Whitney Houston's casket photo: 'Reprehensible'?

Critics accuse the National Enquirer of crossing a line after it runs a front-page image of the late singer in an open coffin The National Enquirer is courting controversy for running what it touts as "the last photo" of the late singer Whitney Houston: A picture of the star's open casket at her wake. The decision to publish the private image is "disgusting and reprehensible," critics say, especially because the tabloid typically lines supermarket shelves in plain view of children. Meanwhile, the Enquirer's publisher has defended the photo as "beautiful," and 21 percent of those surveyed in a Fox News poll said they saw "absolutely nothing wrong" with the image. Did the Enquirer go too far?

It's unacceptable: "Images are news," says Dodai Stewart at Jezebel. That case was rightfully made when papers ran photos of Moammar Gadhafi's bloodied corpse. But a line exists, and the National Enquirer crossed it. We can assume this "invasive" photo was taken by someone close to the singer who immorally accepted a large payment to leak the pic. And making matters worse, this "disturbing" image runs alongside classless headlines about "Courtney from The Bachelor's 'pregnancy drama'" and Ashton Kutcher's "cougar hunting." Yuck. Whitney deserves better.
"This casket photo of Whitney Houston's dead body is now on newsstands everywhere"

Sadly, this is par for the course: Coverage of Houston's death has been one big "exercise in sensationalism," says Brent Lang at The Wrap. The National Enquirer front page is "on par with the photos of Houston's last meal and the bathtub she died in that TMZ ran immediately after her Feb. 11 death." And the Enquirer's "ghoulish glimpse at Whitney's wake" is just the tip of the iceberg. The "tawdry" article crassly reports the cost of the jewelry she was wearing and offers a red-carpet-like analysis of her outfit.
"Whitney Houston open casket photo graces National Enquirer cover"

Americans have, historically, sought out such images: National Enquirer isn't Reader's Digest, says Roy Greenslade at the U.K.'s Guardian. In 1977, the paper's front page featured a photo of Elvis Presley's open casket just days after his death. The nation was hardly scandalized: It became the paper's best-selling issue ever. Even more recently, photos of Michael Jackson's lifeless body were plastered all over the news during the trial of his doctor, Conrad Murray. This time around, the Enquirer will once again "sell many, many extra copies. That's life... and death." 
"National Enquirer runs cover picture of Whitney Houston in a coffin"

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Whitney Houston's funeral: What to expect

Who's speaking, who's complaining, and who scored an invitation after all. A quick guide to Houston's star-studded sendoff on Saturday On Saturday, music mega-star Whitney Houston will be laid to rest near her father at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, N.J., after a celebrity-packed, invitation-only funeral at her childhood church in Newark, N.J. The final sendoff of one of America's best-loved vocal talents has generated intense interest, unchecked gossip, a dose of drama, and even a political controversy. Here, five talking points:

1. The ceremony will be packed with gospel and R&B stars
The funeral at New Hope Baptist Church will underline Houston's status as R&B royalty. The ceremony is being planned by her family, including mother Cissy Houston and cousin Dionne Warwick, both Grammy-winning singers. Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin, will perform at the service, as will Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys. Her eulogy is being given by gospel singer Marvin Winans, the Detroit pastor who officiated Whitney's ill-fated 1992 marriage to Bobby Brown. Also speaking: Record producer Clive Davis, Houston's mentor and the man who guided her to fame.

SEE ALSO: The latest tweets about Whitney Houston

2. Hollywood will send a delegation, too
The speakers' list also includes actor Kevin Costner, Houston's co-star in her biggest film success, The Bodyguard (1992). "Kevin always supported her," a family friend tells People, and, while the two may have lost touch, "they were always friendly." Director Tyler Perry, whose private jet reportedly flew Houston's body back to New Jersey from California, will also take part in the funeral.

3. Ex-husband Bobby Brown eked out an invite
Rumor had it that Brown, whose volatile marriage to Houston officially ended in 2007, would be barred from the funeral. Not so, says People. Brown and Houston have an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, and "Bobby will be there at the funeral to support his daughter," a close family friend tells the magazine. "There was some talk... some people were angry at him, but that's just grief. He will be there." After the funeral, Brown is performing in Connecticut with his old band, New Edition. Brown turns to performing "as therapy to get him through a difficult time," CNN reports. 

SEE ALSO: Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show: 'Sheer fun'?

4. You can't go... but you can watch
If you don't have an invitation, Newark police won't let you within four blocks of New Hope Baptist, police director Samuel DiMaio tells CNN. But the Houston family is letting one Associated Press video camera into the funeral, and fans can watch the service on Livestream, or any TV network that chooses to broadcast the AP feed.

5. Chris Christie is courting controversy by honoring Houston
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced this week that flags at state government buildings will fly at half-staff on Saturday in Houston's honor. "Whitney Houston was an important part of the cultural fabric of this state," in the same category as "Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, and Bruce Springsteen," he explained. Not everyone agrees. Judging from posts on Facebook and Twitter, "many people feel that the honor of having flags at half-staff is a gesture for heroes — not drug addicts," says Ruqaiyya Noor at Yahoo News. Indeed, Christie erred here, says Jazz Shaw at Hot Air. Houston's untimely death, while tragic, "is not a national tragedy."

SEE ALSO: Grammy Awards: The 6 best performances

Sources: CBS News, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, Hot Air, People, Politico, Washington Post, The Wrap, Yahoo News

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