What really went on in the church at Whitney Houston's Funeral

Bobby Brown made news Saturday by leaving ex-wife Whitney Houston's funeral just as it was beginning -- and on Monday word came in via CNN about what happened with the singer and his guests inside the church.

Raelyn Johnson, who according to CNN was the only journalist in the church, had an interesting take on things, saying that she'd seen Brown enter and that he "was not the only celebrity who had musical chairs going on." She assumed that, looking distraught, he'd moved to the balcony where he could have more privacy. In fact, Brown wound up leaving the building.

"If you were in that church," Johnson said, "no one on the inside of that church knew that Bobby Brown was having any sort of drama."She pointed out that at that sort of Baptist funeral, there are "strict protocols" about seating in the first few rows with the family: Those who wish to sit there must enter with the casket or, if the body is already in the church, must proceed in with the family, after the rest of the guests have been seated. Brown did not do that.

Johnson said that Brown entered the church with three other people, one of them his wife, and not a larger entourage as had been previously reported. However, when it came to being moved, "He was not singled out," Johnson said, as more VIPs arrived, security relocated many guests.

"My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston," Brown said Saturday in a statement. "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 continued to ask us and no one else to move. 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. ... I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how."

Brown played a concert with New Edition at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Saturday night, and at Prudential Hall in Newark on Sunday.

Bobby Brown Leaves Whitney's Funeral

 Singer Bobby Brown made a brief and dramatic appearance at ex-wife Whitney Houston's memorial service on Saturday, leaving abruptly after being told that his entourage couldn't sit together, police sources told CNN.

He arrived with several people and was apparently emotionally distraught, with red eyes and head hanging as he walked up the aisle of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. He approached Houston's casket, past it and back down the aisle.

On CNN's live video feed, Brown was shown standing out front of the church soon after the service began. He was not seated with family, friends or other celebrities at the front of the church.

"My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston," Brown later said in a news statement. "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. 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. ... I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how," the statement said.

Describing what happened at the service, the Rev. Al Sharpton posted on his Twitter account: "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."