The estate of Whitney Houston has issued a response to Jerrod Carmichael’s controversial joke about the late singer at the Golden Globes.
Carmichael was on hosting duties at this year’s awards ceremony, which took place in Beverly Hills, California on Tuesday (January 10).
Throughout the evening, the comedian and actor took aim at various Hollywood icons and institutions including Tom Cruise and Will Smith.
As for what Carmichael said about Houston, he joked: “So, we are here, live, from the hotel that killed Whitney Houston, the Beverly Hilton.”
The singer was found unconscious in her suite at the Beverly Hilton on February 11, 2012, and was subsequently pronounced dead. She was 48 years old. Houston had been due to attend a pre-Grammys dinner at the Los Angeles hotel.
It was later confirmed that she had accidentally drowned in a bathtub. The LA County Coroner’s Office cited drowning and the “effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine us” as the cause of death.
In a statement issued to TMZ, the late icon’s estate said of Carmichael’s comment: “The Whitney Houston Estate is disappointed in the joke, and felt it was in poor taste.”
The outlet said that the message came from Pat Houston, Whitney’s longtime manager and sister-in-law.
Some viewers on Twitter also criticised Carmichael over the on-stage remark.
“Jerrod Carmichael is disgusting AF for making such a grotesque and vulgar ‘joke’ about Whitney Houston,” wrote one user. “It was so unnecessary. No one in the audience received it well. He was horrible all night.”
Another said: “Cannot put into words the disgust i feel from the Whitney Houston ‘joke’ Jerrod Carmichael just made, no words.”
A third person commented: “I really don’t think Jerrod Carmichael is gonna make many fans out here making jokes about Whitney Houston on this platform. There is nothing funny about it. Some things just aren’t meant to be made light of.”
You can see those tweets and more reactions below.
GET HIM. Jerrod Carmichael is disgusting AF for making such a grotesque and vulgar “joke” about Whitney Houston. It was so unnecessary. No one in the audience received it well. He was horrible all night. https://t.co/DEbf9LEuSQ
— 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊. (@MJFINESSELOVER) January 11, 2023
cannot put into words the disgust i feel from the whitney houston “joke” jerrod carmichael just made, no words
— clarice
(@dontgocryan) January 11, 2023
I really don’t think Jerrod Carmichael is gonna make many fans out here making jokes about Whitney Houston on this platform. There is nothing funny about it. Some things just aren’t meant to be made light of. #GoldenGlobes
— Veezy World Peace
(@NotoriousVIC007) January 11, 2023
The Whitney joke really wasn’t it. I was done with Jerrod Carmichael back when he made those r*pe jokes but it seems like everyone forgot about that when he re-emerged after his hiatus.
— The Akata Jones Show (@trueorwhatever) January 11, 2023
Y’all was dickeatin Jerrod Carmichael then he disrespected Whitney and it got noticeably quiet. Where’s the thinkpieces?
— DDOT. (@DDotOmen) January 11, 2023
I’m typically a fan of Jerrod Carmichael’s comedy. But I just cannot understand why he’d think a joke about Whitney Houston’s death would be funny. It wasn’t clever or even relevant.
— Brandon (@BMye) January 12, 2023
He really said the hotel that killed Whitney Houston… in what world did he think that would be alright to say? They should've never let this man host. Normally I'm all for Jerrod Carmichael, but that was just terrible to say, he's not good at this #GoldenGlobes
— Dean (@thedeans_list) January 11, 2023
Why is Jerrod Carmichael praising the hotel where Whitney Houston died in Kecin Costner show intro & shading Will Smith with Rock Hudson Award? It is disrespectful, awkward & cringe. #GoldenGlobes #GoldenGlobes2023 pic.twitter.com/uOXZq9MsGm
— Shani Harris (@shanikharris) January 11, 2023
Wtf is wrong with Jerrod Carmichael?! “The hotel that k*led Whitney Houston”?!
#GoldenGlobes
— Nadz (@nadyyjj) January 11, 2023
Jerrod Carmichael’s joke about Whitney Houston
#GoldenGlobes
— Ian!
(@Genki_Rocket) January 11, 2023
You can see the full list of winners from the Golden Globes 2023 here.
In other news, Naomi Ackie recently said she’s “potentially putting myself in the firing line” for taking on the role of Whitney Houston in the new biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons, the film focuses more on the triumphant moments in Houston’s life, rather than her struggles with drug addiction and numerous scandals.
In a three-star review of the biopic, NME wrote: “Ackie’s performance as the late superstar is genuinely transformative. She doesn’t just nail Houston’s distinctive speaking voice and stage mannerisms – the lip quivers, the dramatic hand gestures – but also captures her plucky spirit.”
The post Whiney Houston’s estate “disappointed” in Jerrod Carmichael’s Golden Globes joke appeared first on NME.
