Aaliyah Biopic Cast: Alexandra Shipp Talks Zendaya Coleman, 'I Understand Why She Backed Out' [VIDEO]

It is no secret Zendaya Coleman first snagged the lead role in Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B before Alexandra Shipp signed on; now Shipp has opened up the fears she had in replacing Coleman in the movie that already had lots of backlash.

Alexandra Shipp On 'Backlash' Of Aaliyah Film 'I Was Hired To Do A Job'

Shipp was offered the role after Coleman dropped out of the Lifetime production.

The Drumline: A New Beat actress told Hollywood Life just days before the biopic aired that she did have concerns because Aaliyah's fans had already expressed their dismay with the movie.

Teyana Taylor Says Aaliyah Movie Not 'Being Done Right' Made Her 'Want No Parts In It'

"With her fans being so passionate about everything that was going on, I think it was really scary. I understand controversy. I understand where the fans were coming from. But at the same time this project spoke to me."

She went on to reveal that she and Coleman actually had a run-in during a Teen Vogue event.

"I understand why she backed out. I understand why she did it. But it was just a 'hey girl, congratulations'. The fact there's a young, black female lead anything is fantastic. It's not every day that we get to carry a movie."

Check it out at the 1:59 mark.

Coleman announced back in July that she decided to walk away from the role because she was not "morally okay" with being involved in the project.

"The main reasons were the production value wasn't there, there were complications with the music rights, and I just felt like it wasn't being handled delicately considering the situation," Coleman continued in the second clip. "I tried my best to reach out to the family on my own and I wrote a letter, but, I was unable to do so."

Interestingly enough, as fans slandered the film on social media the night of its premiere, Coleman took to her Twitter and wrote, "Karma."

She later deleted it but not before The Shade Room was able to capture it.

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Aaliyah Biopic, Aaliyah movie 2014, Aaliyah Movie Cast