Zendaya Speaks Out Against Criticism for not Being ‘Black Enough’ to Play Aaliyah

It has been so much drama surrounding the (possibly) upcoming Aaliyah biopic that we don’t even know where to start. As soon news broke that Disney star Zendaya Coleman would be playing the late Aaliyah, Zendaya’s had to defend herself against harsh criticism. Even several days after the fact, bi-racial Zendaya is still defending herself against critics & fans of the late Aaliyah who claim she isn’t ‘black enough’ for the role of Aaliyah.

TMZ’s cameramen caught up with Zen at the airport. She said: A lot of people say I’m not black enough. Half black is just enough. ?It doesn’t matter what color you are, it’s about how you portray the character. For those that don’t know, Angela Bassett and Tina Turner, they look nothing alike but she was that character so I think that’s what it’s all about.” Her father Kazeme Ajamu also chimed in: And one thing, they’re shooting this in the summer spending lots of time in the sun. She’ll get dark enough. Zendaya’s a talented young lady and we think that it’s only fair to give her a chance to prove herself. After all, if you were a young actress and were given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play Aaliyah, someone you looked up to, wouldn’t you take the job?

But there’s more drama within Aaliyah’s family due to Lifetime network beginning to make the Aaliyah movie project without contacting the Haughton family never receiving approval from Aaliyah’s estate or family. The Haughton family has threatened to not allow the producers of this upcoming movie to use any of Aaliyah music in the film biopic.  Along with stating they do want an Aaliyah movie created but to premiere in movie theaters worldwide and not the Lifetime movie network stating Aaliyah was/is too big of an Icon for a tv biopic. We’ll see how this all plays out and keep you posted!