Bobby Brown leaves ex-wife's Whitney Houston Memorial early

Bobby Brown, right, leaves the funeral service of his ex-wife, pop singer Whitney Houston, at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Story by CNN

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.

Brown arrived with several uninvited 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. Bobby 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."