Wendy Williams Cries Over Whitney Houston's Death And Past Drug Use (VIDEO)

Whitney's Houston shocking death has prompted an outpouring of emotion from across the entertainment industry. Monday on "The Wendy Williams Show," (weekdays on Fox) Wendy Williams, who famously clashed with Houston during her days as an L.A. radio host, broke down when talking about the singer's death and their shared history of drug abuse.

Williams described how the news of Houston's death stirred up a lot of raw feelings stemming from her own struggles with drugs. "Whitney and I, same age, and both plagued with the demon of substance abuse," Williams said, fighting through tears. "It's been almost 15 years since I smoked last from a crack pipe," she continued. "It's been almost 15 years since I waited on Jerome Avenue on the Bronx for my drugs."

In a 2009 episode of her show, Williams explained that she identified so closely with Houston because they both struggled with substance abuse. At the time, Williams criticized Houston for not taking "ownership" of her drug problem in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. "No matter what she said in that interview, she didn't own her habit," Williams said. "She's still blaming Bobby or the world."

Reflecting on their past squabbles, Williams said she always hoped she and Houston would reconnect later in their lives. "I just thought we would meet and we would hug and we'd be sober and older," she lamented.

The normally-gossipy Williams took the news so hard that she pledged to not discuss the case in the coming weeks. "I've never done this before on this show, but I'm telling you now that I don't have anything more to say regarding this particular case," she said. The camera then panned to Williams' studio audience, who were all holding up 'Whitney fans' to commemorate the legendary singer.

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Comments

[Malerie]

03:12 PM on 02/17/2012

What a joke. I thought Whitney Houston died, may she rest in peace, how did this become about you? You're like one of those bullies in school who doesn't like a girl until something happens to her and people are giving her so much attention that you become her all of a sudden friend so you can be in the spotlight. You are an annoying phony person and full of it. And the best you can do to honor her is not talk about the case anymore. What a considerate gesture. Whitney fans held up by the audience, how cheap, what a joke. Do the world a favor and shut your mouth. I don't even watch your show so don't flatter yourself. You're not on my level. I just saw this clip and hear your annoying voice when flipping channels, but believe me, I change it real quick. Do some sould searching, you need it.

[mdchoc]

03:43 AM on 02/17/2012

I think Wendy was sincere BECAUSE she is a recovering addict and knows how hard it is. As for Bobby Brown, when WILL some of you realize that this man was not who introduced Whitney to drugs? Not only did he not introduce her, maybe, just maybe HE could be called the "typical co-dependent spouse?" Since you are not privy to their personal business, you do not know who hit the pipe first! What we do know is that they were both using and she has not survived. It's sad and I know she will be missed by those who love her, but those of you who keep acting as if she would be alive and happy and drug free were it not for Bobby Brown need to grow up and face reality.

[ToniaB]

11:44 PM on 02/18/2012

Go back to the last interview Wendy had with Whitney and you'll see where her sincerity comes from. Wendy ridiculed Whitney and made fun of her in the interview; and she's guilty that they didn't have the opportunity to reconcile from that incident...

[SWEETMAMA]

02:25 PM on 02/16/2012

WENDY WILLIAMS, KNOW THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HOW BAD SHE TRASHED WHITNEY ON HER RADIO SHOW, SO SHE'S NOW TRYING TO COMPARE HERSELF WITH WHITNEY BECAUSE SHE KNOW PEOPLES ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HER MAN LOOKING ASS. SHE IS SO FONEY, MOST OF THE BIG TIME STARS DON'T LIKE HER! LOOK A PEOPLES THAT COME ON HER SHOW. NO JAYZ OR BEYONCE . PUFFY, NOBODY THATS BIG IN HOLLYWOOD SO SHE CRIED TO MAKE HER LOOK GOOD. IN THE HIP HOP WORLD NO ONE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER OR HER SHOW . I HOPE SHE CAN READ THIS.

[X E]

12:55 AM on 02/17/2012

LOL......Amen to this!
Isn't she the same Wendy who insulted Whitney during the interview on her radio show?
Please don't try to get fame off of Whitney....

[msstrick40]

05:49 PM on 02/15/2012

Say what you want about Wendy....I think this did hit her hard. In all of my years I've never seen anyone break down like that in front of the camera....and I think her reason for going after Whitney all of these years....however messed up you thought it was....was because she saw a piece of what she once was in Whitney. And realized Whitney had a lot going for her to just throw it away.

That's my opinion on it.....

[Quotidien]

03:06 PM on 02/15/2012

All that botox in her face, I can't tell what she's expressing

[WorldGoneWild]

02:04 PM on 02/15/2012

All Wendy had to do is acknowledge Whitney's death on the show and move on. Everybody knows her radio fight with Wendy was EPIC and in bad taste.

[YunekFlava]

06:48 AM on 02/15/2012

Fraud! Google their history and them see if the commentary and tears were real.

[ToniaB]

11:48 PM on 02/18/2012

I think it was genuine because of her guilt. All Whitney's friends have treasured memories despite all the troubles; all Wendy has is that infamous interview in Miami. I hope she learns from this but I won't hold my breath....

[Deborah H]

07:26 PM on 02/14/2012

I love Wendy because she is real, THANKS!

[Assumed Name]

07:17 PM on 02/14/2012

"The Body Guard" was utterly depressing, but I think I'll watch it this weekend. (I always love Houston's cover of "I'll Always Love You".)

[mater]

07:20 PM on 02/14/2012

Not me; I'll think about the young daughter who has to deal with not having a mother forever.

[Assumed Name]

07:26 PM on 02/14/2012

...I lost my father at seven: she'll survive (I hope).

[Expertzonebd]

02:29 PM on 02/14/2012

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[SallyMaclennane]

12:37 PM on 02/14/2012

Who's this dude that's crying?

[Pamla Perez]

12:33 PM on 02/14/2012

I was walking down the street on a Friday afternoon, when I came across this man sitting on the curve waiting for a bus. I asked him; why sit on the ground to wait for the bus, when there is a bench right behind you? He looked befuddled for a second, and he answered; Oh, I thought it was for the Bus!
You all are befuddled over the fact that people are mourning the death of Ms. Houston, when you could just for a second look around, and see why people feel the need to express their grieve, having known her personally or not.
My goodness! Whatever she did doing the course of her life, it’s over now, and bashing the dead with not changes that. We all have done something’s without fully understanding the consequences! Some consequences just make us look silly, embarrassing, and yes can be deadly, never the less we continue to poke the tiger. She made wrong choices, ok sure, I give you that, but the people around her could only do so much…after all, she was a grow woman with free will. She is dead, and that is a good enough reason, to notice the bench instead of the curve!

[AmericanSon1]

03:43 PM on 02/14/2012

Curb, it's called a curb.

[Pamla Perez]

05:48 PM on 02/14/2012

Mistake, it's called a typing mistake.

[beverly149]

08:19 PM on 02/14/2012

Wendy is telling complete truth. Those of use out who here who are recovering addicts or who work in the field of Drug Addiction could see this coming a long time ago Unfortunately, and it pains me and saddens me to see my idol and my sister Whitney succomb to her drug addiction. She was in a bad marriage where she had a husband who was an enable and she was the typical co-dependent spouse. When she did get clean and sober, she was still surrounded by hangers on, and she was still smoking and using benzo's, which are a death sentence for an addict.

Working in Drug Treatment for almost 12 years now as a nurse, and I have always said that Whitney never took responsibiity for her recovery. She talked around it and blamed every one else but herself. In Drug Treatment you have to take responsibility for your actions and hold yourself "accountable." Staff encourage clients to "get honest' and to "get humble." Without that, you can never surrender your life to god and ask for help. Whitney never seemed to want to take ownership for her drug addiction, and when you don't do that, you will continue to use use because you have not learned the coping skills to deal with your issues.

[onedivasinger]

12:10 PM on 02/14/2012

Wendy Williams is like so many people with no talent who prey upon and dog out people who do. We all have demons. Whitney's played out in public because she was a public figure by virtue of her unique gift. Addiction is a disease like all addictions are. We are a Rx nation. We live with and off of Rx drugs and over the counter meds, alcohol and the over indulgence of food daily. We build our celebrities up so that we can eat them alive on their way down, and we enjoy the show while doing it. Criticize her and others all you want, but don't pass a mirror without checking yourself out. Nobody is immune. Nobody is perfect. Nobody has all of the answers. If you think you do, then shame on you. RIP Whitney. Your pain has now ended, even if the extraordinary pettiness and bottom feeding won't.

[tessa3968]

11:40 AM on 02/14/2012

It's not all about you Wendy Williams! That display was in really poor taste!

[ToniaB]

11:52 PM on 02/18/2012

That display was about genuine guilt. She ridiculed Whitney in their last conversation and they parted on bad terms...

[jmamusic]

11:09 AM on 02/14/2012

Oh STOP Already...Another so-called performer on the "Mea Culpa" routine...Just trying to gain some Spot-Light Time in the shadow of another failed and self-destructive individual...Or, in some cases, make some money off of this... Houston may have had a good voice but she was a walking time-bomb waiting to go-off. She wasn't able to control herself and refused to be a responsible adult...and she has now paid the price...It's a shame she had to go at so young an age but it is the Path that she chose...And all her closest friends are somewhat culpable because they HAD to have know what she was doing...
It's time to move on...