*The Whitney Houston estate was not amused when Jerrod Carmichael joked about the late singer’s death during the 2023 Golden Globe Awards.
“So, we are here, live, from the hotel that killed Whitney Houston, the Beverly Hilton,” the comedian, who hosted the ceremony, told the audience during his opening monologue.
A rep for Pat Houston, Houston’s sister-in-law and longtime manager, told TMZ, “The Whitney Houston Estate is disappointed in the joke and felt it was in poor taste.”.
Houston died at age 40 of an alleged accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the hotel. A coroner later confirmed that heart disease and cocaine played a role in her death.
READ MORE: Jerrod Carmichael Jokes About HFPA Scandal at Golden Globes: Full List of Winners
We reported previously that this year’s Golden Globe Awards returned to NBC after being off the airwaves last year due to diversity issues within the organization. It seems part of the internal changes made by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) to address the controversy included tapping a Black man to host this year’s ceremony.
Carmichael hosted Tuesday’s awards show and during his opening monologue, he took aim at the “racist” Hollywood Foreign Press, which is the governing body of the Golden Globes.
“I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here because I’m Black,” Carmichael said, PEOPLE reports. “This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — which I won’t say were a racist organization, but they didn’t have a single Black member until George Floyd died [in 2020]. So do with that information what you will.”
He continued, “One minute you’re making mint tea at home, the next you’re invited to be the Black face of the embattled White organization. Life really comes extra fast, you know?”
Carmichael claims he was hesitant to accept the hosting offer from Globes producer Stephen Hill.
“I said Stephen, ‘I’ll be honest with you, I’m a little torn because you know, one, it’s a great opportunity. Thank you for the call. But I’m only being asked to host this because I’m Black,'” Charmichael shared. “And Stephen said, ‘Let me stop you right there. You are being asked to host this show because you are talented. You’re being asked to host this show because you’re charming — but Stephens’ Black, so what does he know?”
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