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THE MEN IN WHITNEY HOUSTON’S LIFE; PLUS THE ROLE THEY PLAYED

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By Bola Akinboade
The world is still mourning d death of one of the most talented singer, Whitney Houston, who died at Beverly Hilton Hotel in California on February 11, 2012 @ d age of 48.
Since her death, all her fans and family won’t get off her ex-husband’s back. Bobby Brown has been accused of been responsible for her death since he introduced her to drugs which eventually wrecked her life.
And right now, most  matured single ladies now use Bobby and Whitney’s story to console themselves and the fact that its better to be single than to end up with the wrong guy.
But the question that has been on my mind since I heard about her death and the accusations is that, did Bobby really kill Whitney? They separated in 2006 and family and friends have been praying for her to go straight.
Moreover, Whitney spent her last moments with her new lover, Ray J.
Going down the memory lane and checking out the men Whitney dated in the past, I can’t help but ask myself this question – Will Whitney be alive today if she had married one of the other guys she dated?
Let’s take a look at the men in Whitney’s life; plus the role they played. Do you think the other men would have been a better choice?

EDDIE MURPHY
Whitney was once romantically linked to actor/comedian Eddie Murphy in the ’80s. She dated Eddie for over 3 years. Whitney was introduced to Eddie by Arsenio Hall (her close friend) and started dating almost immediately.
She was reported to have gotten an engagement ring from Eddie Murphy during her 26th birthday party, as well as flaunting the large diamond ring(5.5 karats) dominating her left hand.
Whitney flashes a broad, girlish smile and casually extends her hand. The baguette diamonds sparkle in the sunlight. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she asks. “Yes, Edward gave me this ring.”

Whitney & Eddie Murphy

 It was the only piece of jewelry she wore other than a diamond cross – from her mother, Cissy Houston – in one ear.
Unfortunately, their career affected their relationship and they hardly get to see because of the fact that they both shuttled from one location to another.
And even though they seem compatible, they were both rich, famous and had the same kind of status, it became very hard to grow and keep the relationship.
RANDALL CUNNINGHAM
Also in the 80s, Houston was romantically linked to American football star Randall Cunningham whom she dated. Former football quarterback Randall Cunningham shared a two-year relationship with Whitney, before calling it quits in 1987.
But some of Randall’s close friends knew the relationship wouldn’t last, they assumed that Whitney liked the bad boy type.
Randall Cunningham
They also believed Randall was pursuing Houston in a wrong way. Randall went after her with everything he had. He was giving her roses, wine, a limousine.
Randall was trying everything he could, but he just wasn’t Whitney’s type of guy. And they were not surprised when she married Bobby Brown. She liked a guy with a little street.
And even though Houston and Randall didn’t date for long, she was around the team quite a bit at the time.
Whitney had a lot of respect for Randall. “Randall is a tall, fine, good-looking man. He is warm, very caring, very giving and loving young man,” she says. “He’s a great talented athlete. I have a lot of respect for him, because it’s very hard to get out there and bang heads, and get banged. He’s somebody I can talk to. Randall’s a Christian. He’s a good person.”
So with all these qualities, why didn’t they work out?
JERMAINE JACKSON
Whitney & Jermaine Jackson
It was rumored that Houston once dated the Jackson 5 star, Jermaine Jackson. They dated before she met her ex-husband, Bobby Brown. They collaborated on several songs.
In Jermaine Jackson’s book he opened up about their affair. He said he was crazy about her, that she had a profound effect on his life. And the late pop star, Michael Jackson used to tease him about it.
BOBBY BROWN
Whitney met Bobby Brown in 1989 at the Soul Train Music Awards. After a three-year courtship, the two were married on July 18, 1992.
Whitney Houston & Bobby Brown
Everyone was shocked when she got married to Bobby Brown. It was unbelievable because at that time, Bobby already had the bad boy image, he had kids from previous relationships, and everyone thought they were ‘opposites. Despite the media reports, Whitney confessed that she was following her heart desires.
On March 4, 1993, Houston gave birth to their daughter
Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown, her only child, and his fourth.
Though Houston was seen as a “good girl” with a perfect image in the 1980s and early 1990s, by the late 1990s, her behavior changed. She was often hours late for interviews, photo shoots and rehearsals, and canceling concerts and talk-show appearances.
With the missed performances and weight loss, rumors about Houston using drugs with her husband circulated. On January 11, 2000, airport security guards discovered marijuana in both Houston’s and husband Bobby Brown’s luggage at a Hawaii airport, but the two boarded the plane and departed before authorities could arrive. Charges were later dropped against them, but rumors of drug usage between the couple would continue to surface.
Bobby and Whitney famously had a tumultuous 15-year relationship. They once appeared on their own reality show, in which many of their marital problems were brought to light.
Brown was accused of domestic violence in 1993 after Houston claimed he slapped her during a jealous argument.
After years of controversy and turmoil, Houston separated from Bobby Brown in September 2006, filing for divorce the following month. On February 1, 2007, Houston asked the court to fast track their divorce. The divorce was finalized on April 24, 2007, with Houston granted custody of the couple’s daughter. On May 4, Houston sold the
Suburban Atlanta home featured in Being Bobby Brown for $1.19 million.
Whitney gave her first interview in seven years in September 2009, appearing on Oprah Winfrey’s season premiere. The interview was billed as “the most anticipated music interview of the decade”. Whitney admitted on the show to using drugs with former husband Bobby Brown, who “laced marijuana with rock cocaine”. By 1996, she told Oprah, “[doing drugs] was an everyday thing… I wasn’t happy by that point in time. I was losing myself.”
RAY J
Whitney’s most recent romantic partner was 31-year-old rapper Ray J — who was infamously linked to Kim Kardashian in their 2003 sex tape. Ray J is also singer Brandy’s younger brother.
Romance rumors began circulating in 2007 when Whitney ended her 15-year marriage to R&B bad boy Bobby Brown. A year later, they were photographed enjoying dinner at Beverly Hills hot spot Mastro’s and spotted at the Bernard Hopkins-verses-Joe Calzaghe fight in Las Vegas.
Whitney Houston & Ray J
The two dated on-and-off for four years. R&B singer and reality star Ray J, 31, has always denied any romantic link to Whitney. She was 17 years his senior.
Whitney and Ray J were spotted together weeks before Houston’s death, which sparked rumors of a reconciliation.
She actually spent her last moments with him. Whitney clashed with former X-factor contestant Stacy Francis over her boyfriend Ray J just days before her death.
The two divas almost came to blows after Whitney failed to remember the aspiring singer who she   once pulled on stage during a concert. Ray J who had known Stacy for years, then stepped in to defend her, annoying the music legend.
But despite her messy hair and dishevelled appearance no one would have guessed that less than two days later she would be found dead in her hotel room.
Tribute
Whitney was a great woman. Whether or not the award winning singer made a wrong choice in love, her memory will forever linger on. May her soul rest in peace!!!
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