In a controversial move, National Enquirer has published a photo of Whitney Houston in an open coffin with the headline, "Whitney: The Last Photo!" The picture was reportedly taken during Houston's private wake, held Friday inside Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, N.J. Only close friends and family were invited to the service, and it's unclear who took the photo. The Enquirer is known to pay large sums of money for private photos. According to the Enquirer, Houston is pictured wearing her favorite purple dress, more than $500,000 in jewelry and gold slippers. On the inside liner of the casket, Houston's famous nickname "Nippy" is visible and surrounded by music notes. Reactions on Twitter have been flooding in, with users alleging that the Enquirer "crossed the line" and "disrespected" the late Houston by running such a private photo. It's not the first time the Enquirer has published a picture of a late entertainer in their casket: The tabloid ran a similar photo of Elvis Presley after he died in 1977. Houston passed away on Feb. 11, 2012, in a bathtub at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., at the age of 48. She was celebrated during a funeral service on Feb. 18 at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark and was laid to rest the following day in a plot next to her father.

Aretha Franklin Denies Rift with Whitney Houston's Mother

Aretha Franklin angrily denies reports that she was barred from attending Whitney Houston's funeral because of comments she made about parenting last Friday on NBC's Today show. The Queen of Soul, 69, did not attend Saturday's funeral, citing leg spasms. But some reports said Houston's mother Cissy told her not to attend, after Franklin said on Today that "parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home." In a statement Wednesday, Franklin said she was speaking generally, not about the Houstons, and that NBC cut a line where she said, "This is no reflection on Cissy or Nippy's upbringing." She then slammed media reports of a rift between her and Cissy. "Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) should stop the BS," Franklin said in a statement "Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me for the funeral. Extra TV, the New York Post and Newsday (New York) are more interested in sensationalism and negative speculations than the truth." She added: "Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I – particularly at this time … Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well-intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry. I was not speaking of anyone specifically."
 Actor Daniel von Bargen, who played George Costanza's boss Mr. Kruger on Seinfeld, was hospitalized this week after a failed suicide attempt in Ohio. Von Bargen, 61, shot himself in the temple in his Cincinnati apartment on Monday morning and then called the police. "I've shot myself in the head … and I need help," he tells the operator. The actor, who is diabetic, says he was distraught because he was scheduled to go to hospital to have "at least a few toes" amputated. Von Bargen was said to be in critical condition at an Ohio hospital.

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria Has a Baby Girl

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband, Prince Daniel, welcomed a baby girl on Thursday – an infant who will one day be queen. The baby weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was born at 4:26 a.m. local time at Stockholm's Karolinska Hospital. Her grandfather, King Carl Gustaf, is expected to announce her name on Friday. As the first-born child of the king, Victoria, 34, is first in line to the Swedish throne. Her baby daughter is now second in line.

Kourtney Kardashian Is Expecting a Girl

There's another little lady on the way for the Kardashian clan! Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick shared their happy news Wednesday, saying, "We feel so blessed to be having a little girl and to be able to share this new experience with Mason." Kardashian, 32, and Disick, 28, announced her second pregnancy in November. Their son Mason turned 2 on Dec. 14.