Rosie O’Donnell Says Whitney Houston Was ‘Troubled By The Gay Part Of Her Life’ & ‘Didn’t Want It To Be Exposed’

Rosie O’Donnell Says Whitney Houston Was ‘Troubled By The Gay Part Of Her Life’ & ‘Didn’t Want It To Be Exposed’

Rosie O’Donnell is sharing her thoughts on Whitney Houston, and speculation that the late singer was gay.

Rosie O’Donnell recalled an instance in the 90s when Whitney Houston was a “no-show” for The Rosie O’Donnell Show. 

While on the Hot Takes & Deep Dives podcast, she said the late legend,

“was, at that time, really in a downward spiral with drugs, and it was obvious to anyone who was watching her.”

She continued,

“Robyn [Crawford], who was her partner for a while, she had written me and told me that was a very big day for them – the crew around her – to think that they had to make inroads to try to help her, and sadly, they didn’t. Or couldn’t.”

Whitney Houston, Robyn Crawford

She said one of the things she believed was concerning to Whitney Houston at the time was her sexuality as there was speculation that she was gay and had a secret relationship with her friend Robyn Crawford. Rosie O’Donnell said,

“Whitney was troubled by, I think, the gay part of her life and didn’t want it exposed. think that there was a lot of conflict about that.”

She explained,

“It’s culturally more difficult I think … That weighed heavily on her, growing up in the church and gospel and singing. I think there was a lot of conflict about that.”

While Whitney Houston never confirmed the ongoing rumors before she passed in 2012, Robyn Crawford released a book, A Song For You: My Life With Whitney Houston, and shared her side of their alleged relationship in 2019.

Robyn Crawford wrote,

“I’d come to the point where I felt the need to stand up for our friendship. And I felt an urgency to stand up and share the woman behind the incredible talent.”

She explained how she was 19 when she met then 16-year-old Whitney Houston in 1980. Both ladies worked as summer camp counselors in East Orange, NJ, and Crawford promised Houston, 

“I’m going to look out for you.”

Crawford said she kept her promise for 20 years and added,

“We wanted to be together, and that meant just us.”

She revealed that Houston broke things off between them, when it came to their physical relationship, just after landing a deal with Clive Davis at Arista.

Clive Davis, Whitney Houston

Crawford explained how Houston gifted her with a slate blue Bible in 1982 as she told Crawford why they couldn’t be physical.

“She said we shouldn’t be physical anymore, because it would make our journey even more difficult. She said if people find out about us, they would use this against us and back in the ’80s that’s how it felt.”

She added,

“I kept it safe. I found comfort in my silence.”