By Mesfin Fekadu
Whitney Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, has appeared briefly at her funeral before leaving.
Brown arrived as the service began. He walked to the casket, touched it and walked to the back of the New Jersey church.
Brown says in a statement that he and his children were seated but asked repeatedly to move, and he left because he did not want to create a scene.
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.
A message seeking confirmation of whether Brown was invited to the private service was sent to Houston's publicist.
Kevin Costner chokes back tears during funeral tribute
Houston died February 11, a cause of death has not been determined.
Houston and Brown were married for 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.
AP