Whitney Houston‘s hairstylist is clapping back at Oprah after the renowned talk show host claimed the award-winning singer fell off her soundstage because she was high. Oprah’s remarks ignited backlash, prompting Houston’s estate and veteran entertainment journalist Roger Friedman to ward off.
In line with Page Six, Houston’s former hairstylist, Tiffanie Dixon, said Oprah’s comments concerning the singer being high during her 2009 appearance on her talk show are flat-out false.
“It’s not true. She fell because they didn’t rope off the stage… I used to be standing right there,” Dixon said.
Dixon continued, claiming Oprah made people sign NDAs after the incident and even threatened to fireplace her staff if the story was leaked to the press.
Despite the precautions Oprah allegedly took, Dixon insisted Houston was “not high.”
Dixon Says Oprah Has ‘A Lot Of Nerve’ To Allegedly Lie About Whitney Houston
Dixon said that she spoke out about Oprah’s comments because they “disturbed” her, adding, “It’s not true. There’s no truth and no validity… It’s a lie… She’s got loads of nerve.”
Oprah sent a portion of her Cannes Lions press tour talking concerning the alleged incident, claiming that Houston relapsed on drugs when she arrived at her “Oprah” show set to advertise her final studio album in 2009.
“The primary interview I did together with her once we’d gone behind stage and I asked her about her intention, she was clean, however the day she got here to my show then to perform in front of the audience, she was not, and she or he fell off of the stage,” she said, per Variety.
Opah said she “begged” the audience to maintain quiet concerning the incident, stating that she knew it might spoil Houston’s profession if it became public.
Whitney Houston’s Estate Claps Back At Oprah’s Claims About The Singer
Houston’s former hairstylist isn’t the just one to disclaim the claims that the singer was high during her appearance. Houston’s estate executor, Pat Houston, fired back as well, denying the claims and saying that Houston fell “as a result of the darkness of the realm and unfamiliarity with the stage.”
Elsewhere within the statement, Houston’s estate confirmed that the singer struggled with addiction earlier in her profession; nevertheless, they said Oprah’s claims about her 2009 mishap were “inaccurate and unfair.” They added, “What the studio audience witnessed on stage was the results of discipline, talent, and commitment—not the assumptions others project.”
Esteemed Journalist Defends Houston Against Oprah’s Claims
Roger Friedman of Showbiz 411 also commented on the headlines and said that Oprah’s claims today were much different than her words in 2021. Friedman went on to say that he was on a Zoom call with Oprah and the late Clive Davis 5 years ago, and through that decision, Oprah allegedly said that Houston’s fall was not as a result of drugs.
Friedman reported on the decision live back then, writing that Oprah allegedly said, “It was not drugs.”
In Friedman’s 2026 report, the author said that they may “produce” the past Zoom call of Oprah’s alleged confession if needed, adding that the TV executive was stretching the reality today “to make headlines.”
Oprah’s comments were met with backlash from Houston fans, a lot of whom questioned why the talk show host would speak concerning the story almost 20 years later.
“I feel like we could respect her memory higher than talking about this publicly a decade plus after she passed,” someone wrote. One other user added, “Oh, wow, and also you thought this was an ideal time to say this?”
“Oprah would say anything to guard that nasty man and take the eye away from Clives,” said a 3rd, while a fourth wrote, “That is one lady I don’t like.”
“Whitney gone haunt tf outta her,” another person added. “Oprah contradicted herself saying she didn’t want the puctures to be released to the general public but here she is talking about it intimately.”
In line with History.com, Houston was found dead in the bath of her hotel room on the Beverly Hilton in California on February 11, 2012. She was 48. PEOPLE reported that the singer’s death was ruled as an “accidental drowning with contributing aspects of heart disease and cocaine use.”