Oprah Winfrey has revealed that Whitney Houston once fell off the stage during a performance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

The TV icon said she begged audience members not to share photos of the incident. She feared the images would harm Houston’s reputation at a difficult time in her life.

Winfrey shared the story at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. She spoke with festival chair Phil Thomas after receiving the LionHeart Award.

A Memorable Interview

Winfrey recalled Houston’s first appearance on her show. She said a private conversation helped set the tone for the interview.

“We did the whole ‘Hey girl, how are you doing?’ greeting thing, and then I stopped the cameras, and I went behind the stage, and I said, ‘So tell me, what do you want to happen here? And I’m gonna tell you what I want to happen here,” Winfrey said. ” And that was one of the most powerful interviews.”

Houston’s Return

Winfrey said Houston later returned to the show to perform. By then, the singer had relapsed into drug use.

“I had such trust from ‘The Oprah Show’ audience … I think it was [Houston’s] last show with us, and she had gone back on drugs,” Winfrey said.

“The first interview I did with her was when we’d gone behind the stage, and I asked her about her intention. She was clean, but the day she came to my show to perform in front of the audience, she was not, and she fell off the stage.”

Why Winfrey Kept It Private

Winfrey said she knew the story could seriously damage Houston if it became public.

“I knew that if that story got out … she would be destroyed by that,” Winfrey said.

“And so even though the audience was there and the audience had cameras, I begged them not to put those pictures out because it would ruin her life, and they did not. That would not happen today, I can tell you that,” Winfrey added.

Houston died in February 2012 at the age of 48 after an accidental drowning.

A Broader Message

Winfrey shared the story during a discussion about purpose, legacy and responsibility.

She urged creators to use their influence wisely. She also encouraged them to think about the impact they have on other people’s lives.