Aaliyah Movie Lifetime Cast: Wendy Williams Questions Alexandra Shipp, 'Did You Even Know Who She Was?' [VIDEO]
Given that Wendy Williams is executive producer for Lifetime's Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B, it was only a matter of time before lead actress Alexandra Shipp appeared on Williams' show to discuss the controversy.
Considering Shipp is only 23 years old, Williams also asked the question several fans have already brought up in concern: "Did you even know who Aaliyah was?"
Shipp answered confidently, "Oh yeah, totally. My mom loved R&B music. She used to tell me, because I was an awkward looking child, that one day I would be as pretty as her. And then I fell in love with her music. Her age was a little bit before be but I fell in love with One In A Million. Loved the album. Wanted ombre hair my entire life."
Alexandra Shipp Says She Reached Out To Aaliyah's Family 'I Hope They See The Work We've Done'
For starters, Aaliyah Haughton's family made it clear that they did not support the film.
Shipp had to cover the Aaliyah songs since the Haughtons did not release the rights to them. But Williams reassured fans that Shipp delivers and labeled her as a "triple threat" and even credited for "dancing like Aaliyah."
Shipp also confirmed that before she was a famous actress, she was a pet groomer. She helped clean the pets of lots of celebrities such as Mandy Moore, Kate Hudson and Denise Richards, who she said has a "dog sanctuary."
She went on to reveal that she is dating a music producer.
"You wouldn't know him," she joked.
Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B premieres Saturday on Lifetime at 8/7c.
Shipp also recently starred in VH1's Drumline: A New Beat and just wrapped filming for the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton in which she plays rapper Ice Cube's wife, Kim.
Check out her interview with Williams below.
