Bobby Brown Leaves Whitney Houston Funeral After 20 Minutes
Bobby Brown has left Whitney Houston's funeral just 20 minutes into the service. Houston's controversial ex-husband, who was almost barred from the funeral altogether, fled the New Hope Baptist Church as two gospel choirs were in mid-song at the start of the service.
The R&B singer has been blamed by many for many of Houston's problems, following their fiery marriage, which has been criticized for drug and alcohol abuse, as well as physical abuse.
Bobby Brown and his son Landon arrived at Saturday's funeral in Newark, New Jersey only about 15 minutes before the service was due to begin, but quickly left just 20 minutes in.
He reportedly drove off in a black Escalade as Houston's family and friends continued to celebrate her life at an emotional funeral.
SEE VIDEO OF KEVIN COSTNER'S TOUCHING EULOGY AT WHITNEY HOUSTON'S FUNERAL
SEE VIDEO OF ALICIA KEYS SINGING AT WHITNEY HOUSTON'S FUNERAL
SEE VIDEO OF R. KELLY'S 'I LOOK TO YOU' AT WHITNEY HOUSTON'S FUNERAL
SEE VIDEO OF STEVIE WONDER SINGING AT WHITNEY HOUSTON'S FUNERAL
Houston and Brown married in 1992, but their troubled marriage ended in divorce 14 years later.
Brown is scheduled to perform in a concert on Saturday night in Connecticut following the funeral, as part of a tour with his newly reformed band New Edition.
Even though fans were told to stay away from Saturday's private funeral and to watch the service on TV or online via live streams, many still turned up but were left disappointed at being kept back from the church.
One mother, Ms. Stubbs has said her 13-year-old daughter, Whitney Elizabeth, was named after the singer, according to The NY Times. She reported her disappointment at not being able to get near to the funeral, "I kind of feel like, left out."
READ MORE: BOBBY BROWN BLAMES SECURITY AT FUNERAL FOR WHY HE LEFT EARLY
At about 9.30 a.m. a gold hearse was seen making its way to the church with a large letter "W" posted on the window. The hearse was followed by three gold limousines, and escorted by a number of police motorcycles.
As the hearse made its way slowly through the streets, fans cheered and shouted blessings for the fallen singer.
SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S HIT "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU" HERE
SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S HIT "THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL" HERE
SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S HIT "I'M EVERY WOMAN" HERE
SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S HIT "I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY" HERE
SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S HIT "IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT IT'S OK" HERE
SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON'S FINAL PERFORMANCE BEFORE DEATH
SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON & BOBBI KRISTINA BROWN PERFORMING "MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE"
SEE VIDEO OF LL COOL J'S PRAYER FOR WHITNEY HOUSTON ON GRAMMYS 2012