The estate of Whitney Houston has been criticised after it was announced that a hologram of the iconic singer, who died in 2012, would be used for a worldwide tour next year.
According to a post on Houston's official Instagram page, the tour will be in collaboration with Base Hologram, a company that specialises in "harnessing the magic of holographic live entertainment to create concerts".
Along with the announcement, reports that Base Hologram had released a rendering of the Houston hologram were published by multiple outlets, giving a glimpse of what could be expected at the show.
However, news that the tour was going ahead was met with outrage from fans, who called the move "sad and disgusting".
In fact, the comments underneath the Instagram post were flooded with criticism, with one saying: "You know damn well Whitney wouldn't want people paying to see a projection to fill her [family's] pockets."
Another simply read: "Let her rest, Pat. Jesus Christ."
Pat Houston is Houston's sister-in-law and the head of the singer's estate. She also acted as her manager during her career.
Another fan said that they'd previously seen a hologram concert, describing it as "kind of creepy" and "like watching the ghost of a person perform".
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"As big a fan of Whitney as I am, watching an empty shell of her perform isn’t the type of memory I want to associate with such an extraordinary artist," the comment continued. "It’s a shame her estate (Mother, Pat) is even doing this. What a disgrace to Whitney’s legacy."
The reaction to the news continued on Twitter as people called the decision "repugnant" and "utterly disrespectful".
Utterly disrespectful and disgusting. Let the greats Rest In Power. Shameful they're using her name and likeness for this. An evening with Whitney? "That" is NOT Whitney Houston. I'm sorry Nippy, you deserved better. https://t.co/n3vgxudJxw
"Nothing is sacred," another said. "Rest in peace to Whitney Houston."
capitalism will recreate your likeness and project it in front of millions, so it may posthumously profit off you for eternity. there are truly no limits to its ethical depravity. nothing is sacred. rest in peace to whitney houston. https://t.co/a4i2MFLwqE
It seems that, despite the uproar, plans for the tour will be going ahead. "A hologram show is all about the imagination and creating a 'wow factor' that extends to an incredible experience to enjoy for years to come," Pat Houston said in a statement on the company's website. "Whitney is not with us but her music will live with us forever."
The statement continued: "We know we made the right decision partnering with Base because they understand how important it is to produce a phenomenal hologram. They also know that engaging her fans with an authentic Whitney experience would resonate worldwide because of the iconic status that she created over three decades. Her fans deserve nothing less because she gave nothing less than her best."
And when the tour was first announced back in May, Pat Houston said that the singer "would have loved this holographic theatrical concept".
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She added: "This upcoming tour will allow audiences to experience Whitney’s amazing voice and passion for music for a long time to come and help them share that magic with future generations."
In a statement to Billboard, Base Hologram CEO and chairman Brian Becker was confident they could bring Houston's "unmatched level of charisma and emotion" to the stage, calling it an honour to "help add to [Houston's] legacy".
"Whitney Houston was a talent beyond words, and her influence and artistry transcended all boundaries," Becker said. "What we are creating here is a new type of theatrical concert experience designed to capture that magic. When she performed there was an unmatched level of charisma and emotion to it — that’s what we are going to bring to audiences and it’s an honor to be able to help add to her legacy with this project."
