Where is Bobby Brown today, and what does he think of the Whitney biopic? He’s played by Ashton Sanders in I Wanna Dance with Somebody, and these days is married to his manager Alicia Etheredge-Brown

Dec 24 , 2022

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston were married for 15 years before divorcing. Photo: Getty Images

Whitney Houston’s biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody will release globally on December 23, with Naomi Ackie as the lead star and Moonlight’s Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown

Brown and Houston’s ill-fated marriage was marred by substance abuse before they divorced in 2007; but the rapper has said he thinks they’d still be together if it weren’t for drugs

Whitney Houston’s family-approved biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody is set to hit cinemas on December 23, and those familiar with the legendary star’s personal life are curious to see how her controversial ex-husband, Bobby Brown, will be portrayed in the film.

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s marriage was highly controversial. Photo: AP

Houston and Brown first met at the Soul Train Awards in 1989. They got married three years later in a star-studded New Jersey wedding, when Houston was 29 and Brown was 23, in front of 800 guests, reported the Evening Standard.

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown pose for photographers as they arrive at a film premiere in New York City in 1997. Photo: Reuters

Unfortunately, as the pressures of being one of the biggest pop stars of her generation began to mount, Houston’s marriage became mired in scandal, with the two both heavily involved in drug and alcohol abuse – much of which was broadcasted publicly in tabloids and global media.

Brown was often blamed for ruining the former gospel girl’s squeaky clean image and getting her into partying, but he’s spoken up against the claims on multiple occasions, saying it was a two-way street and calling the accusations a “big misconception”.

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston met in the late 1980s. Photo: @bobbyxwhitney/Instagram

So, what do we know about Houston’s first and only husband before her tragic death – and where is he today?

Tragedy struck thrice

Fame and celebrity

United States

Music

Icons and Influencers

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Hollywood

Millionaires and billionaires

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Whitney Houston

Faye Bradley

Faye Bradley is a Hong Kong-based contributing online editor for Style by SCMP, where she covers topics in luxury, pop culture, celebrity, influencer, entertainment, travel, trending news, food and drinks, and lifestyle. As a freelance writer, her work has been featured in CNN Style, Business Insider, Michelin Guide, Travel + Leisure Asia, China Daily, Design Anthology, BurdaLuxury, Skyscanner, and Hong Kong Tourism Board. With a BA (Hons) in art and design from the University of Leeds, she is the co-founder of Paradigm Haus, a print publication that covers artists, creatives and entrepreneurs the world over, and the founder of CSP Times, a digital luxury lifestyle website. She is also an editor for luxury wellness travel publication Compare Retreats.

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