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Neil Patrick Harris apologises for “Amy Winehouse corpse platter joke”

Harris has said sorry for the "regrettable" joke after it began recirculating online

By Will Richards

A composite photo of Neil Patrick Harris and Amy Winehouse
(Photos: Wiki Commons)

Neil Patrick Harris has apologised after a joke he made about the death of Amy Winehouse over a decade ago has resurfaced online.

The Hollywood star aired the controversial gag at a Halloween party he hosted in October 2011 with husband David Burtka, just three months after Winehouse passed away aged 27 from alcohol poisoning.

At the party, a food platter was designed to look like “the corpse of Amy Winehouse” and came complete with a label which confirmed the intended depiction.

In recent days, the graphic photo has begun to resurface online, with BuzzFeed sharing a story on the backlash Harris has faced following the re-emergence of the photo.

Responding in a statement via Entertainment Weekly, Harris said: “A photo recently resurfaced from a Halloween-themed party my husband and I hosted 11 years ago. It was regrettable then, and it remains regrettable now. Amy Winehouse was a once-in-a-generation talent, and I’m sorry for any hurt this image caused.”

Amy Winehouse wears a halter neck mini dress in her last performance
Amy Winehouse performing in Belgrade, Serbia at her last performance. (Photo: YouTube).

Elsewhere, Amy Winehouse’s career-defining performance at Glastonbury Festival in 2007 is to be released on vinyl for the first time ever.

The release of Winehouse‘s ‘Live at Glastonbury 2007’ will mark the 15th anniversary of her’s Pyramid Stage set, which saw the singer delivering timeless renditions of tracks such as ‘Rehab’, ‘You Know I’m No Good’, ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’ and ‘Valerie’.

Artwork for the vinyl will also feature memories of the set from Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis, who said in a statement: “Amy Winehouse was a Glastonbury-goer through and through. She either came and played or, when she wasn’t working, came and camped. She played in the blistering heat and the heavy rain, and there were so many magical moments to her performances.”

The vinyl arrives on June 3 via Universal Music and will be pressed on 2 LPs, alongside a crystal clear edition which can be pre-ordered here.

Last year, the dress that Amy Winehouse wore during her final performance in Belgrade sold for more than $243,000 (£180,000) at an auction.