Whitney Houston’s estate is pushing back after Oprah Winfrey linked the late singer’s 2009 stage fall to alleged drug use.

Winfrey discussed the incident while speaking at the Cannes Lions conference in France on Tuesday, June 23. According to the media personality, Houston fell from the stage during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show because she was allegedly “back on drugs.”

Houston’s estate has now disputed that account, insisting the fall happened during a soundcheck and had nothing to do with drugs.

During her Cannes Lions appearance, Winfrey reflected on Houston’s emotional 2009 interview and performance on her daytime talk show.

The episode focused on Houston’s personal struggles, her recovery journey and her return to music following time in rehabilitation.

Winfrey claimed Houston fell from the stage during the production. She said she feared the incident could damage the singer’s reputation if images were released publicly.

According to Winfrey, she asked audience members not to share any photographs of the fall. She added that the audience respected her request, something she believes would be more difficult in today’s social media environment.

However, Houston’s estate says Winfrey’s explanation for the incident was inaccurate.

In a statement shared on Instagram, the estate confirmed that Houston fell from the stage but firmly denied that drugs caused the accident.

According to the estate, the incident happened during a soundcheck because the area was dark and Houston was unfamiliar with the stage setup.

“She was absolutely not high,” the statement read.

The estate acknowledged that Houston faced well-documented personal struggles throughout her life. However, it argued that those battles should not automatically be connected to every incident involving the singer.

Representatives said it was unfair to attach assumptions about drug use to each chapter of Houston’s career without evidence.

The statement also emphasized Houston’s professionalism during the 2009 appearance.

Her estate said the studio audience witnessed an artist showing discipline, talent and commitment rather than someone unable to perform because of substance use.

While recognizing that Houston’s life included both triumphs and struggles, the estate urged people to discuss her story with greater care and accuracy.

“We owe her the dignity of telling the truth, not repeating myths,” the statement concluded.

The response has renewed discussion about how Houston’s personal struggles are remembered alongside her historic musical career.

Houston’s appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show came during a major comeback period for the singer.

During the interview, she spoke openly about her marriage to Bobby Brown, her experiences with addiction and her efforts to rebuild her career. She also promoted her final studio album, I Look to You, which was released that year.

The interview became one of Houston’s most public conversations about the difficulties she faced away from the stage.

Winfrey’s recent comments offered new details about what allegedly happened behind the scenes, but Houston’s estate has made it clear that it rejects her account of why the singer fell.

Whitney Houston died in February 2012 at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California. She was 48 years old.

Authorities ruled that she accidentally drowned, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.

Despite the circumstances surrounding her death, Houston remains one of the most celebrated vocalists in music history. Her catalog includes classics such as “I Will Always Love You,” “I Have Nothing” and “Greatest Love of All.”