Was Whitney Houston gay? What Robyn Crawford revealed about their relationship
Was Whitney Houston gay? Whitney Houston never publicly identified as a lesbian or confirmed any gay relationships. However, in her memoir, Robyn Crawford, Houston’s close friend, revealed they had a romantic relationship in the early 1980s, which ended due to outside pressures.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Houston never publicly confirmed any gay relationships.
- In her memoir, Robyn Crawford, Houston’s close friend, revealed they had a romantic relationship in the early 1980s
- Robyn Crawford’s book, A Song for You, says their relationship ended due to pressure from Houston's family and concerns about her rising fame.
- In the 1980s, Houston was linked to male celebrities like Jermaine Jackson, Randall Cunningham, and Eddie Murphy, though none of these relationships were officially confirmed.
- Houston married R&B singer Bobby Brown in 1992 and divorced in 2007.
Whitney Houston profile summary
| Full name | Whitney Elizabeth Houston |
| Nickname | The Voice |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | August 9, 1963 |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Place of birth | Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Died | February 11, 2012 (aged 48)Beverly Hills, California, USA |
| Burial place | Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Ex-husband | Bobby Brown |
| Children | Bobbi Kristina Brown ((March 1993 – July 2015) |
| Father | John Russell Houston Jr. |
| Mother | Emily "Cissy" |
| Profession | Singer, actress, film producer, model, and philanthropist |
Was Whitney Houston bisexual?
After Houston died in 2012, her story was told by her family, her husband, filmmakers and countless tabloids. Each offered their version of who she was. However, there was little consensus, especially about Houston’s sexuality and her close relationship with Crawford, an openly gay woman. Without Whitney’s own voice, fans may never know the truth.
So, was Whitney Houston a lesbian? Whitney Houston never publicly identified as a lesbian or confirmed any gay relationships. However, in her memoir A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston, Robyn Crawford wrote that she and Houston had a romantic and sexual relationship.
In excerpts shared with People, Crawford said the relationship ended due to homophobic pressures.
Source: Getty Images
Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford's friendship
Crawford is an acclaimed author and producer who worked closely with Houston as her personal assistant and creative director. She was part of major film projects, including In Between (1987), The Bodyguard (1992), and Cinderella (1997).
According to Crawford’s A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston, they met as teenagers in East Orange, New Jersey. Houston and Crawford instantly formed a deep bond that soon turned romantic.
Though their sexual relationship was brief, their friendship lasted over two decades. Having been raised in religious homes and coming of age in a time when labels like “gay” or “lesbian” were rarely spoken aloud, they couldn’t define what they had.
As Houston’s star began to rise, the pressures of fame and fear of public scrutiny forced them to end their connection. Houston, then 19, told Crawford it would make their journey harder and that it could be used against them if anyone found out.
Whitney Houston relationships
In the 1980s, Houston was romantically linked to high-profile figures, including Jermaine Jackson, NFL star Randall Cunningham, and actor Eddie Murphy.
However, her relationship with R&B singer Bobby Brown became her most public and turbulent romance. They met at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards and married in 1992. They had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in 1993 and even collaborated musically, releasing the track Something in Common.
Behind the scenes, though, their marriage was marred by legal troubles, substance abuse, and domestic violence. In 2003, Brown was charged with assaulting Houston.
Their relationship continued to draw scrutiny, especially after appearing in the reality series Being Bobby Brown, which was widely watched and criticised. In 2006, Houston filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and it was finalised in 2007.
Robyn Crawford relationships
Source: Getty Images
Crawford is married to Lisa Hintelmann, an Audible Inc. executive; she leads talent and entertainment partnerships. The couple has adopted twins and, as of 2019, lives in New Jersey.
FAQs about Whitney Houston
- Why did Robyn leave Whitney? Robyn left Whitney when she realised she could no longer protect Houston amid her spiralling substance addiction and volatile marriage with Bobby Brown.
- Were Whitney and Robyn still friends when Whitney died? Yes, Whitney and Robyn remained friends up until Houston died in 2012.
- What caused Whitney to drown? Whitney’s death was an accidental drowning caused by the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and substance use.
- What did Bobby Brown say about Robyn? Bobby Brown said that if Robyn had been accepted into Whitney's life and remained close to her, Whitney would still be alive today.
- Was Whitney still with Bobby when she died? No, Whitney was not with Bobby when she died. They officially divorced in 2007, and Whitney died in 2012.
- Why didn’t Whitney go to her dad's funeral? Whitney didn't go to her dad's funeral due to the press coverage.
- How did Whitney get into debt? Whitney got into debt because of years of substance abuse.
Final word
Was Whitney Houston gay? Whether Houston was gay, bisexual, or simply someone who loved without labels is something only she could have fully explained. While Crawford’s memoir confirms a romantic and sexual relationship between the two, Houston herself never publicly addressed her sexuality.
Tuko.co.ke has published an article about Sketch’s sexuality. Sketch is a YouTuber and Twitch streamer behind the "What's up, brother?" catchphrase that went viral on TikTok in 2024. In 2024, a lot about his sexuality was exposed to the public, prompting them to ask whether he is gay. But is he? Read this article for details.
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