Disney Star Zendaya Coleman abruptly dropped out of Lifetime's biopic about the late singer Aaliyah. The network made the casting announcement a few weeks ago but the project is already facing a lot of setbacks.
Many people thought Zendaya backed out due to endless backlash about the project, but the 17-year-old actress/singer told "Entertainment Tonight" at the BET Awards that she left due to issues with production.
"I really just thought that after starting the project, I feel like there were things that were missing and things that weren't 100 percent taken care of. And I feel like if I'm going to portray one of my idols and someone I feel strongly about, then it has to be done right. It has to be done 120 percent," she told "Entertainment Tonight" on the red carpet. "I felt like it wasn't there, so it just wasn't a good choice for me."
"I have too much respect for her to do anything less," she added.
After her departure, Lifetime announced via a statement on Twitter that production was "currently on hold." Filming for the biopic, tentatively titled "Aaliyah: Princess of R&B," was supposed to begin filming this summer with a fall premiere date.
After Zendaya's exit, rumors began circulating that pop star Rihanna would be recast as the lead role but Lifetime has yet to confirm or deny. Besides picking a new lead actress, the network also has to work out issues with Aaliyah's family, who in the past have been against a movie being made about the late singer.
Her cousin, Jono Hankerson, told the New York Daily News that Lifetime "didn't reach out" to the family before announcing the project. Hankerson also said that the family believes Aaliyah deserves a major motion picture and not a TV-movie.
"We want a major studio release along the lines of 'What's Love Got to Do with It,' the Tina Turner movie," he told the Daily News.
Reportedly there were also legal issues with Lifetime using Aaliyah's songs in the movie. The network had previously announced that Zendaya was going to record four of the singer's songs.
Aaliyah died at the age of 22 in a plane crash in 2001.
Should Lifetime still make the Aaliyah movie or toss it? Sound off below.
