When the news of Whitney Houston’s death became public on February 11, 2012, people of the world came together to share their shock and grief. Thanks to the prevalence of social media and how quickly information can be spread, the death of a high profile celebrity like Houston quickly takes the highlight as far as news goes, and the results can be seen in the outpouring of support for Houston’s family members, friends, and the millions of fans whose lives she touched.
But in our digital age, what is the funeral etiquette for this kind of situation? Many of us want to participate in the celebration of Houston’s life, but because Houston’s family has made her funeral a private affair, it’s impossible to show physical support. Even more importantly, we don’t want to be a burden on a family already going through the worst situation.
How to Mourn Celebrities
In almost all cases, celebrity funerals are private affairs open only to close family members and friends. This isn’t to keep the grieving public away, but rather to protect the family. For every truly compassionate person mourning a celebrity, there is usually another individual who wants to capitalize on the death or to make some kind of political statement.
