Whitney Houston's alleged lover Robyn Crawford breaks silence on relationship

Amy Johnson
·Contributor
Whitney Houston Bobby Brown and Robyn Crawford in happier days in New York City RTNBaker / MediaPunch/IPX
Whitney Houston Bobby Brown and Robyn Crawford (far right) in happier days in New York City RTNBaker / MediaPunch/IPX

Whitney Houston’s best friend Robyn Crawford has previously chosen not to comment on the speculation surrounding her relationship with the singer, but now she has spoken out about it for the first time in her upcoming book A Song for You: My Life With Whitney Houston.

In an extract from the book published by People, Crawford alleges the pair were lovers, something which has been long-rumoured.

After meeting as teenagers at a summer camp in 1980, the pair went on to begin a physical relationship according to Crawford, which she says was cut short when Houston signed a record deal with Clive Davis at Arista.

Read more: That’s not Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard poster, reveals Kevin Costner

“She said we shouldn’t be physical anymore because it would make our journey even more difficult," writes Crawford. “She said if people find out about us, they would use this against us and back in the ’80s that’s how it felt.”

Although, the two of them still remained friends as Crawford explains: “I kept it safe. I found comfort in my silence.”

Crawford alleges that Houston's mother Cissy voiced disapproval at a same sex relationship between the two, saying: “Whitney told me her mother said it wasn’t natural for two women to be that close but we were that close.”

Walt Disney Television via Getty Images SPECIAL - SUPERSTARS AND THEIR MOMS - Whitney and Cissy Houston are featured on a special that celebrated moms and aired on Mother's Day, May 10,1987 on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) WHITNEY HOUSTON, CISSY HOUSTON
Whitney and Cissy Houston are featured on a special that celebrated moms and aired on Mother's Day, May 10,1987 on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

The I Wanna Dance With Somebody singer went on to marry R&B artist Bobby Brown, and had daughter Bobbi Kristina with him in 1993. The couple divorced in 2007. Houston died in 2010 at the age of 48.

In 2016, Brown claimed his ex-wife would still be alive if Crawford had been accepted into her life.

Director Kevin MacDonald was behind the 2018 documentary about the singer and while there were initial discussions about her participation, Crawford eventually declined to be in the production.

Robyn Crawford (right) and guest during Beyonce Knowles at the North American Debut of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren at the Esquire Apartment 2003 - Inside at Esquire Apartment, Trump World Tower in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage for Esquire Magazine - USA)
Robyn Crawford (right) in 2003 (Photo by KMazur/WireImage for Esquire Magazine - USA)

However, Macdonald has discussed how Houston's family generally characterised the two women as lovers.

“I think it’s fairly obvious when you talk to the family and friends, nobody is denying that Whitney and Robyn had a physical relationship — a sexual relationship,” Macdonald said.

“They were partners for a number of years. My understanding is that relationship was over in a romantic sense by the mid-’80s when Whitney became a big star.”