(Barbados Nation) Contrary to rumours, Whitney Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown has not been banned from attending her funeral.

The private, invite-only service will take place this Saturday in Newark, N.J. TMZ.com has published several reports saying Houston’s family doesn’t want Brown, father to Houston’s 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, to attend.

But according to ABC News, Brown has denied the family is shutting him out, and says he is working to support his child.

“My daughter Bobbi Kristina is doing much better,” Brown wrote in an email statement. “We continue to provide love and support to Bobbi Kristina. She is dealing with the tragedy of her mother’s death and would prefer to do it outside of the public eye. I ask again that our privacy be respected.”

Bobbi Kristina was hospitalized for stress and anxiety shortly after learning of her mother’s death, and while most of the family has relocated to Jersey for the funeral, the 18 year-old’s specific whereabouts have not been disclosed.

Brown canceled the remainder of his reunion tour with band New Edition to be with his daughter.

Some Houston fans blame Brown for introducing her to drugs, though Brown has said that he had only experimented with drugs before marrying Houston.