Winnie Harlow is facing criticism online for her Halloween tribute to Whitney Houston.
The 31-year-old Canadian model is well-known for honoring the late singer, famous for “I Will Always Love You.” Houston, a legendary Grammy winner, tragically passed away at 48 years old in 2012 after being discovered unresponsive in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton.
Leading up to her death, fans expressed concern about Houston’s perceived “erratic” behavior.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined her death to be accidental, attributing it to drowning, heart disease complications, and cocaine use.
Harlow, evidently a devoted admirer of Houston, has paid homage to her multiple times this Halloween, including a recreation of the “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” music video.
Sharing the iconic video on Instagram, Harlow wrote: “The woman who made us all Wanna Dance with Somebody. The icon, the Voice. Whitney Houston,” while expressing gratitude to her creative team, designers, and assistants for bringing the idea to fruition.
Although many fans celebrated and applauded Harlow for resembling the star, another recreation has struck a nerve with some viewers.
In this particular footage, Harlow embodies Houston’s 2001 BET Awards appearance, lip-syncing parts of her acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
This moment resonated with fans at the time due to their increasing concerns about Houston’s health, noting her “erratic” behavior and appearance.
Now, Harlow faces backlash for revisiting this moment, with critics deeming it a “low point” to highlight.
“Something about this seems very disrespectful to me. I don’t like this,” one user commented on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another added: “Her ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ look was cute and tasteful…she should’ve kept it there.”
Some pointed out that while Harlow’s actions and mannerisms mirror Houston’s stage presence, it seems more like “disrespectful mockery” than a tribute.
“Of all the several iconic Whitney moments, this is the one she chose?”
Another concurred: “She’s mocking her not at her best moment. Not only is it disrespectful it’s tasteless.”
“Why did Winnie choose to recreate one of Whitney’s darkest moments? It’s bad taste and feels like a mockery,” another disappointed fan echoed.
Despite this, numerous others defended Harlow, suggesting it’s simply a “Halloween costume” meant for enjoyment.
“Genuinely, what’s the issue with this?” another user questioned.
“She seems quite energetic and nice, to be honest,” another commented in defense of Harlow.
Meanwhile, a third person humorously remarked they only take issue because “she looks exactly like Whitney Houston.”
Harlow captioned her Halloween post: “Youuu betta Lay Low!,” referencing Houston’s speech.
“One of my favorite iconic Whitney moments,” she added, accompanied by crying and laughing emojis.
Harlow’s representatives have been contacted for comment.