Alexandra Shipp is the star who will portray Aaliyah in the upcoming Lifetime biopic Aaliyah: Princess of R&B. Shipp who is 23 will replace 17-year-old Zendaya Coleman pick who left the project because she felt it was not properly handled.
Alexandra Shipp who mostly known for her role on “House of Anubis” is not the only person who is joining the controversial TV movie. Media personality Wendy Williams has also announced herself as executive producer on the biopic that is expected to premiere later this year.
Williams who turned 50 on Friday said in a statement that she was excited to work with Debra Martin Chase in making this movie a reality. Aaliyah fans who were really not behind the Zendaya are less turned off by Shipp.
They are directing their anger at Wendy Williams because of her obsession with the relationship Aaliyah had with R&B music legend R. Kelly. Kelly married his protégée when she was supposedly just 15 and him 27. People in some corners believe that Aaliyah was actually 18 when they got the marriage license. It’s not uncommon for entertainers to lie about their age to reach a younger audience and be more marketable. Wendy Williams seems hell-bent on turning the Aaliyah R. Kelly annulled marriage scandal into the main selling point of Aaliyah: Princess of R&B.
The problem with her idea is that Aaliyah’s family and most of her fans would prefer a biopic focusing on promoting her legacy and contribution to the entertainment industry and not one almost entirely based on the most salacious episode of her short life.
Williams wants the version of Aaliyah that will create drama and attract viewers because of the R. Kelly controversy while fans and relatives want a big movie that pays homage to the “Try Again” singer’s role as a trailblazer for artists like Beyoncé Knowles and Rihanna.
Aaliyah: Princess of R&B is now looking better, thanks to Alexandra Shipp and Wendy Williams promotional strength. Lifetime will still face a major obstacle, do a biopic about a singer without the music that turned them into a star. The family will probably not authorize the production to use hits that made Aaliyah the real Princess of R&B.
Zendaya Coleman has opened up about the reasons that pushed her to leave the biopic in the videos posted below.
