. "FEMALE HOMOSEXUALY THE BLACK MUNY IS NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT. BLACK MEN, Y; BLACK WOMEN, NO. EVEN NOW."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE DYNAMIC CHANGED ONCE HOTON MET BOBBY BROWN AT THE 1988 SOUL TRA AWARDS. HER BOND WH BROWN WAS DIFFERENT, BUT SHE WASN'T READY TO GIVE CRAWFORD UP, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ROBYN PROVID A SAFE SPACE FOR HER. SHE LOVED HER, RED FOR HER, WAS A IEND TO HER, AND DIDN'T WANT TO EVER DISAPPOT HER," SAYS SAMUELS. "IN THAT, WHNEY FOUND SAFETY AND SOLACE. I DON'T THK THAT [WHNEY] WAS GAY; I THK SHE WAS BISEXUAL... WHNEY LOVED TO BE HELD AND SHE LOVED TO BE EMBRACED AND SHE WANTED TO FEEL PROTECTED."WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BOBBY BROWN NFIRMED HIS WIFE'S BISEXUALY HIS 2016 MEMOIR, EVERY LTLE STEP. “I REALLY FEEL THAT IF ROBYN WAS ACCEPTED TO WHNEY’S LIFE, WHNEY WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY," HE TOLD AND TOLD US WEEKLY. "SHE DIDN’T HAVE CLOSE IENDS WH HER ANYMORE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WHILE HOTON WAS ALIVE, BROWN AND CRAWFORD HAD A NTENT AND PETIVE RELATNSHIP, ONE THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO CRAWFORD LEAVG THE HOTON MP FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ROBYN AND WHNEY WERE LIKE TWS. THERE WERE SEPARABLE," SAID HOTON'S SECURY GUARD DAVID ROBERTS. "AND EVERYBODY KNEW THE POWER THAT ROBYN HAD... THEY HAD A BOND AND BOBBY BROWN ULD NEVER REMOVE ROBYN OM THE RELATNSHIP. THAT WAS PART OF HIS TRATN, BEE HE WANTED WHNEY HOTON TO LOVE HIM AS THE MAN OF THE RELATNSHIP. HE WANTED WHNEY TO REMOVE ROBYN OM THEIR RELATNSHIP AND WHNEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO , BEE ROBYN RED FOR WHNEY, PROBABLY MORE THAN SHE WOULD RE FOR ANYBODY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I KD OF KNOW WHAT WHNEY WANTS TO GO ON AROUND HER," CRAWFORD SAYS THE ARCHIVAL TERVIEW. "AND SOMETIM 'S A LTLE DIFFICULT TO NVEY THAT TO PEOPLE; YOU JT HAVE TO GO AND DO YOURSELF. SO MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY I'M JT ABOUT EVERYWHERE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROBERTS SAYS BROWN AND CRAWFORD WOULD GET TO "PHYSIL ALTERTNS," SOME BROWN DIDN'T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY HATED EACH OTHER. THEY WOULD BATTLE FOR HER AFFECTN; THEY WOULD BATTLE FOR HER ATTENTN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEHD-THE-SCEN TOUR VIO SHOWS AN AWKWARD MOMENT WHEN BROWN, POSG FOR THE MERA, ATTEMPTS TO PUT HIS ARM AROUND CRAWFORD AND WRIGGL TO GET OUT OF HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S CLEAR SHE'S UNTERTED CLOWNG AROUND WH HIM, PRETENDG TO BE OL FOR ANYONE'S SAKE BUT HOTON'{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BROWN WAS ALSO TERVIEWED FOR CAN I BE ME? BUT, SIAR TO CISSY, MOST OF HIS TIME TO TALK HIMSELF UP. ("I'M THE ORIGAL BAD BOY!"). IT'S EXCCIATG TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE CLOSE TO THIS GIFTED BUT TROUBLED ARTIST SEEM MORE NCERNED ABOUT WHAT SHE ULD DO FOR THEM THAN HER MENTAL AND PHYSIL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEY IGNORED THE WOMAN BEHD THE POWERHOE TALENT, WHO WAS FADG AWAY WH A BROKEN HEART AND GROWG ADDICTNS TO E AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROBERTS SAYS CRAWFORD WAS ONE OF FEW PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO KEEP WHNEY OFF DGS. "THEY HAD DOZENS OF ARGUMENTS OVER WHNEY GETTG HIGH." HE WAS ULTIMATELY FIRED FOR FILG A REPORT ABOUT HER DG E AFTER A TRA-WRECK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CLIPS OF CRAWFORD AND HOTON ARE BTERSWEET, AS THEIR VOTN TO ONE ANOTHER IS OBV. CRAWFORD IS SHOWN ONT OF BARRIS, CLOSE TO THE STAGE AT A HOTON SHOW, CLAPPG AND SGG ALONG TO "IF I TOLD YOU THAT." THE SONG, ORIGALLY RERD AS A DUET WH GEE MICHAEL CLUS THE LE "I KNOW THAT WE WERE JT IENDS/BUT WHAT IF I CI TO BRG SOME THGS /I HOPE WON'T OFFEND THE TST/WE HAVE E I DON'T WANT THIS TO END."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN CRAWFORD FALLY END HER NNECTN WH HOTON AFTER MORE THAN TWO S OF WORKG AND LIVG SI-BY-SI, HOTON REPORTEDLY SPIRALED, TURNG TO DGS EVEN MORE AS A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I ASSUMED THEY PAID HER OFF," SAMUELS SAYS OF CRAWFORD. "BUT SHE DISAPPEARED. I NEVER SAW HER AGA AND SHE WAS EVERYWHERE WH HER BEFORE. I THK THEY PREVENTED . I THK THEY KNEW THEY ULD NEVER NNECT AGA. IT HAD TO BE 'BOBBY AND WHNEY,' THIS FAY UN." SAMUELS SISTS CRAWFORD'S REMOVAL WAS "THE DOWNFALL OF WHNEY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ROBYN WAS THE PERSON WHO WAS KEEPG HER TOGETHER. I THK THAT'S WHY THE DGS BEME SO IMPORTANT TO HER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE IS A VASTATG IRONY NOW TO LYRICS LIKE "LEARNG TO LOVE YOURSELF/ IS THE GREATT LOVE OF ALL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAN I BE ME? EVABLY TELLS A TRAGIC STORY: THE MISE OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATT SGG TALENTS DONE , BROOMFIELD MATAS, BY A LACK OF SELF-TEEM AND SUPPORT. IN ONE SCENE, CISSY IS SEEN TALKG TO OPRAH WEY ABOUT HER OWN MEMOIR, REMEMBERG WHNEY: MY STORY OF LOVE, LOSS, AND THE NIGHT THE MIC STOPPED. WEY ASKS IF HER DGHTER HAD A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH CRAWFORD, AND CISSY ANSWERS THAT SHE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW. BUT WHEN WEY ASKS IF WOULD HAVE BOTHERED HER IF SHE HAD, CISSY QUICKLY REPLI, "ABSOLUTELY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CRAWFORD HAS LARGELY STAYED SILENT ABOUT HER TIME WH HOTON. SHE'S NOW MARRIED TO LISA HTELMANN, HEAD OF TALENT AND ENTERTAMENT PARTNERSHIPS AT HTELMANN WAS FORMERLY AT ESQUIRE, WHERE CRAWFORD PUBLISHED THE ONLY STATEMENT SHE'S EVER GIVEN ABOUT HOTON AFTER HER PASSG: "PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY HAD TO PROTECT HER," SHE SAID. "SHE HATED THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNRSTAND: SHE WAS ALWAYS THE ONE DOG THE DRIVG. SOMEONE JT LLED AND TOLD ME THAT THE FAY KEPT WHNEY OM SEEG HER. NOBODY KEPT WHNEY OM DOG ANYTHG. SHE DID WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO. WHEN PEOPLE LEFT HER OR WERE TOLD TO LEAVE, THEY ULD NEVER BELIEVE THAT WHNEY WOULD NEVER LL THEM—BUT SHE NEVER DID. SHE WAS WORKG HARD TO KEEP HERSELF TOGETHER, AND I THK SHE FELT THAT IF SHE ADMTED ANY FEELG OF SADNS OR WEAKNS, SHE WOULD CMBLE."PHOTO BY VNIE ZUFFANTE/GETTY IMAGUNITED STATES - MARCH 01: WHNEY HOTON WH ROB 3/1987 (PHOTO BY VNIE ZUFFANTE/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTHER PICTNS OF HOTON'S LIFE (CLUDG THE LIFETIME BPIC WHNEY) HT AT CRAWFORD'S ROLE THE SGER'S LIFE, BUT FOC MORE ON BROWN'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKE BPICS AND TELL-ALLS, DOCUMENTARI N ONLY TELL SO MUCH OF A PERSON'S STORY. BUT CAN I BE ME? REVEALS SOME HARD TTHS ABOUT WHNEY HOTON, AND THE FACTORS THAT NTRIBUTED TO HER DOWNFALL, CLUDG THE BIPHOBIA SHE FACED OM HER CIRCLE AND THE TERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA SHE MAY HAVE POISONED HERSELF WH. THAT PRSURE TO BE THE PERFECT POP PRCS, THE ONE WHE AMERI ULD BUY TO AND THAT BLACK AMERI WAS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT, MEANT DOG RIGHT BY AN ENV MOTHER, BY A PHILANRG HBAND, BY HER CHURCH, RERD EXECUTIV AND HER FANS. IT PROVED TOO MUCH FOR ONE PERSON—EVEN A SUPERSTAR LIKE WHNEY HOTON—TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY: CAN I BE ME? IS A HARD WATCH, BUT A WORTHY ONE. WHNEY HOTON LEAV BEHD A LEGACY OF CREDIBLE MIC AND LIVE PERFORMANC, BUT THE REALY SHE LIVED EVERY SGLE DAY SHOULDN'T BE FOTTEN, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY: CAN I BE ME? PREMIER FRIDAY, AUGT 25, AT 9/8 ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

WAS WHNEY HOTON GAY? EXPLORG THE LEGENDARY SGER’S SEXUALY

Crawford says her memoir that she and Whney “never talked about labels, like lbian or gay, ” but stead jt lived their liv. In her own memoir, Rememberg Whney, Cissy wrote that she never knew if Whney and Robyn's relatnship was anythg more than platonic, but revealed durg a 2013 episo of Oprah's Next Chapter that she "absolutely" would have had a problem wh her dghter beg gay. Was Whney Hoton gay?

We never talked labels, like lbian or gay. Kennedy went on to say, “They were partners a tradnal sense but never had a real nversatn about labels — lbian, gay, bisexual, girliend. At that time, the church and the rerd dtry were both homophobic.

All of them wanted to know, “Was she gay? Nearly 4 years after her marriage to Bobby Brown, Katie Couric asked Whney Hoton about Robyn Crawford and the gay mors once aga.

INSI WHNEY HOTON’S SECRET TORMENT FOR BEG GAY, FALLG FOR A WOMAN

But was clear few uld agree when me to Hoton’s sexualy, pecially her relatnship wh long-time iend and openly gay woman Robyn some kd of lost diary surfac, fans will never hear om Whney directly.

The relatnship eventually end bee of homophobic are still very few openly queer black women the public eye, and while I want to make very clear that homophobia wh the black muny is not greater than or a larger societal problem than homophobia wh whe muni or otherwise, there is a generatnal feel to . If her dghter had been gay, Cissy Hoton said, she wouldn’t have ndoned .

WHNEY HOTON’S DARK FAY SECRET UNVERED NEW DOCUMENTARYIN KEV MACDONALD’S WHNEY, PREMIERG AT CANN WEDNDAY, HOTON’S NER CIRCLE NFIRM A CHILDHOOD TRMA HOTON SUFFERED.BY JULIE MILLERMAY 16, 2018WHNEY HOTON AT THE AMERIN CONCERT CELEBRATN ON JULY 4, 1986 JERSEY CY, NEW JERSEY.BY RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAG.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEOSR-WNG FILMMAKER KEV MACDONALD (ONE DAY SEPTEMBER, THE LAST KG OF STLAND) DID NOT SET OUT TO BREAK NEWS WH WHNEY, HIS HEART-WRENCHG DOCUMENTARY ABOUT WHNEY HOTON THAT PREMIERED AT THE CANN FILM FTIVAL WEDNDAY. HE WANTED TO SCB OFF THE SAD, TABLOID NARRATIVE THAT BASED THE SGER’S REPUTATN HER FAL, DG-ADDICTED YEARS, TO SHOW HOW ONE OF THE GREATT VOL TALENTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY—A SWEET GIRL OM NEWARK, NEW JERSEY—SELF-STCTED AND DIED 2012 AT THE AGE OF 48 UNR TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANC. BUT AFTER WATCHG HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PRIVATE HOTON FOOTAGE—TAKEN AT HOME, ON TOUR, AND BACKSTAGE—MACDONALD BEGAN TO BE HNTED BY A SAD SPICN.“THERE WAS SOMETHG VERY DISTURBED ABOUT HER, BEE SHE WAS NEVER FORTABLE HER OWN SK,” MACDONALD TOLD VANY FAIR ON WEDNDAY. “SHE SEEMED KD OF ASEXUAL A STRANGE WAY. SHE WAS A BETIFUL WOMAN, BUT SHE WAS NEVER PARTICULARLY SEXY. I’VE SEEN AND DONE SOME FILMG WH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABE, AND THERE WAS JT SOMETHG ABOUT HER MANNER THAT WAS REMISCENT TO ME OF THAT SORT OF SHRKG—A LACK OF FORT HER OWN PHYSILY THAT FELT, MAYBE THAT IS WHAT WAS.” MACDONALD WASN’T POSIVE THAT HIS HUNCH WAS RIGHT—BUT “SHORTLY AFTER THKG THAT, SOMEONE DID TELL ME OFF THE RERD ABOUT BEG TOLD BY WHNEY ABOUT BEG ABED, AND BEG ONE OF THE CENTRAL REASONS BEHD HER SELF-TORTURE. IT TOOK AWHILE FOR ANYONE TO GO ON RERD ABOUT , AND EVENTUALLY THE FAY DID.”THE BOMBSHELL IS DROPPED ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH WHNEY—THAT BOTH HOTON AND HER HALF-BROTHER, GARY, WERE ALLEGEDLY MOLTED AS CHILDREN BY THEIR DEE DEE WARWICK, THE SISTER OF DNNE WARWICK AND THE NIECE OF HOTON’S MOTHER, CISSY HOTON, WHO DIED 2008. DEE DEE AND DNNE PERFORMED TOGETHER AS THE GOSPELAIR THE 1950S AND 1960S, SOMETIM SGG WH CISSY’S GOSPEL GROUP, THE DRKARD SGERS. DEE DEE WENT ON TO SG BACKUP FOR ARETHA FRANKL AND WILSON PICKETT, AND BE NOMATED FOR TWO GRAMMY AWARDS. CISSY ALSO SANG BACKUP FOR FRANKL, ADDN TO ELVIS PRLEY. WHEN SHE WAS ON TOUR, CISSY LEFT WHNEY, GARY, AND THEIR BROTHER MICHAEL FOR EXTEND PERDS OF TIME WH RELATIV.ASKED ABOUT WHAT LED TO HIS OWN ADDICTN ISSU THE FILM, GARY TELLS MACDONALD, “BEG A CHILD—BEG SEVEN, EIGHT, NE YEARS OLD—AND BEG MOLTED BY A FEMALE FAY MEMBER OF ME. MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE GONE A LOT, SO WE STAYED WH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE . . . FOUR, FIVE DIFFERENT FAI WHO TOOK RE OF .”IT WASN’T UNTIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE LOCKG THE ED ON THE DOCUMENTARY THAT MACDONALD GOT ON-THE-RERD NFIRMATN THAT HOTON HAD ALSO BEEN ABED.“I FALLY MANAGED TO PERSUA MARY JON, WHO WAS WHNEY’S LONGTIME ASSISTANT AND PROBABLY KNEW HER HER LAST YEARS MORE THAN ANYBODY, TO TALK [ON-MERA],” MACDONALD SAID. “SHE TALKS ABOUT WHAT WHNEY FELT AND WHAT EFFECT HAD ON HER. SO WE CHANGED THE WHOLE CUT AT THE VERY LAST MUTE. IT WAS KD OF A TECTIVE STORY TO GET THAT PIECE OF RMATN, WHICH CHANGED HOW I FELT ABOUT WHNEY AND HOW I FELT ABOUT THE STORY.”MACDONALD RE-EDED THE ENTIRE FILM TO BUILD TO THAT REVELATN. IN JON’S EMOTNAL TERVIEW, SHE RELLS A NVERSATN SHE HAD WH THE LATE SGER, DURG WHICH JON REVEALED THAT HER SISTER HAD BEEN MOLTED AS A CHILD.“[HOTON] LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, ‘MARY, I WAS MOLTED AT A YOUNG AGE TOO. BUT WASN’T BY A MAN— WAS A WOMAN,’” RELLS JON THE FILM. “SHE HAD TEARS HER EY. SHE SAYS, ‘MOMMY DON’T KNOW THE THGS WE WENT THROUGH.’ I SAID, ‘HAVE YOU EVER TOLD YOUR MOTHER?’ SHE SAYS, ‘NO.’ I SAID, ‘WELL, MAYBE YOU NEED TO TELL HER.’ SHE SAID, ‘NO, MY MOTHER WOULD HURT SOMEBODY IF I TOLD HER WHO WAS.’ SHE JT HAD TEARS ROLLG DOWN HER FACE, AND I JT HUGGED HER. I SAID, ‘ONE DAY WHEN YOU GET THE NERVE, YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR MOTHER. IT WILL LIFT THE BURN OFF YOU.’”HOTON NEVER SPOKE PUBLICLY ABOUT THE ALLEGED ABE—BUT, AS MACDONALD UNVERS, SHE DID DROP CLU ABOUT . ASKED A PRS TERVIEW ABOUT WHAT MAK HER ANGRY, HOTON RPONDS WH SUDN, PALPABLE RAGE: “CHILD ABE MAK ME ANGRY . . . I HATE TO SEE KIDS . . . BOTHERS ME THAT CHILDREN, WHO ARE HELPLS, WHO PEND ON ADULTS FOR SECURY AND LOVE, JT BOTHERS ME. IT MAK ME ANGRY.” HOTON ALSO MA A POT TO BRG HER DGHTER, BOBBI KRISTA, ON ALL OF HER TERNATNAL TOURS, RATHER THAN LEAVE HER DGHTER AT HOME. SHE ALSO URGED JON TO BRG HER DGHTER ALONG WH THEM ON TRIPS.ASKED WHY HOTON NEVER TOLD HER MOTHER ABOUT THE ALLEGED ABE, JON SAYS, “I THK SHE WAS ASHAMED . . . SHE ED TO SAY, ‘I WONR IF I DID SOMETHG TO MAKE [DEE DEE] THK I WANTED HER.’ I SAID, ‘STOP. A PREDATOR IS A PREDATOR IS A PREDATOR.’ IF CISSY HAD KNOWN, SHE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHG ABOUT , BEE CISSY LOV HER CHILDREN.’”MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYMACDONALD SAID THAT CISSY HOTON HAS BEEN RMED THAT THE ACCATN IS MA THE DOCUMENTARY: “CISSY KNOWS. SHE WAS TOLD, AND VERY UPSET. I THK SHE WILL WATCH THE FILM AT SOME STAGE, BUT ’S OBVLY UP TO HER WHEN SHE WANTS TO DO THAT.”MACDONALD ALSO SAID THAT PAT HOTON—WHNEY’S FORMER SISTER--LAW, MANAGER, AND TATE EXECUTOR, WHO IS TERVIEWED THE FILM—HAS TOLD DNNE WARWICK ABOUT THE ALLEGATNS.“SHE HAS BEEN RMED. SHE HASN’T WANTED TO SEE THE FILM . . . BUT VERY MUCH MYSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE, WE ALL DON’T WANT HER TO SUFFER BY THE ACTNS OF HER FAY. ANY NEGATIVE FEELGS TOWARD HER WOULD BE PLETELY WRONG. SHE HAD NOTHG TO DO WH . SHE KNEW NOTHG ABOUT . WE FELY DON’T WANT ANY REPERCSNS FOR HER.”MACDONALD HAD NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY TERTED MAKG A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HOTON UNTIL SPEAKG TO HOTON’S AGENT NILE DAVID, WHO REPRENTED HOTON OM 1986 UNTIL HOTON DIED 2012.“SHE KNEW WHNEY PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANYBODY OUTSI OF HER FAY. AND SHE SAID TO ME, ‘THE THG IS, I LOVED HER SO MUCH, BUT I STILL DON’T UNRSTAND WHY WHAT HAPPENED HAPPENED TO HER FAY.’ THAT WAS THE KEY FOR ME. BEE, I THOUGHT, THAT’S SO TERTG SHE HAD SUCH VOTN AND LOVE FOR THIS WOMAN, YET SHE NEVER FELT LIKE SHE UNRSTOOD HER. SO THERE WAS A MYSTERY THERE. AND I APPROACHED THE FILM LIKE A MYSTERY. WHO WAS SHE? WHY DID SHE END UP AS SHE END UP? AND HOW N WE ACCS HER, WHEN SHE NEVER WROTE ANY DIARI? HER TERVIEWS ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY HER AVOIDG THE SUBJECT. ALL YOU HAVE IS THE PURY OF HER VOICE, AND THE BETY OF HER VOICE, AND THE EMOTN TRANSMTED BY THE VOICE A NONVERBAL WAY. ONE OF THE BIGGT PUZZL, FOR ME, WERE THOSE FAL YEARS OF HER LIFE. IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS SOME STORYLE THAT THE PUBLIC DIDN’T REALLY KNOW. HER VOLVEMENT WH BOBBY BROWN, HER DGHTER. THERE WERE MORS OF SUBSTANCE ABE.”“I IALLY THOUGHT THE STORY WAS MAYBE ABOUT HER SEXUALY—THAT SHE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO BE GAY [PUBLICLY],” SAID MACDONALD, REFERRG TO THE ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP HOTON ALLEGEDLY HAD WH HER LONGTIME BT IEND AND EMPLOYEE ROBYN CRAWFORD—A UPLG THAT IS NFIRMED THE DOCUMENTARY BY SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO SCRIBE HOTON’S SEXUALY AS “FLUID.” MACDONALD E-MAILED WH CRAWFORD, WHO TOYED WH THE IA OF TAKG PART THE FILM BUT ULTIMATELY CID NOT TO.“I REALIZED THAT ACTUALLY IS NOT THE STORY,” SAID MACDONALD. “[HOTON] ONLY HAD, AS FAR AS I’M AWARE, ONE PROPER HOMOSEXUAL RELATNSHIP, WH ROBYN CRAWFORD, WHICH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT. I THK THAT ONLY LASTED QUE A SHORT TIME. I FOUND SOME DOCUMENTATN THAT PROV, WHOUT A DOUBT, THAT WAS A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP BETWEEN THEM . . . THE REAL STORY, AS I DUG EPER, HAD TO DO WH HER FAY, AND TO DO WH RACE, I SUPPOSE, AND HER CHILDHOOD.”MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYMACDONALD’S VTIGATN FELT, AT TIM, LIKE HE WAS NOT MAKG MUCH HEADWAY—EVEN THOUGH PAT HOTON PROVID MACDONALD WH ACCS, WHNEY’S ARCHIV, AND FAL CUT ON THE FILM. MACDONALD SAID THAT, HIS TWO- REER, HE HAS NEVER ENUNTERED AS MUCH “LYG AND OBFTN” AS HE DID WHILE SPEAKG TO WHNEY’S CIRCLE OF ASSOCIAT.“SO MANY PEOPLE I SPOKE TO WERE JT UNTTHFUL TO ME, JT BULLSHTG. I NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT ANY DOCUMENTARY BEFORE. AND I HAD TO TERVIEW MANY MORE PEOPLE, MANY MORE TIM THAN I EVER HAVE ON ANYTHG ELSE, ORR TO TRY AND STILL GET SOME B OF TTH.”THE FAY ULTIMATELY OPENED UP TO MACDONALD, PART, HE THKS, BEE HOTON STROYED HER REPUTATN BEFORE SHE DIED. “WHAT ARE YOU PROTECTG ANYMORE? THIS FILM HOPEFULLY KD OF FIV [HOTON] FOR THIS EXTRAORDARY SELF-STCTN AND STCTN OF HER DGHTER’S EXPERIENCE, AND HOPEFULLY HELPS PEOPLE UNRSTAND HER A DIFFERENT [LIGHT]. I THK THIS IS SOMETHG THAT PAT HOTON AGRE WH—THAT WE HOPE, THE END, THIS REALLY HELPS WHNEY.”MACDONALD’S FILM EXAM THE GHT RELATNSHIP WHNEY HAD WH CISSY, A PROFSNAL SGER WHO REALIZED EARLY ON HOW CREDIBLE HER DGHTER’S TALENT WAS. HAVG WORKED AROUND STARS FOR S, CISSY GROOMED HER DGHTER EXTENSIVELY TO BEE THE LEGEND SHE BEME—TEACHG HER TO BE POISED AND GRACEFUL, HOW TO NTROL HER VOL STMENT, AND SENDG HER TO A CATHOLIC ALL-GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. THE RIGORO PREPARATN PAID OFF PROFSNALLY, BUT CREATED SOME RENTMENT WHNEY. WHEN CISSY ALLEGEDLY HAD AN EXTRAMARAL AFFAIR WH THE MISTER AT THE FAY’S CHURCH— SPE OF WHNEY’S FATHER’S OWN PHILANRG—THE MOTHER-DGHTER RELATNSHIP WAS FURTHER MARRED.“WHNEY WAS VERY RELIG, AND HER LIFE WAS AROUND THE CHURCH—SO WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HER LIFE, HER UNIVERSE, EXPLOD. AND SHE BLAMED HER MOTHER [FOR HER PARENTS’ DIVORCE]. THAT ALLOWED HER FATHER TO GET HIS CLAWS TO HER,” MACDONALD SAID. ACRDG TO THE DIRECTOR, HOTON’S FATHER, JOHN, WHO DIED 2003, “JT WANTED TO GET AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF HER AS HE ULD, THE SHORTT PERD OF TIME.”IN THE FILM, HOTON’S NER CIRCLE RELLS STAGG AN TERVENTN FOR THE SGER—ONLY TO HAVE JOHN TELL HIS DGHTER THAT REHAB WAS NOT NECSARY.“THERE’S A SAD THG I LEARNED, WHICH ISN’T THE FILM—BUT WHNEY’S PUBLICIST, LYNN VOLKMAN, SAID THAT SOMEONE JOHN’S OFFICE HAD A DG PROBLEM. AND JOHN SENT THAT PERSON OFF TO REHAB—HE WAS VERY GENERO, GAVE THEM TIME OFF, AND WAS REALLY RG. AT THE SAME TIME, HIS OWN DGHTER, WHO WAS ON DGS, HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHG ABOUT . HE DIDN’T TRY TO STOP THE TRA.”MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYTHE FILM ALLEG THAT JOHN, WHO WORKED AS HIS DGHTER’S MANAGER, ALSO STOLE MONEY OM HER. WHEN HOTON LEARNED OF THE BETRAYAL—AS HER MARRIAGE TO BROWN WAS CMBLG—SHE WAS CSHED. HER DG HAB LATED—SHE PREFERRED SMOKG E WH MARIJUANA—AND SHE WOULD DISAPPEAR BEHD CLOSED HOTEL-ROOM DOORS FOR UP TO 10 DAYS. RATHER THAN TERVENE, THE FILM ALLEG THAT HER LABEL POURED OVER $5 LN TO ILL-FATED RERDG TRIPS—LIKE A THREE-MONTH JNT TO MIAMI THAT PRODUCED LS THAN TWO SONGS. A PRODUCER RELLS HOTON SAYG AT THE TRIP’S END, “I DON’T THK I SLEPT 45 MUT THIS SUMMER.”MACDONALD ALSO DISPELS THE MYTH THAT BROWN WAS RPONSIBLE FOR HIS WIFE’S DG ADDICTN. IN ONE SCENE, GARY TELLS MACDONALD THAT, WHEN HE WAS WH HOTON, THEY WOULD DO DGS EVERY DAY. “A LOT EVERY DAY—SH THAT UALLY KILLS MOTHERFUCKERS, AND WE KEEP ROCKG.” AS FOR BROWN’S DG TAKE, GARY TELLS HIM, “LET’S JT SAY BOBBY WAS A FUCKG LIGHTWEIGHT WHEN ME TO DGS. HE ULD NOT . . . WE ED TO PASS BOBBY BY LAPPG HIM. TST ME.”OVER THE URSE OF MAKG THE FILM, MACDONALD SAYS THAT HE STARTED THKG ABOUT HOW HOTON’S TRAGIC PATH MIRRORED THAT OF HER FEW PEERS THE MIC DTRY.“IF YOU THK ABOUT THE THREE BIGGT STARS OF THE 1980S—PRCE, MICHAEL JACKSON, AND WHNEY—THEY ALL DIED WH A FEW YEARS VERY SIAR CIRCUMSTANC, BETWEEN THE DG ABE, THE ISOLATN, AND THE ECCENTRIC BEHAVR. AND YOU THK: WHY IS THAT? THAT IS NOT A CINCE. I THK YOU N TRACE ALL THAT BACK TO THEIR CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE. THEIR PARENTS HAD ALL E OM EXPERIENCG TRMA THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH—THE GREAT MIGRATN, WAS LLED. THEIR PARENTS WERE VERY POLIL AND VERY ENGAGED BLACK RIGHTS. WH WHNEY, MICHAEL, AND PRCE, YOU ULDN’T THK OF THREE LS POLIL PEOPLE. AND THERE’S A SORT OF POPPY IVOLY—THE WAY THEY WERE THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE ACCEPTED TO THE WHE MASTREAM WORLD—TO ALL THREE OF THEM.”THOUGH SHE IS GONE, THE FILMMAKER HOP THAT WHNEY WILL HELP REVER THE SGER’S REPUTATN AND REMD THE WORLD OF HER CREDIBLE GIFT. FOR THOSE WHO WERE CLOSE TO HER, THE PROJECT HAS ALREADY HELPED HEAL.“WH A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HER, THERE WAS A SENSE OF GUILT, BEE THEY FEEL LIKE, ‘MAYBE IF WE’D BEEN MORE STRONG WH HER AT THE TIME, MAYBE NONT HER DG ISSU PRIMARILY, MAYBE THGS WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN SO BAD,’” EXPLAED MACDONALD. “YOU GET THIS OPPORTUNY WH A MERA TO BE THIS KD OF PORTABLE PSYCHIATRIST UCH, TO S WH OTHER PEOPLE. MICHAEL HOTON, ONE OF WHNEY’S BROTHERS, SAID TO ME AFTER TERVIEW NO. 3 OR 4, ‘WE SHOULD JT DO THIS EVERY MONTH. I’M FDG THIS VERY THERAPTIC.’”“I SAW PAT YTERDAY, AND SHE SAID SHE TALKED TO MICHAEL AND TO GARY, AND THEY BOTH, THROUGH THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF MAKG THE FILM, FELT LIKE WAS A THERAPY SSN, AND OPENED UP A LOT OF STUFF. IT IS VERY PAFUL FOR A FAY TO DISCS [THE SUBJECTS], BUT THEY ARE VERY GRATEFUL, A WAY, THAT THEY HAVE.”JULIE MILLER

” Crawford says she and Hoton, "never talked about labels, like lbian or gay. ”Both 2017's "Whney: Can I Be Me" and 2018's "Whney" highlight the faial homophobia that surround Hoton, as well as the prsure she felt om a homophobic, racist, patriarchal society and entertament bs.

Now, as a black and openly gay woman, she's reclaimg who she is, and who Hoton was to her.

ONE OF THE MOST UNR-EXAMED DIMENSNS OF WHNEY HOTON’S LEGACY IS HER STAT AS A GAY IN

But what Crawford allows to mate on is how others have been able to dictate a culture of homophobia.

WAS WHNEY HOTON GAY? NEW BOOK CLAIMS LIVG A CLOSETED LIFE STROYED LEGEND

Together that summer, they sunbathed at the Jersey Shore, went to gay clubs, and ma out a rental r before beg told to move along by a p. “They were partners a tradnal sense but never had a real nversatn about labels — lbian, gay, bisexual, girliend, ” Kennedy wr.

The church and the rerd dtry were both so homophobic, Whney knew the affair had to end when Clive Davis gave her a rerd al. “Was she gay?

WHNEY HOTON’S ‘LBIAN ROMANCE’ AND THE TYRANNY OF THE ’80S CLOSETSILENCEDBOBBY BROWN HAS REVEALED HOTON WAS A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH HER PAL ROBYN CRAWFORD, MEANG THE BIGGT POP STAR AND MOVIE ACTRS OF THE ERA ULDN’T LIVE OUT LOUD. JEN YAMATOUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 7:40PM EDT DAVE HOGAN/GETTYSHORTLY AFTER TAKG TO WORK TELEVISN TO TELL ALL THE WORLD ABOUT WHNEY HOTON’S ADDICTN, ACCE NICK GORDON THE UNTIMELY ATHS OF BOTH HIS EX-WIFE AND THEIR DGHTER, BOBBI KRISTA, AND CLAIM THAT ONCE UPON A TIME HE HAD SEX WH A GHOST, BOBBY BROWN HAD ONE MORE BOMBSHELL TO DROP ON THE PROMO TOUR FOR HIS NEW BOOK, EVERY LTLE STEP.THE LATE WHNEY HOTON WAS BISEXUAL, BROWN TOLD US WEEKLY FOLLOWG HIS HOUR-LONG 20/20 TERVIEW, NFIRMG LONGSTANDG MORS ABOUT THE “I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” SUPERSTAR AND HER BFF, ROBYN CRAWFORD.“I KNOW,” BROWN, 47, TOLD US. “WE WERE MARRIED FOR 14 YEARS. THERE ARE SOME THGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WERE PERSONAL TO …”BUT NOTHG, SEEMS, TOO PERSONAL TO SHARE WH US WEEKLY. HOTON DROWNED 2012 A BATHTUB AT THE BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL, AND WAS DISVERED TO HAVE HAD A CKTAIL OF DGS HER SYSTEM. TWO DAYS EARLIER, SHE HAD PERFORMED AT A PRE-GRAMMYS PARTY HOSTED BY HER LONGTIME MENTOR AND IEND CLIVE DAVIS—WHO HIMSELF ME OUT AS BISEXUAL 2013. “I OPENED MYSELF UP TO THE POSSIBILY THAT I ULD HAVE A RELATNSHIP WH A MAN AS WELL AS THE TWO THAT I HAD WH A WOMAN,” HE TOLD KATIE COURIC A TELEVISED TERVIEW, ALSO PROMOTG HIS MEMOIRS. “I’M STILL ATTRACTED TO WOMEN… YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ONLY ONE THG OR ANOTHER. FOR ME, ’S THE PERSON.” FOR YEARS LEADG UP TO HER TRAGIC ATH, HOTON NIED PERSISTENT GOSSIP-RAG REPORTS THAT SHE WAS NOT ONLY GAY, BUT VOLVED ROMANTILLY WH CRAWFORD, WHO SHE’D MET AS A TEENAGER EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, BEFORE HER IMMENSE TALENTS SKYROCKETED HER TO GLOBAL FAME. HOTON WAS 16 AND CRAWFORD WAS 19 WHEN THE TWO WOMEN FIRST BEME IENDS AND THEN QUICKLY BEME SEPARABLE. THEY LIVED TOGETHER AS ROOMMAT A NEW JERSEY APARTMENT, RAISG EYEBROWS AND SPURRG SPECULATN THAT THEY WERE MORE THAN JT BT IENDS. CRAWFORD LATER BEME THE POP DIVA’S ASSISTANT AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, OFTEN APPEARG BY HER SI PUBLIC—AND THE MEDIA TOOK NOTICE, HOUNDG HOTON TIME AND AGA TO SET THE RERD STRAIGHT.“I TELL MY FAY, ‘YOU N HEAR ANYTHG ON THE STREETS, BUT IF YOU DON’T HEAR OM ME, ’S NOT TE,’” CRAWFORD MENTED A 1987 TIME MAGAZE PROFILE OF HOTON. IN THE SAME ARTICLE, HOTON ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HER CLOSENS WH CRAWFORD MA PEOPLE WONR, BUT SAID EXPRSLY, AND NOT FOR THE LAST TIME, THAT SHE WAS NOT GAY.“MY MOTHER TGHT ME THAT WHEN YOU STAND THE TTH AND SOMEONE TELLS A LIE ABOUT YOU, DON’T FIGHT ,” SAID HOTON. “I’M NOT WH ANY MAN. I’M NOT LOVE. PEOPLE SEE ROBYN WH ME, AND THEY DRAW THEIR OWN NCLNS. ANYWAY, WHOSE BS IS IF YOU’RE GAY OR LIKE DOGS? WHAT OTHERS DO SHOULDN’T MATTER. LET PEOPLE TALK. IT DON’T BOTHER ME BEE I KNOW I’M NOT GAY. I DON’T RE.”BUT SOON AFTER HOTON MARRIED R&B SGER BROWN 1992—WH CRAWFORD SERVG AS HER MAID OF HONOR—THE BTI SEEMGLY GREW APART. BACK THEN THE MID-’80S, BEFORE SHE MET AND MARRIED BROWN—THE MAN SHE’D BE MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WH FOR THE RT OF HER LIFE AND REER—BEG OPENLY GAY OR BISEXUAL WAS NOT AN EASY OPTN FOR HOTON. AFTER WHNEY’S ATH, CISSY HOTON CLARED TO OPRAH WEY THAT SHE DID NOT APPROVE OF HER DGHTER’S CLOSE RELATNSHIP WH CRAWFORD. SHOULD WHNEY HAVE E OUT, SAID CISSY, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SUPPORTED .“I KNEW I DIDN’T WANT ROBYN AROUND MY DGHTER, AND I TOLD [WHNEY] THAT,” CISSY WROTE HER OWN BOOK, REMEMBERG WHNEY. “THERE WASN’T MUCH I ULD DO THOUGH. [WHNEY] LIKED ROBYN. SHE WAS PAST THE AGE WHEN I ULD FORBID HER OM SEEG SOMEONE. KIDS HAVE A MD OF THEIR OWN WHEN THEY GET OLR. THEY WANT TO EXPERIMENT WH ALL KDS OF THGS. AND I DON’T KNOW IF WAS MORE THAN THAT.” AT THAT TIME, BEFORE FEMALE STARS LIKE ELLEN DEGENER URAGEOLY BROKE THROUGH THE LGBT CURTA AND CLARED THEMSELV OUT AND PROUD ON THE WORLD STAGE, ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD DARLG WAS LIVG THE CLOSET. JODIE FOSTER HAD BEEN ACTG SCE THE AGE OF 3 AND LEARNED THE HARD WAY, AS THE OBJECT OF WOULD-BE PRINTIAL ASSASS JOHN HCKLEY’S OBSSN, TO FORTIFY THE WALLS AROUND HER PERSONAL PRIVACY. BUT EVEN WHOUT NCRETE NFIRMATN, FOSTER’S MORED FLG WH HER THE ACCED -STAR KELLY MCGILLIS STOKED THE FIR OF TSELTOWN GOSSIPMONGERS PLENTY. WHEN BOTH WOMEN NFIRMED THEIR HOMOSEXUALY YEARS LATER, FOSTER ACKNOWLEDGG GRADUALLY PUBLIC BEGNG AROUND 2007 AND MCGILLIS 2009 AFTER SEVERAL RELATNSHIPS WH MEN, ONLY REIGNED THOSE VTAGE MORS—CLUDG NEVER-NFIRMED SCUTTLEBUTT OF A LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN FOSTER, MCGILLIS, AND… HOTON.THE MORS, OFT-CHRONICLED BY THE VILLAGE VOICE’S MICHAEL MTO, ALLEGED A HEATED CINT VOLVG THE THREE WOMEN, WH SOME VERSNS SETTG THE SO-LLED ALTERTN AT NYC’S LBIAN HANGOUT THE CUBBY HOLE. BUT ASKED YEARS LATER, MCGILLIS NIED EVER HAVG MET HOTON—AND HOTON’S REPEATED NIALS OF BEG GAY STYMIED THE TTH-SEEKERS YEAR AFTER YEAR.MUCH LIKE HIS OVERSHARE ABOUT DISVERG WHNEY DOG BLOW ON THEIR WEDDG DAY, BOBBY BROWN’S REVELATN OF HER BISEXUALY SEEMS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE YET ANOTHER GROSSLY EXPLOATIVE WAY FOR THE FORMER NEW EDN SGER TO THROW HIS LATE EX UNR THE B AND SELL MORE BOOKS. BUT IF TE, MEANS THERE WERE MORE TERNATNAL SUPERSTARS LIVG THE CLOSET THE ’80S AND ’90S THAN HOLLYWOOD HISTORY PREVLY KNEW.AND MEANS THAT BOTH THE BIGGT ACTRS HOLLYWOOD AND THE BIGGT POP SGER MIC AT THE TIME WERE HIDG THEIR SEXUALY DUE TO OUTSI PRSUR TO PROTECT THEIR IMAGE, FAY, REERS, AND PRIVACY.BROWN LEFT THE TOPIC OF WHNEY’S SEXUALY OUT OF HIS MUCH-HYPED S-DOWN WH ROB ROBERTS ON TUDAY. PERHAPS ROBERTS, WHO REVEALED SHE IS GAY A FACEBOOK POST 2013, CHOSE LIBERATELY NOT TO GO THERE OUT OF RPECT FOR THE LATE HOTON, WHO WAS HOUND FOR THE LAST FEW S OF HER LIFE BY TABLOID MORS OF HER CREASGLY ERRATIC BEHAVR, SPECTED LBIAN RELATNSHIP, AND DG ABE.EVEN ATH HOTON PARRIED SPECULATN OVER HER SEXUALY OM EVERYONE OM SOMETIME DAILY BEAST LUMNIST MTO, WHO PONRED THE “OPEN SECRET” OF HER ROMANCE WH CRAWFORD A PIECE TLED “WHNEY HOTON’S LBIANISM: LET’S DISCS,” TO SANDRA BERNHARD, WHO OUTED HER ON ROSIE O’DONNELL’S OWN SHOW AND SUGGTED THAT THE PRSUR OF HIDG HER SEXUALY NTRIBUTED TO HER ATH.IN A 2000 TERVIEW WH OUT MAGAZE, HOTON ONCE AGA NIED THAT SHE WAS ANYTHG BUT STRAIGHT.“THAT A’T ME, I KNOW WHAT I AM, I’M A MOTHER. I’M A WOMAN. I’M HETEROSEXUAL. PERD,” HOTON SAID. “BUT I LOVE EVERYBODY. IF I WAS GAY, I WOULD BE PROUD TO TELL YOU, ’E I A’T THAT KD OF GIRL TO SAY, ‘NAW, THAT A’T ME.’ THE THG THAT HURT ME MOST WAS THAT THEY TRIED TO P SOMETHG ON ME THAT I WAS NOT. MY MOTHER RAISED ME TO NEVER, EVER, BE ASHAMED OF WHAT I AM. BUT I’M NOT A LBIAN, DARLG. I’M NOT. “I AM ME, I’M A MOTHER. I LOVE TO HEAR MY CHILD LL ME MOMMY. THAT’S WHAT I AM, NOT LBIAN, NOT GAY, NOT ALL THE BULLSH. I DON’T WANNA HEAR THAT. IT’S OVER. IT’S DONE.”ACRDG TO BROWN, HOTON WAS SEXUALLY TERTED BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. “I’M A MAN AND SHE WAS ATTRACTED TO ME!” HE TOLD US WEEKLY.BROWN, WHO ON 20/20 BLAMED WHNEY’S ATH ON GORDON, POTED MORE FGERS. HER ABILY TO LIVE AND LOVE EELY AS SHE CHOSE, HE SAID, REFERRG TO THE DISAPPROVG CISSY, ALSO LED TO HER MISE. “I REALLY FEEL THAT IF ROBYN WAS ACCEPTED TO WHNEY’S LIFE, WHNEY WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY,” BROWN TOLD US WEEKLY. “SHE DIDN’T HAVE CLOSE IENDS WH HER ANYMORE.”BUT THIS IS ALSO NOT THE FIRST TIME BROWN’S SOLD OUT HOTON’S PERSONAL LIFE AND PURPORTED SECRETS ORR TO PROMOTE A BOOK.IN 2008, THE NEW YORK POST PUBLISHED AN EARLY EXCERPT OM HIS THORIZED BGRAPHY, BOBBY BROWN: THE TTH, THE WHOLE TTH, AND NOTHG BUT, WHICH HE CLAIMED SHE ONLY MARRIED HIM TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE LBIAN MORS THAT DOGGED HER AND CRAWFORD: “I THK WE GOT MARRIED FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS,” HE CLAIMED. “NOW, I REALIZE WHNEY HAD A DIFFERENT AGENDA THAN I DID WHEN WE GOT MARRIED… I BELIEVE HER AGENDA WAS TO CLEAN UP HER IMAGE, WHILE ME WAS TO BE LOVED AND HAVE CHILDREN… THE MEDIA WAS ACCG HER OF HAVG A BISEXUAL RELATNSHIP WH HER ASSISTANT, ROBYN CRAWFORD. SCE SHE WAS THE AMERIN SWEETHEART AND ALL, THAT DIDN’T GO TOO WELL WH HER IMAGE... IN WHNEY’S SUATN, THE ONLY SOLUTN WAS TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE KIDS. THAT WOULD KILL ALL SPECULATN, WHETHER WAS TE OR NOT. IN THE SHORT, I THK I GOT UGHT UP THE POLICS AND END UP MARRYG ONE OF THE BIGGT STARS THE WORLD.”IN THAT BOOK, HE ALSO BLAMED WHNEY FOR TRODUCG HIM TO HARD DGS LIKE E, STEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND.MEANWHILE, THE ONLY PERSON WHO MIGHT NFIRM THE CLAIM BEYOND ANY DOUBT IS KEEPG MUM—AS SHE HAS FOR THREE S. “I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT HER UNTIL NOW. AND SHE KNEW I WOULDN’T. SHE WAS A LOYAL IEND, AND SHE KNEW I WAS NEVER GOG TO BE DISLOYAL TO HER. I WAS NEVER GOG TO BETRAY HER,” CRAWFORD WROTE A 2012 ESQUIRE OBUARY MEMORIALIZG HOTON.IT WOULD SEEM BROWN, WHOSE NEW BOOK HS SHELV NEXT WEEK, HAD NO SUCH QUALMS. JEN YAMATO

Their partnership ma sense: Bobby need to class up his bad boy image and Whney need to pe the gay mors.

And yet, four years after they wed, Katie Couric asked Whney about Robyn and the gay mors once aga. ”The Advote not that Crawford, who is openly gay and married wh children, has never addrsed her alleged same-sex relatnship wh Hoton. Celebri Who've Faced Gay RumorsPopular the CommunyYou May Like.

The 2019 Whney documentary lved to the straed dynamic between Hoton's fay and Crawford, suggtg that there was animosy towards Crawford that might have been based homophobia, jealoy, or both. For years there had been speculatn as to whether legendary sger Whney Hoton was gay, straight, or bisexual.

ROSIE O’DONNELL: WHNEY HOTON DIDN’T WANT GAY PART OF HER LIFE EXPOSED!!

Earlier this week openly gay edian Rosie O’Donnell spoke out about the late pop star Whney Hoton’s stggle wh her sexualy….

“Whney was troubled by, I thk, the gay part of her life and didn’t want exposed. It’s hard black culture to accept gayns. The relatnship eventually end bee of homophobic prsure.

"WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?": THE HOMOPHOBIA THAT KILLED WHNEY HOTONA NEW SHOWTIME DOCUMENTARY TRAC THE DOWNFALL OF A LEGEND.BY TRISH BENDIXAUGT 25, 2017/12:35 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}PHOTO BY DAVE HOGAN/GETTY IMAGAMERIN SGER WHNEY HOTON (1963 - 2012), CIR 1988. (PHOTO BY DAVE HOGAN/GETTY IMAG)BY TRISH BENDIXAUGT 25, 2017 / 12:35 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?\": THE HOMOPHOBIA THAT KILLED WHNEY HOTON","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-08-25T16:35:24.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-08-25T16:35:24.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"TRISH BENDIX"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY HOTON IS AN UNDISPUTED GAY IN, BUT HER STAT AS PART OF THE LGBT MUNY SELF HAS ALWAYS BEEN RELEGATED TO WHISPERS RATHER THAN ACKNOWLEDGED TTH. A NEW DOCUMENTARY, WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?, IS THE FIRST TO PRENT ANYONE CLOSE TO THE LATE POP STAR WHO INTIFI HER ON THE RERD AS BISEXUAL. IN , IENDS AND FAY—CLUDG HBAND BOBBY BROWN—ACKNOWLEDGE HER ONE-TIME ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH ROBYN CRAWFORD, AN OUT LBIAN.RDA/GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PREMIERG TONIGHT, CAN I BE ME? IS A CELEBRATN OF HOTON'S S-LONG REER, BUT LARGELY FOC ON THE LIFE SHE LIVED PRIVATELY—THE HIGHLY NTROLLED ATMOSPHERE SHE EXISTED DICTATED BY HER MOTHER, GOSPEL SGER CISSY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CISSY TELLS THE MERA SHE TGHT HER DGHTER EVERY THG SHE KNOWS, A SENTIMENT SHE'S LONG EXPRSED AND, OTHERS SAY, ONE SPIRED BY HER FAILURE TO BEE MORE OF A STAR HERSELF. INSTEAD, DIRECTOR NICK BROOMFIELD (KURT AND COURTNEY, BIGGIE AND TUPAC) SUGGTS, CISSY PUT ALL HER ENERGY TO WHNEY AND WORKED ALONGSI RERD EXECS TO MAKE SURE HER DGHTER'S EARLY RERDS WERE ACCSIBLE. (READ: DIDN'T SOUND "TOO BLACK."){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY WANTED TO PRENT HER AS THE PRCS—THAT'S WHO WHE AMERI WAS PRENTED," BACKUP SGER PATTIE HOWARD SAYS THE FILM.WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOTON WOULD EVENTUALLY REJECT SOME OF THE MANDS OTHER PEOPLE PUT ON HER— CAN I BE ME?'S TLE IS A PHRASE THE GRAMMY WNER WOULD EQUENTLY UTTER WHEN SHE FELT SHE WAS BEG PHED AWAY OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THAT WAS THE NUNDM," SAYS A DMMER WHO WORKED WH HOTON. "LIKE 'DAMM, I HAVE MA ALL THIS MONEY AND MA ALL THE PEOPLE HAPPY AND I STILL N'T BE ME?'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE THG HOTON WAS PERSISTENTLY DISSUAD OM WAS HER RELATNSHIP WH ROBYN CRAWFORD, A LONGTIME IEND SHE MET THROUGH HER BROTHERS 1979. AN TERVIEW OM THE LATE '90S THAT'S FEATURED THE FILM SE CRAWFORD LAYG SUALLY ON A HOTEL BED, SCRIBG THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WE HAVE A IENDSHIP—THAT'S OUR FOUNDATN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A A 1987 PROFILE TIME, BOTH HOTON AND CRAWFORD WERE ASKED IF THEY WERE A UPLE. THEY BOTH NIED THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAYS ROBYN: "I TELL MY FAY, 'YOU N HEAR ANYTHG ON THE STREETS, BUT IF YOU DON'T HEAR OM ME, 'S NOT TE.' "{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY ALSO ALLUS TO FAY: "MY MOTHER TGHT ME THAT WHEN YOU STAND THE TTH AND SOMEONE TELLS A LIE ABOUT YOU, DON'T FIGHT . I'M NOT WH ANY MAN. I'M NOT LOVE. PEOPLE SEE ROBYN WH ME, AND THEY DRAW THEIR OWN NCLNS. ANYWAY, WHOSE BS IS IF YOU'RE GAY OR LIKE DOGS? WHAT OTHERS DO SHOULDN'T MATTER. LET PEOPLE TALK. IT DON'T BOTHER ME BEE I KNOW I'M NOT GAY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BROOMFIELD AND DOLEZAL LVE TO HOTON'S RELATNSHIP WH CRAWFORD EARLY ON, AND LOOMS LARGE THROUGHOUT CAN I BE ME?. PEOPLE HOTON'S LIFE—MICIANS, IENDS, SECURY GUARDS—TALK OPENLY ABOUT HOW CLOSE THE TWO WERE. HOTON'S FIRST APARTMENT WAS WH CRAWFORD, WHO LEFT A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP AT MONMOUTH COLLEGE TO BEE HOTON'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT.WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?WHNEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE BEGNG, HOTON EQUENTLY THANKED ROBYN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. BUT AFTER HER SELF-TLED BUT BEME A SMASH H—THE BT-SELLG SOLO ALBUM EVER BY A WOMAN AT THE TIME—THE PUBLIC MAND TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HER, AND THE GAY MORS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY SAY, 'HEY MAN, IS WHNEY GAY?' IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE,'" AN ARISTA RERDS EXECUTIVE SAYS. "RUMORS HAD ALREADY STARTED ABOUT HER SEXUALY. WHEN WE TRAVELED, ROBYN WAS WH . YOU HAD TO GET THROUGH ROBYN TO GET THROUGH WHNEY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE NOT THAT MIC PROGRAMMERS ARE MOSTLY STRAIGHT GUYS WHO ARE "99.9% HOMOPHOBIC." THE IA THAT HOTON MIGHT NOT BE TO MEN? "THEY HAD A FIELD DAY WH THAT."WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TALKG TO KATIE COURIC, HOTON ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR UP THE CHATTER: "THIS WASN'T HER WORLD," SHE SAID OF CRAWFORD. "I BROUGHT HER TO THIS MADNS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"SHE GO 'WHY AM I THE TARGET? WHAT DID I DO?' I SAID 'YOU'RE MY IEND... YOU PLAY BASKETBALL. THEY THK YOU'RE A MAN, I DON'T KNOW!' SHE'S A DAMN GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER, SHE N BEAT ANY GUY THERE IS," HOTON ADDS WH A NERVO LGH. "SHE'S A VERY TALL VERY BROAD WOMEN. SHE'S BEEN MY IEND FOR YEARS. I DON'T KNOW — WE JT STUCK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT CISSY, AMONG OTHERS, WAS ANGRY ABOUT THE TWO WOMEN'S CLOSENS, AND MPAIGNED HARD TO GET HER CRAWFORD OUT OF THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLISON SAMUELS, A HOTON FAY IEND, SPEAKS ANKLY THE FILM ABOUT THE NCERN OVER HOTON'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HER MOTHER WAS VERY MUCH AGAST . [BISEXUAL RERD PRODUCER] CLIVE [DAVIS] WAS VERY MUCH AGAST . IT WASN'T OL TO HAVE A LBIAN AFFAIR," SHE SAYS. "I ALWAYS THK IF SHE WERE AN ARTIST TODAY, SHE'D BE FE. EVERYTHG WOULD BE LOVELY. SHE PROBABLY WOULD STILL BE HERE. BUT BACK THEN, THERE WAS THIS TREMENDO EMPHASIS ON BEG THIS PERFECT GIRL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAMUELS ADDS SHE WAS UNNERVED HOW THE FAY FOCED ON THE POSSIBILY OF A QUEER RELATNSHIP MORE THAN HOTON'S SUBSTANCE-ABE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU HAVE THIS FAY RIDDLED WH DGS AND YET HOMOSEXUALY IS WHAT YOU WANT TO FOC ON. YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER TIME, PROBABLY, TRYG TO HANDLE THOSE DGS. BUT I THK THAT FIERCE RELIGN CISSY HAD WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER. [THE MORS] HAD PEOPLE TALKG; HAD THE CHURCH TALKG. SHE'S AN ELR THE CHURCH, A TSTEE, AND YOUR DGHTER'S A HOMOSEXUAL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE VERY TOPIC WAS TABOO, SAYS SAMUELS. "FEMALE HOMOSEXUALY THE BLACK MUNY IS NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT. BLACK MEN, Y; BLACK WOMEN, NO. EVEN NOW."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE DYNAMIC CHANGED ONCE HOTON MET BOBBY BROWN AT THE 1988 SOUL TRA AWARDS. HER BOND WH BROWN WAS DIFFERENT, BUT SHE WASN'T READY TO GIVE CRAWFORD UP, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ROBYN PROVID A SAFE SPACE FOR HER. SHE LOVED HER, RED FOR HER, WAS A IEND TO HER, AND DIDN'T WANT TO EVER DISAPPOT HER," SAYS SAMUELS. "IN THAT, WHNEY FOUND SAFETY AND SOLACE. I DON'T THK THAT [WHNEY] WAS GAY; I THK SHE WAS BISEXUAL... WHNEY LOVED TO BE HELD AND SHE LOVED TO BE EMBRACED AND SHE WANTED TO FEEL PROTECTED."WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?WHNEY: CAN I BE ME?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BOBBY BROWN NFIRMED HIS WIFE'S BISEXUALY HIS 2016 MEMOIR, EVERY LTLE STEP. “I REALLY FEEL THAT IF ROBYN WAS ACCEPTED TO WHNEY’S LIFE, WHNEY WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY," HE TOLD AND TOLD US WEEKLY. "SHE DIDN’T HAVE CLOSE IENDS WH HER ANYMORE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WHILE HOTON WAS ALIVE, BROWN AND CRAWFORD HAD A NTENT AND PETIVE RELATNSHIP, ONE THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO CRAWFORD LEAVG THE HOTON MP FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ROBYN AND WHNEY WERE LIKE TWS. THERE WERE SEPARABLE," SAID HOTON'S SECURY GUARD DAVID ROBERTS. "AND EVERYBODY KNEW THE POWER THAT ROBYN HAD... THEY HAD A BOND AND BOBBY BROWN ULD NEVER REMOVE ROBYN OM THE RELATNSHIP. THAT WAS PART OF HIS TRATN, BEE HE WANTED WHNEY HOTON TO LOVE HIM AS THE MAN OF THE RELATNSHIP. HE WANTED WHNEY TO REMOVE ROBYN OM THEIR RELATNSHIP AND WHNEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO , BEE ROBYN RED FOR WHNEY, PROBABLY MORE THAN SHE WOULD RE FOR ANYBODY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I KD OF KNOW WHAT WHNEY WANTS TO GO ON AROUND HER," CRAWFORD SAYS THE ARCHIVAL TERVIEW. "AND SOMETIM 'S A LTLE DIFFICULT TO NVEY THAT TO PEOPLE; YOU JT HAVE TO GO AND DO YOURSELF. SO MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY I'M JT ABOUT EVERYWHERE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROBERTS SAYS BROWN AND CRAWFORD WOULD GET TO "PHYSIL ALTERTNS," SOME BROWN DIDN'T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY HATED EACH OTHER. THEY WOULD BATTLE FOR HER AFFECTN; THEY WOULD BATTLE FOR HER ATTENTN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEHD-THE-SCEN TOUR VIO SHOWS AN AWKWARD MOMENT WHEN BROWN, POSG FOR THE MERA, ATTEMPTS TO PUT HIS ARM AROUND CRAWFORD AND WRIGGL TO GET OUT OF HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S CLEAR SHE'S UNTERTED CLOWNG AROUND WH HIM, PRETENDG TO BE OL FOR ANYONE'S SAKE BUT HOTON'{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BROWN WAS ALSO TERVIEWED FOR CAN I BE ME? BUT, SIAR TO CISSY, MOST OF HIS TIME TO TALK HIMSELF UP. ("I'M THE ORIGAL BAD BOY!"). IT'S EXCCIATG TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE CLOSE TO THIS GIFTED BUT TROUBLED ARTIST SEEM MORE NCERNED ABOUT WHAT SHE ULD DO FOR THEM THAN HER MENTAL AND PHYSIL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEY IGNORED THE WOMAN BEHD THE POWERHOE TALENT, WHO WAS FADG AWAY WH A BROKEN HEART AND GROWG ADDICTNS TO E AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROBERTS SAYS CRAWFORD WAS ONE OF FEW PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO KEEP WHNEY OFF DGS. "THEY HAD DOZENS OF ARGUMENTS OVER WHNEY GETTG HIGH." HE WAS ULTIMATELY FIRED FOR FILG A REPORT ABOUT HER DG E AFTER A TRA-WRECK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CLIPS OF CRAWFORD AND HOTON ARE BTERSWEET, AS THEIR VOTN TO ONE ANOTHER IS OBV. CRAWFORD IS SHOWN ONT OF BARRIS, CLOSE TO THE STAGE AT A HOTON SHOW, CLAPPG AND SGG ALONG TO "IF I TOLD YOU THAT." THE SONG, ORIGALLY RERD AS A DUET WH GEE MICHAEL CLUS THE LE "I KNOW THAT WE WERE JT IENDS/BUT WHAT IF I CI TO BRG SOME THGS /I HOPE WON'T OFFEND THE TST/WE HAVE E I DON'T WANT THIS TO END."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN CRAWFORD FALLY END HER NNECTN WH HOTON AFTER MORE THAN TWO S OF WORKG AND LIVG SI-BY-SI, HOTON REPORTEDLY SPIRALED, TURNG TO DGS EVEN MORE AS A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I ASSUMED THEY PAID HER OFF," SAMUELS SAYS OF CRAWFORD. "BUT SHE DISAPPEARED. I NEVER SAW HER AGA AND SHE WAS EVERYWHERE WH HER BEFORE. I THK THEY PREVENTED . I THK THEY KNEW THEY ULD NEVER NNECT AGA. IT HAD TO BE 'BOBBY AND WHNEY,' THIS FAY UN." SAMUELS SISTS CRAWFORD'S REMOVAL WAS "THE DOWNFALL OF WHNEY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ROBYN WAS THE PERSON WHO WAS KEEPG HER TOGETHER. I THK THAT'S WHY THE DGS BEME SO IMPORTANT TO HER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE IS A VASTATG IRONY NOW TO LYRICS LIKE "LEARNG TO LOVE YOURSELF/ IS THE GREATT LOVE OF ALL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAN I BE ME? EVABLY TELLS A TRAGIC STORY: THE MISE OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATT SGG TALENTS DONE , BROOMFIELD MATAS, BY A LACK OF SELF-TEEM AND SUPPORT. IN ONE SCENE, CISSY IS SEEN TALKG TO OPRAH WEY ABOUT HER OWN MEMOIR, REMEMBERG WHNEY: MY STORY OF LOVE, LOSS, AND THE NIGHT THE MIC STOPPED. WEY ASKS IF HER DGHTER HAD A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH CRAWFORD, AND CISSY ANSWERS THAT SHE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW. BUT WHEN WEY ASKS IF WOULD HAVE BOTHERED HER IF SHE HAD, CISSY QUICKLY REPLI, "ABSOLUTELY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CRAWFORD HAS LARGELY STAYED SILENT ABOUT HER TIME WH HOTON. SHE'S NOW MARRIED TO LISA HTELMANN, HEAD OF TALENT AND ENTERTAMENT PARTNERSHIPS AT HTELMANN WAS FORMERLY AT ESQUIRE, WHERE CRAWFORD PUBLISHED THE ONLY STATEMENT SHE'S EVER GIVEN ABOUT HOTON AFTER HER PASSG: "PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY HAD TO PROTECT HER," SHE SAID. "SHE HATED THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNRSTAND: SHE WAS ALWAYS THE ONE DOG THE DRIVG. SOMEONE JT LLED AND TOLD ME THAT THE FAY KEPT WHNEY OM SEEG HER. NOBODY KEPT WHNEY OM DOG ANYTHG. SHE DID WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO. WHEN PEOPLE LEFT HER OR WERE TOLD TO LEAVE, THEY ULD NEVER BELIEVE THAT WHNEY WOULD NEVER LL THEM—BUT SHE NEVER DID. SHE WAS WORKG HARD TO KEEP HERSELF TOGETHER, AND I THK SHE FELT THAT IF SHE ADMTED ANY FEELG OF SADNS OR WEAKNS, SHE WOULD CMBLE."PHOTO BY VNIE ZUFFANTE/GETTY IMAGUNITED STATES - MARCH 01: WHNEY HOTON WH ROB 3/1987 (PHOTO BY VNIE ZUFFANTE/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTHER PICTNS OF HOTON'S LIFE (CLUDG THE LIFETIME BPIC WHNEY) HT AT CRAWFORD'S ROLE THE SGER'S LIFE, BUT FOC MORE ON BROWN'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKE BPICS AND TELL-ALLS, DOCUMENTARI N ONLY TELL SO MUCH OF A PERSON'S STORY. BUT CAN I BE ME? REVEALS SOME HARD TTHS ABOUT WHNEY HOTON, AND THE FACTORS THAT NTRIBUTED TO HER DOWNFALL, CLUDG THE BIPHOBIA SHE FACED OM HER CIRCLE AND THE TERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA SHE MAY HAVE POISONED HERSELF WH. THAT PRSURE TO BE THE PERFECT POP PRCS, THE ONE WHE AMERI ULD BUY TO AND THAT BLACK AMERI WAS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT, MEANT DOG RIGHT BY AN ENV MOTHER, BY A PHILANRG HBAND, BY HER CHURCH, RERD EXECUTIV AND HER FANS. IT PROVED TOO MUCH FOR ONE PERSON—EVEN A SUPERSTAR LIKE WHNEY HOTON—TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY: CAN I BE ME? IS A HARD WATCH, BUT A WORTHY ONE. WHNEY HOTON LEAV BEHD A LEGACY OF CREDIBLE MIC AND LIVE PERFORMANC, BUT THE REALY SHE LIVED EVERY SGLE DAY SHOULDN'T BE FOTTEN, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHNEY: CAN I BE ME? PREMIER FRIDAY, AUGT 25, AT 9/8 ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

And pecially as a gay man. Many queer people – and particularly gay men – see slic of their own stggl and aspiratns reflected the beloved superstar’s life and work, and her prence ronat throughout queer culture. (Remember that charmg dance sequence the 2018 g-of-age movie “Love, Simon, ” about a closeted gay teen?

“I do not thk that anyone would dispute Hoton’s gay inicy, ” the French amic Ge-Cl Guilbert wr his 2018 book, “Gay Ins: The (Mostly) Female Entertaers Gay Men Love. How did Hoton bee, and rema, a gay in? “When I go to llege Los Angel, I’ll be gay and proud, ” he promis.