Report: Whitney Houston Blackmailed Over ‘Affair,’ New Book Reveals Details

According to files released by the FBI, Whitney Houston was the victim of an extortion plot that threatened to reveal secrets about the late singer. The secrets, which are detailed in the new book, “Whitney & Bobbi Kristina: The Deadly Price of Fame,” alleged Houston was having a lesbian affair with her friend and assistant, Robyn Crawford.

Houston denied the relationship with Crawford in the past, telling TIME magazine in 1987 that she was the “sister I never had.” Houston's ex-husband Bobby Brown also reportedly once addressed the rumors of his late wife's lesbian affair in his memoir, saying, "The media was accusing her of having a bisexual relationship. In Whitney's situation, the only solution was to get married and have kids.”

The heavily redacted FBI files state the late pop star was asked for $250,000 from a Chicago lawyer on the night before the premiere of her 1992 hit movie, “The Bodyguard.”

A paragraph from the document reads, “[Redacted] said [Redacted] told him that [Redacted] has knowledge of intimate details regarding Whitney Houston's romantic relationships, and will go public with the information unless [Redacted] is paid $250,000. [Redacted] told [Redacted] client will sign a confidentiality agreement if [Redacted] is paid the $250,000.”

According to the report, Whitney's father, John Houston, "settled the matter by sending a confidentiality agreement almost immediately," although it was "unclear how much money was paid to silence the person and whether he met the initial demand for $250,000."