Tony Bennett Calls For Legalization Of Drugs In Wake Of Whitney Houston’s Death

Nicole Sia | February 11, 2012 10:26 pm

In a speech at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammys gala turned Whitney Houston memorial Saturday night (Feb. 11) singer Tony Bennett called for the legalization of drugs, “like they did in Amsterdam,” news outlets have reported. The official cause of Whitney Houston’s death has yet to be released, but sources claim Houston died from a combination of Xanax, other prescription drugs and alcohol. Earlier it had been suggested the singer drowned in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Bennett recently mourned the substance-related death of Amy Winehouse, his collaborator on the Grammy-nominated duet “Body And Soul”.

Bennett knows firsthand the dangers of addiction. In 1979 the future American vocal icon suffered a near-fatal cocaine overdose at a low point in his career. As he told Piers Morgan in the interview below, which originally aired last October, “I was sinning against the gift that was given to me by nature.”

Following Bennet’s remarks at the Grammy event, Diddy took the stage and urged attendees to their feet, saying, “Tony motherf***in’ Bennett. Get up out ya seats!”