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Whitney Houston's Ex-Husband Bobby Brown Explains Brief Appearance At Funeral

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Whitney Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, briefly appeared at her funeral before leaving.

Brown arrived as the service began Saturday. He walked to the casket, touched it and walked to the back of the New Hope Baptist Church.

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Security guards were saying Brown would be seated but the people he arrived with had to sit apart from him. Instead, Brown left and appeared upset.

Shortly after Brown left the funeral, Rev. Al Sharpton sent out a Twitter message that said: "I am at Whitney's funeral. I spoke with Bobby Brown trying to calm him down and not distract from the services. Today is about Whitney!"

Brown said in a statement that he and his children were seated but asked repeatedly to move. Brown said he left because he didn't want to create he a scene.

"My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston. We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move," Brown said in statement. "Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi-Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honor Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how."

Houston and Brown were married 15 years and have one daughter. In 2003, police responding to a domestic violence call about Brown found Houston with a cut lip and bruised cheek. Their tumultuous relationship ended in 2007.

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(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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