Winnie Harlow Defends Whitney Houston Halloween Costume

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Model Winnie Harlow found herself in the hot seat after some felt she “mocked” the late, great
Whitney Houston‘s unforgettable 2001 BET Awards speech for Halloween.

On October 29th, Winnie gave us a glimpse into her recreation of Whitney’s look from the
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” music video and some behind-the-scenes magic.

But it was her take on Whitney’s 2001 BET Awards moment that stirred the pot. Remember that speech?
Before going viral was even a thing, Whitney had everyone talking after receiving her Lifetime Achievement Award.

Harlow’s recreation of that moment on stage didn’t sit well with everyone, with some accusing her
of making light of a time when the iconic singer was facing personal struggles.

Winnie Harlow Addresses ‘Mocking’ Backlash After Recreating Whitney Houston’s ‘Iconic’ 2001 BET Awards Speech For Halloween

See the Pictures
here.

Winnie took to her Instagram Story to address the controversy head-on. She started by acknowledging the overwhelmingly
positive response she received for her Halloween looks, before diving into the criticism.

She clarified, “My video wasn’t mocking Whitney. That clip has always been one of my favorite moments of hers.
She was radiant, funny, confident, and captivating. She was being awarded. The way she moved across that stage with flair and swag?
Iconic. ‘You betta lay low’ is something I say at least once a week. My mother is one of her biggest fans and named me Whitney after her,
that’s my real legal name. She’s always been a queen in my house.”

She continued, emphasizing the importance of seeing Whitney beyond her struggles:
“People are more than headlines. A woman who could command a room, make you laugh & carry herself like royalty.
If all you see when you see Whitney are her struggles, you’re missing her charisma, humor, talent, personality, & wit.
She was hilarious & magnetic. THAT is and what should always be highlighted. Love her. Attention to positivity.”

The comments sections under Harlow’s Houston tributes were flooded with opinions.
Some critics felt she should have chosen a more positive moment in Whitney’s career to recreate,
while others accused her of being disrespectful.

One person wrote, “If this was a reenactment of a more positive part of Whitney’s career and impact on the earth
I would be ok with you pretending to be her every now and then because you did such a good job.
I think you should do a more positive one.”

Another person wrote, “There were NO other ‘iconic’ moments you could’ve chosen? Out of the length of her career?
Anything else where she isn’t at her lowest? Disrespectful. Some skinfolk ain’t kinfolk.”
Another wrote, “How is this paying respect to someone? You reenact a low point in her life. All for some likes.”

Another added, “Mocking an exceptional woman at her most vulnerable is no flex.”
One user added, “I’m offended. Too big a Whitney fan for this.
Next year someone should put white powder all around they body n mouth n do u that’ll b funny.”
Another user shared, “I meeeeeeaan to do one of her most embarrassing moments? Let that woman rest in peace.”

However, many jumped to Winnie’s defense, with one user exclaiming,
“I’m sorry this sh*t funny!! I love Whit!! It was funny and iconic when she did it too lol!! People need to stop playing!”
Another pointed out, “Y’all realize Whitney has had way worse moments than this… Y’all should be happy she’s not reenacting her reality show…
I’m sorry but this was spot on and good people are overly sensitive.”

#Socialites, be sure to check out the post below, then leave us your thoughts in a comment after!

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Disclaimer:
For education and discussion purposes. Please note no copyright infringement is intended,
was recorded on BlkCosmo’s own equipment, and we do not own nor claim to own any of the original
recordings used in this video and intend to use this as ‘fair use’.

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