THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER COMES UNDER FIRE FOR WHITNEY HOUSTON CASKET PHOTO!

The National Enquirer is the subject of a lot of chatter today for publishing a photo of Whitney Houston in an open casket on the cover of its new (March 5) issue.

Although the move has prompted “outrage,” it shouldn’t be that surprising, given that the Enquirer published a photo of Elvis Presley in his casket on its cover in 1977. The issue sold 6.5 million copies.

And a photo of Michael Jackson’s lifeless body made the rounds after it was shown during the trial of doctor Conrad Murray.

But the question is who took the photo, which appears to be from a private viewing of the star? Whigham Funeral Home in Newark says it’s not to blame. “I’m going to answer you as the publicist told me to answer you: We have no comment. But it was not the funeral home,” owner Carolyn Whigham told theChicago Tribune.

“You guys are getting me in the middle,” she said, with an irritated tone. “I am very angry, very upset, just like the family, just like the fans,” about the publication of the photo. “We don’t like it because it implicates us. Whitney was a personal friend to me and my family. We would not do that.”

Houston’s spokeswoman tells USA TODAY’s Elysa Gardner that the family has no comment.

UPDATE: The Enquirer doesn’t see why there’s a problem with the photo.

“I thought it was beautiful,” publisher Mary Beth Wright toldFoxNews.com.

See photos of: Whitney Houston