Chaka Khan Opens Up On Whitney Houston's Death, Criticizes Clive Davis

As the world continues to mourn the sudden loss of Whitney Houston, the singer's close friend, Chaka Khan, has finally broke her silence during a recent episode of CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight."

During the exclusive interview, the award-winning vocalist criticized Houston's mentor and music mogul Clive Davis for continuing to host his pre-Grammys gala just hours after her death at the Beverly Hilton.

"I thought that was complete insanity," Khan said. "And knowing Whitney I don't think that she would've said, 'The show must go on,' she's the kind of woman who would've said, 'stop everything! I'm not going to be there.' I don't know what could motivate a person to have a party in the building where the person whose life he had influenced so enormously [had died]. And whose life has been affected by hers... I don't understand how that party went on."

The 10-time Grammy Award winner had planned on attending Davis' annual party, but she admitted that she was "paralyzed" after being informed of Houston's death upon her arrival to Los Angeles. She also lashed out at those who were responsible for having "The Bodyguard" actress in the city for a full week prior to her pre-Grammy performance.

"I, too, was an addict, [and] I know if I was on the set of a movie, even now and [I've been] recovered for seven years, and I found out that I was coming to a city like L.A, we would've made specific plans that I come in [the] night before or day of performance," she said. "Especially if you have not gone in and got proper treatment and gotten your situation handled. That was the first big mistake, for her to come in an entire week before her performance at the party, I would have never done that."

"I stand on whoever flew her out to perform at that party should've provided someone to be there to somehow keep the riff raff from out of the situation. To keep some of the dangerous people away."

Whitney Houston's funeral will be held on February 18 at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.

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Comments

[sacmom3]

04:17 PM on 02/20/2012

Thank you Chaka, for keeping it real. Clive Davis used Whitney up and discarded her like trash when she could not make anymore money for him. Speaking at her funeral was a disgrace.

[Omeezee]

09:33 AM on 03/05/2012

Actually Davis took her to his new label when he knew she had addiction issues and knew she was not churning out hits anymore.

[mjintro1]

03:28 PM on 02/20/2012

Thank you Chaka. Because I wouldn't wanted to attend a party of self centered individuals, who's only concern was how do I look. What about how you're looking to the world. Every body can see you. You're in the spot light. It really shows me how much certain people "Love". There was "no respect" for Whitney. From the people that said they "loved her", "admired her". And those that said Whitney helped kick start their career. I don't believe Clive should've threwn, yes I say threwn, this "Gala", without Whitney, out of "respect" for her. We can't just talk the word love, we have to show it. MJ

[kofi1013]

02:36 PM on 02/20/2012

Whitney was a grown ass woman and therefore responsible for anything she ingest in her body. One of the first thing addicts learn is too avoid slippery people, places and things. If you truly value your recovery then you will not be around situations that can trigger relaspe. Many former addicts can drink alcohol and not be impacted but, this was not the case for Whitney. Her true friends would have told her hey Whitney things seem to be getting out of control and it would be a good idea not to be in this situation. Whitney could have accepted the advice or not.

[tfwm]

07:51 PM on 02/21/2012

So tell us exactly how Whitney died?

[CaliTLC]

01:35 PM on 02/20/2012

I agree with Chaka Khan regarding Clive's "PARTY."

[hattieli]

11:05 AM on 02/20/2012

Clive should have cancelled the party, in her honor, I think if you loved her as you said you did you would have cancelled. I agree with Chaka, If not for Whitney for her family. Her brother, his wife pat and her daughter should have never let her come out there a week ahead of time. They were with her. Kelly Price also, what a great friend you were.

[CaliTLC]

01:36 PM on 02/20/2012

Exactly. I APPLAUD Chaka for telling the truth.

[hattieli]

10:44 AM on 02/20/2012

I love Chaka for speaking out, and shame on her brother his wife pat and her daughter Bobbi Kristina, there is noway she should have been there that early, and also Kelly Price you don't invite a weak addict to a party, and say we were just drinking you were not a friend either. I will never buy one of her albums

[carry1]

11:17 AM on 02/20/2012

How dare you blame her 18 year old daughter, Bobbi Kristina!!! That's a horrible thing to say.

[CaliTLC]

01:38 PM on 02/20/2012

Really? You're going to blame an 18 year old girl.

[hattieli]

10:34 AM on 02/20/2012

You know i felt like she should not have been there without someone her brother and Pat making sure she was in a good place. Also why invite her to parties Kelly Price and others and you know she was still having issues with alcohol and other drugs, such good friends Clive included. I would never had her there a whole week before the grammy's oh i they loved her.

[boscobear]

10:02 AM on 02/20/2012

When they saw her 'just drinking champagne' what if all her "friends" that had there said, "Whitney, your an addicet and we are going to do an inventertion right here, right now" woukd the outcome be the same or would she still be here?

[Patty Roldan]

08:37 PM on 02/19/2012

So what he had the party and he makes money off of black artists. Black artists have no problem taking the money or the promotion Clive offer them. It works both ways. Whitney was talented and Clive helped her star to shine. I dont understand why Chaka is upset. Whitney died because of the choices she made not Clive. Clive put his money on the line to help her make a comeback not Chaka. We all are sad that Whitney died but her lifestyle is the one she chose. Where was Chaka when Whitney was doing drugs. It always kills me when other people try to blame others for someones death or the way they led their life. Why should the party be cancelled because of Whitney.s death. That isnt fair to all who attended and the party turned into a celebration of Whitney.s life.

[hattieli]

10:38 AM on 02/20/2012

I don't think anyone is accusing him of being a great promoter, i am just saying when you have a person that is an addict if you really love them you don't put them in certain situations. you watch out for them until they are stronger, she should not have been drinking at all, because it will lead you to other drugs i know i am a drug counselor and i have had family members that were addicts to drugs and alcohol. She need someone there to help her stay on track, and it should have been her brother and his wife pat. even her daughter.

[bighouse300]

10:11 AM on 02/21/2012

let put it this way if it was your mother would you have a party knowing she die

[mr whiteffolks]

05:33 AM on 02/19/2012

The music business is so shady ! It seems most artists are on some form of drugs or alcohol ! Really sad !

[mr whiteffolks]

05:28 AM on 02/19/2012

You shouldn't be surprised Chaka ! Davis has used a lot of Black artists for his own benefit while pretending to care about them as people !

[VegasBabe]

01:14 PM on 02/19/2012

and yet I am. But why I should be completely escapes me!

[bighouse300]

10:15 AM on 02/21/2012

name one black artists that chaka used you are very stupid just name one

[GTFOOH]

07:43 PM on 02/18/2012

She ain't wrong. I also found it a little self-serving of Clive to say "you wait a lifetime for a voice like that" at Whitney's funeral. Must we always be so quick to see artist through their ability to make money, rather than for the people they are?

[mr whiteffolks]

05:29 AM on 02/19/2012

That's what Clive is about ............. money !

[Angelina247]

02:25 AM on 02/18/2012

Kudos to Chaka for having the courage to speak the truth. As the old saying goes " Always Do The Right Thing". Well Mr. Davis certainly didn't. How horrible it must have looked to Whitney's daughter as she saw limos driving up to the party knowing her mother was lying dead upstairs. She will never forget that as long as she lives. God Bless Whitney, her daughter Bobby Kristina and her mother. What a terrible loss.

[Patty Roldan]

08:41 PM on 02/19/2012

Bobbi Kristina already knew her mother was an addict. They did drugs on the how all the time and she was fully aware of what her parents were doing. Besides Bobbi partied with her mother when she was underage. She would drink and even got caught snorting cocaine. I know she is hurting because she lost her mother but I doubt she cared one way or another about the party going on. Please give me a break.

[hattieli]

10:46 AM on 02/20/2012

She did not care and this will send her over the top watch and see her guilt will wear her down.

[bighouse300]

10:18 AM on 02/21/2012

wow to put a 18 old in this is real stupid of you

[AuntieLoieAZ]

12:30 AM on 02/18/2012

Thank you, Chaka Khan. It took real guts to speak up publicly against Clive Davis. Clive Davis is the godfather of Bobbi Kristina. I just learned this from the tape of Whitney butting into the TV interview with Davis, Brandy and Monica. Brandy looked completely shocked. Davis looked oblivious. Perhaps he didn't want to make a scene as they were all on camera.

[Caris1]

11:14 PM on 02/17/2012

She's spot on. Had there been a change of venue, then the 'tribute' would have at least seemed sincere. Watching the coroner speak with loud dance music playing in the background was just so cheap. Clive Davis's action was callous and reveals their relationship as all business. And that is perfectly fine, but holding himself up as her mentor and father figure all this time proves blatantly false. Speaking up takes courage, and love. I think Ms. Khan was absolutely spot on.

[CaliTLC]

01:44 PM on 02/20/2012

Ditto.