While colleagues and friends of the late Whitney Houston were on hand Tuesday night for a screening of Lifetime’s new biopic about the singer, her family was nowhere to be found.
The premiere took place at the Paley Center for Media, located just minutes away from The Beverly Hilton hotel, where the 48-year-old Houston drowned in her guest room in February 2012.
Relatives were invited to participate in the “Whitney” project from the start, explained Angela Bassett, the Oscar-nominated actress marking her feature-directing debut with the biopic, which debuts Jan. 17.
“And it was the family’s choice and decision, because of what they want to do and whatever their desires or their plans are, not to be involved in this one,” Bassett said. “But they didn’t have anything negative to say about it. You know, sometimes to be silent is the greatest gift.”
