She first paid homage to Whitney by dressing up as her in the “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” music video before later recreating Whitney’s appearance at the 2001 BET Awards, when Whitney took the stage to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award. At the time, Whitney was facing intense scrutiny and speculation about her drug use, which was amplified by her visibly thin appearance and energetic behavior during the show.
View this video on YouTube
BET Awards / Via youtube.com
Whitney never publicly addressed the reaction to her appearance — though she later admitted to previously using drugs in a 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, including marijuana and cocaine. She died in 2012 from an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.
Given that history, fans weren’t thrilled about Winnie’s decision to recreate that particular look.
One commenter 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 positive one.”
Another person wrote on X, “um. i think she’s an asshole for this. she made a ‘costume’ & is reenacting a time when Whitney was in the throws of addiction.”
Others agreed that the costume missed the mark: “Something about this feels disrespectful. Idk. Maybe I’m too woke.”
Winnie addressed the backlash on her Instagram story, saying that she meant to celebrate Whitney, not mock her. “That clip has always been one of my favorites,” she said. “She was radiant, funny, confident, and captivating. She was being awarded. The way she moved across that stage with flair and swag? Iconic.”
Winnie also shared a personal connection to Whitney. “My mother is one of her biggest fans and named me Whitney after her,” she shared. “That’s my real legal name. She’s always been a queen in my house.”
She then concluded the post by saying, “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. The light that made us all love her attention to positivity.”
You can see the full post here — then let me know your thoughts in the comments.
