The rise of the sneaker subject of new museum exhibit

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 39

The Yoda balloon watches over as crew member Ed Tomas of Port Monmouth, NJ helps to get his balloon inflated before the Quick Chek Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport. — AP ’s daughter Bobbi Kristina dead at 22

obbi Kristina Brown, the only child of After her mother’s death, Bobbi Kristina-who pop legend Whitney Houston and singer had hoped to follow in Houston’s footsteps as BBobby Brown, died Sunday aged 22, six a singer-and several relatives appeared in months after she was found unconscious in a another reality show, discussing their grieving bathtub in her home. “She is finally at peace in and working on picking up the pieces. the arms of God. We want to again thank A final coroner’s report said Houston may everyone for their tremendous amount of love have overdosed on drugs and alcohol before and support during these last few months,” a drowning, and that drug-related heart dam- short family statement said, adding she was age played a part in her death. The circum- surrounded by loved ones as she slipped stances that led to Bobbi Kristina being pulled away. Bobbi Kristina-sole heir to Houston’s unconscious from a bathtub are similarly estate-was discovered face down and unre- murky. In February, US media reported that sponsive in her bathtub in her Atlanta, police had opened a criminal probe into Bobbi Georgia home on January 31. Kristina’s boyfriend Nick Gordon, who report- She was revived by emergency crews but edly said that it was he who found her in the lost significant brain function and was placed bathtub. The reports said that Bobbi Kristina in a medically induced coma. She died at a sustained unexplained injuries prior to the hospice in Duluth, Georgia. She passed away, incident, while there are also claims of a drug according to the TMZ celebrity website, after overdose, but no criminal charges have been In this Feb12, 2011, file photo, singer Whitney Houston, left, and her family decided to “take her off all meds.” brought. daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown arrive at an event in Beverly Hills, Calif. Her death-which a source told Entertainment Gordon spent years being raised by — AP/AFP photos Tonight was linked to an apparent drug over- Houston in her home and grew up alongside dose-drew eerie parallels to that of her moth- Bobbi Kristina, although he was never formally er, who was found face down in a bathtub in a adopted by the pop singer. He and Bobbi Los Angeles hotel on February 11, 2012, on Kristina revealed their romantic relationship the eve of the Grammy Awards. after her mother’s death. Many Houston fans sent messages of sup- port for the family on , saying Bobbi Outpouring of grief Kristina would be reunited with her mother. There had been growing fears for Bobbi “Rest In Heaven. You were loved, Bobbi Kristina’s long-term health after she was Kristina Brown,” actress and singer Holly moved to the Duluth hospice a month ago. Robinson Peete said on Twitter. “Despite the great medical care at numerous tweeted: “Peace at Last!” Grammy-winning facilities, her condition has continued to dete- performer Missy Elliott tweeted: “My heart is riorate,” her aunt, Pat Houston, said in a state- truly heavy. May u rest in peace with your ment at the time. “As of today, she has been mommy.” moved into hospice care. We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God’s A file picture taken on August 16, 2012, Bobbi Kristina Murky circumstances hands now.” News of her death sparked an Brown arrives at Tri-Star Pictures’ “Sparkle” premiere at Bobbi Kristina’s parents separated in 2006 outpouring of grief on social media. “Maybe Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. and divorced in 2007, with Houston awarded you just wanted to be with your mother. Now, custody of their daughter, amid claims of you can be with her forever. R.I.P. Bobbi abuse and drug use in the high-profile rela- Kristina,” said Twitter user @carochoa, express- tionship. They were by all accounts extremely ing the sentiments of many.—AFP close, with Bobbi Kristina accompanying her In this Oct 22, 2012, file photo, singer and her grand- mother to events and awards shows. Her par- daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown attend the premiere party for “The ents appeared in a 2005 reality show “Being Houstons On Our Own” at the Tribeca Grand hotel in New York. ” that shed some light on their personal struggles and family challenges.

Musician Bobby Brown is seen being driven from the Peachtree Christian Hospice Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon arrive at Tri-Star Pictures’ “Sparkle” premiere at In this Sept 1, 2009 file photo, singer Whitney Houston, after Bobbi Kristina Brown passes away. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in this August 16, 2012, file photo in Hollywood, California. right, sings with her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown during a performance on “” in in New York.