• Brown releases statement saying he was moved around church three times by security

• Complains he was not allowed to see his daughter Bobbi Kristina

Bobby Brown dramatically stormed out of his ex-wife Whitney Houston's funeral today.

The 43-year-old singer was cheered by fans as he arrived - but according to a mourner at the service family became 'frustrated' inside.

TMZ reports he became angry after the Houston family refused to seat his entourage of nine people. He had apparentl

Insiders told the website Brown wanted to sit with his daughter Bobbi Kristina on the front row - but he was disallowed.

Brown - who is set to take to the stage tonight in Connecticut to perform as part of his tour - has since released a statement, explaining his abrupt departure, saying he was moved by security three times.

Driven off: Bobby Brown seen leaving Whitney Houston's funeral shortly after arriving. He stormed out after becoming 'frustrated' over seating arrangements and wanted to sit in the front row with daughter Bobbi Kristina Sombre: Brown, pictured outside the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, says he left because he was moved three times by security inside the church and was refused permission to see daughter Bobbi Kristina

In a statement put out by his representative, he said: 'My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston.  We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions.

Kept apart: Brown says he was not allowed to see daughter Bobbi Kristina inside the ceremony

'I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move,' he said. 

The statement went on: '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.

'My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honour Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how.'

A mourner told the MailOnline: 'He was frustrated about something, maybe somebody said something to him or he was in a mood.'

Meanwhile, the outspoken Reverend Al Sharpton revealed he had spoken to Brown in an attempt to calm him down.

He tweeted: '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!'

Early reports suggested Brown, who became divorced from Whitney in 2007, was denied entry to the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.

Shortly after the service began he was seen leaving the church with a grim expression on his face accompanied by a female companion.

They stood outside for a few moments before getting in to a waiting SUV and drove off.

Brown, who Houston's family blamed for her drug addiction, had reportedly been invited after her family put aside their differences and begrudgingly said he could come.

Moments after the drama singer Stevie Wonder arrived and was led up the church steps and through the front door.

Emotional time: Bobby and Whitney divorced in 2007. They had one child together during their marriage, daughter Bobbi Kristina

As Brown was waiting outside the church an unidentified man stood next to him crying uncontrollably.

Brown himself appeared to be wiping away a tear as he got into his car.

Live coverage from inside Houston's funeral showed her daughter Bobbi Kristina and mother Cissy sat on the front row.

Send off: Houston's coffin is carried out of the church by pall bearers and loaded into the gold-coloured hearse

They were yards away from Whitney's flower drenched coffin, which took centre stage on the very alter where she sang as a child at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.

Meanwhile, it was claimed today that Houston's family members are encouraging Bobbi Kristina to enter a live-in rehab facility as soon as possible.

According to TMZ, the late singer's relatives want Krissi to seek drug treatment, but they are holding off on telling her until after Whitney's funeral today.

Front row: Whitney Houston's mother Cissy, left in red circle, and the singer's daughter Bobbi Kristina, sat to the right of her, take the front pew at today's funeral

Paying their respects: Whitney's coffin sits at the front of the church on the alter where she used to sing as a child

Sources connected to Whitney's family tell the entertainment website that the 18-year-old has struggled with substance abuse issues for the last three or four years.

Now family members are urging her to get professional help at a 60-day live-in treatment facility before her alleged drug use gets worse.

But they want to give Krissi time to grieve, and will not push the issue until after Whitney's funeral.

Last March Bobbi Kristina took to Twitter to deny claims she had checked into rehab after pictures surfaced that allegedly showed her snorting lines of cocaine.

Her famous mother, who struggled with her own battle against drug addiction up until her death, was said to have desperately pushed the teenager to seek treatment last year, but Krissi pushed back.

'Excuse me,' Bobbi Kristina tweeted, 'but I’d like to say that I am NOT going to rehab? I’m perfectly healthy and I am not addicted to anything but life.'

The National Enquirer, which first published the scandalous pictures, reported that Whitney had attempted an intervention of sorts.

The publication quoted a source as saying: 'She called a family meeting and sobbed as she told Krissi, "I don’t want to lose you.'"

'Whitney called Bobby [Brown], and they agreed that Krissi needs rehab,' the friend was quoted as saying.

'They also agreed on a tough-love move to shake Krissi up, and Whitney returned a Lexus convertible that she’d bought for Krissi’s birthday.'

Tragic loss: Whitney with daughter Bobbi in Los Angeles back in February 2011 and, right, Bobbi arriving at the Newark funeral home for her mother's wake last night

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