Zendaya Coleman has officially dropped out of the Lifetime biopic of Aaliyah.
On Sunday, June 29, the 17-year-old singer-actress’ representative released a statement announcing her decision to decline the role of the late singer.
According to Yahoo! News, Coleman explained that problems with production ultimately led to her decision to opt out of the film. The teenage Disney star specifically said she no longer wanted to be affiliated with the film because “production-wise, (it) wasn’t all the way there.”
“Because it’s someone that I honor, and I respect so much, it has to be 128 percent, especially for all her fans, including myself,” Zendaya said yesterday upon arrival at the Nokia Theater for the 2014 BET Awards.
“I didn’t feel like it was all the way there, so I didn’t want to do that. And when the time comes when it’s done right, and its 100 percent, by all means, I will be the first person there ready to go.”
Another statement was posted to Coleman’s official Twitter account confirming the decision. “Aaliyah has always been a source of inspiration to Zendaya,” she tweeted. “She was honored to portray her and pay tribute to her. If she is going to do it, she wants to do it right.”
“Aaliyah has always been a source of inspiration to Zendaya. She was honored to portray her and pay tribute to her…
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) June 29, 2014
…if she is going to do it, she wants to do it right.” pic.twitter.com/SSVYpA3SrK
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) June 29, 2014
The Lifetime network also responded to Coleman’s statement via Twitter. “We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. Production is currently on hold.”
We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. Production is currently on hold.
— LifetimePR (@LifetimeTV_PR) June 29, 2014
Although, Coleman explained her reasoning for dropping out of the film, several media outlets are reporting a different issue she was plagued with upon being cast for the role.
Immediately after the network announced that the “Swag it Out” singer had been cast for the highly lauded role, she became a direct target for criticism.
According to Yahoo! Celebrity, the “One In A Million” singer’s family was also outraged by the network’s decision because they had not been consulted, at all. It has also been rumored that the family is not pleased with Lifetime’s production platform for the highly anticipated biopic.
Aaliyah’s cousin, Blackground Records president, Jomo Hankerson, weighed in on behalf of the family from a professional perspective. The longtime record label executive stated that legal aspects could also prohibit the production of the film.
“Because we control the masters [to Aaliyah’s recordings], the rights and some images of the musical elements that we put together like the videos, and photo shoots and things that we did, what we can just withhold those elements from the production, which we would do,” Hankerson explained.
No further details have been announced about the continuation of production for the film.
Image via Zendaya Coleman, Facebook