Aaliyah Movie Cast 2014: Alexandra Shipp Addresses Haters Of 'Princess Of R&B' Film, 'Everyone Has Opinions These Days' [VIDEO]
It's no secret Alexandra Shipp has come under great controversy after taking on the lead role of late singer Aaliyah for Lifetime's upcoming biopic Aaliyah: The Princess Of R&B; now she has spoken out about the criticism.
Alexandra Shipp Dishes on Aaliyah's Relationship With R. Kelly 'He Was Her First Love'
She spoke with The Wall Street Journal earlier the month and said that she is ready for any possible additional backlash she will receive after the movie airs.
"The movie is not as salacious as people think it's going to be. When it comes down to having opinions about it, everyone has opinions these days. That's the perk of the Internet. Everyone can be anonymous. At the end of the day, a lot of people don't necessarily know the whole story."
Wendy Williams Confirms R. Kelly Storyline For Aaliyah Biopic, Vows It Won't Be 'Distasteful'
She also confessed that she was a little hesitant to take on the role in the first place.
"In the beginning I was a little standoffish, but it wasn't because of the material. It was because of the controversy. I'm fairly new to this game and I didn't want to ruffle any feathers, but at the same time, I felt the story had to be told."
The movie was hit with controversy after Aaliyah's family, especially her mother and father, attempted to shut down the film with a lawsuit against several entities, including the network. They even halted the movie from being able to have Aaliyah's original vocals, so Shipp sung the songs herself. When it comes to the backlash, a major part of it has to do with Lifetime's decision to air then 15-year-old Aaliyah's whirlwind romance with R. Kelly when he was 28 years old.
Still, Shipp has backed that portion of the storyline as well. She said that while it is mentioned, it is not a dragged out portion of the movie.
"The drama that all of that encompasses is not the focal point."
Shipp will definitely be seen in similar films in the near future. She is slated to star in Drumline: A New Beat and the N.W.A.'s biopic Straight Outta Compton as rapper Ice Cube's wife, Kim Woodruff.
Aaliyah: The Princess Of R&B airs on Lifetime Nov. 15 at 8/7c. Check out the official trailer.
