Tyler Perry revealed that he offered his emotional and financial support to the late music legend Whitney Houston as she tried and failed to beat her drug addiction.
In an interview with Oprah on the OWN Network, Perry explained that, as a close friend of Houston’s, he felt no hesitation in offering his support.
He said, “From the first day we sat down in that restaurant and had a conversation where she was so open with me, I felt a responsibility to do all I could to help her.”
Perry also described the sense of urgency he felt to get Houston clean again.
“I sensed, like most people who deal with people who have addiction issues, they sense that there is a 'death day' coming.”
Perry was highly proactive in carrying out his promise. He utilized his movie mogul status and sent a private plane to get Houston to the best rehab facility.
He also lent a sympathetic ear to Houston’s family members who would sometimes call to say, “Listen, this is goin’ on. And that’s goin’ on,” Perry told Oprah.
Houston had a tumultuous, decades’ long battle with drugs that was exacerbated by her infamous relationship with R&B artist, Bobby Brown.
In 2002, Houston interviewed with Diane Sawyer on ABC’s Primetime and insisted that she was willing and able to kick the habit.
“I'm a person who has life, and wants to live,” she said. “I won’t break.”
But in the end, not even the efforts of a loyal friend could save the spiraling songstress.
On Feb. 11, 2012, Houston’s body was found in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Her death was ruled an accident from drowning, but there were traces of cocaine found in her system.
Perry’s interview with Oprah will air tonight, Sun. May 26, at 9pm on the OWN Network.