Aaliyah Movie Cast: Alexandra Shipp Dishes On Late Singer's Relationship With R. Kelly, 'He Was Her First Love' [VIDEO]
After she faced backlash concerning Lifetime's Aaliyah: Princess of R&B biopic, lead actress Alexandra Shipp opened up the highly controversial relationship between Aaliyah and R&B crooner R. Kelly.
Aaliyah was was just 15 years old when she reportedly tied the knot with the then 28-year-old.
Despite the drama surrounding the relationship, Shipp openly spoke on it.
Details Of Aaliyah & R. Kelly's Relationship To Be In Lifetime Film
"R. Kelly was Aaliyah's first love. She married him. She had to have loved him cause Aaliyah don't play. She never does. So she went hard for that love," she told Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier recently.
The Are You That Somebody's relationship with R. Kelly was a major concern her family had when it came to airing Aaliyah's personal life in the movie. The film, which features Iggy Azalea's hit Goddess, was hit with backlash after Aaliyah's family, particularly her parents, made it clear they did not support the biopic. They refused to allow Lifetime to legally use Aaliyah's music, so Shipp has sung the songs herself. Even singer Zendaya Coleman walked away from the role after originally snagging the part.
While Shipp said the role was "scary," she has vowed to fans that she masters Aaliyah's vocals.
"I sing all of the songs in the movie," she said before giving host Frazier a "cute" teaser of her skills.
"Dont't you worry boo, I deliver," she told Frazier, who confessed he was "skeptical."
Shipp also opened up about being terrified when it comes to playing the late songstress, but refused to turn down the role.
"It was scary. But I knew that I had to do it. I don't know, something in me was like 'You have to do this. You're going to love this experience more than anything."
