Bobby Brown is going through a "difficult time" at the moment, a close friend of his ex-wife Whitney Houston says.

The 43-year-old singer was arrested under suspicion of DUI on Monday afternoon and after spending a few hours in jail was bailed out for $5,000.

Kim Burrell, who was a close friend of the late singer, told the New York Daily News that Bobby deserves some sympathy right now.

"I support Bobby," Kim told the publication. "He spent 17 years in a relationship and marriage with Whitney, so why wouldn't he be going through some difficult times right now?"

Kim added that grieving people "sometimes do these things" because they are not thinking properly.

"He happens to be a public person who's getting through a private moment, and the whole world is hearing about it," Kim added. "And he has my full, 100% support to get better."

"He's coping, and unfortunately everything is raised up a notch because of Whitney's death."

Bobby had initially been pulled over near his Encino, California home for talking on his cell phone.

"Officers, when contacting him, noted intoxication on him, the smell of alcohol, and they performed some field sobriety tests," CHP Officer Tiana Reed said.

A source said that Bobby had alcohol in his system from the night before but he has apparently now been urged by those close to him to start attending AA meetings to help his case.

"It could have been worse," the insider added. "It could have been really, really bad behaviour, with all his irate-ness and craziness."

Bobby walked out of Whitney's funeral following a seating dispute which came a week after her death on February 11. They had one daughter together; Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19.

Bobby served five days in jail in 1996 in a drink driving case and did more time behind bars in 2000 after traces of cocaine were found in his system after a court-mandated drug test.