Zendaya Speaks On Quitting Aaliyah Biopic: ‘It Wasn’t All the Way There’

Zendaya Coleman at the 2014 BET Awards

Singer/dancer Zendaya Coleman's decision not to play Aaliyah in an upcoming Lifetime Network biopic left many scratching their heads. The 17-year-old former Disney child star told reporters at the 2014 BET Awards that she abandoned the plum role because something was missing in the production.

“I felt like something with the production [wasn't] all the way there, the project wasn't all the way there,” she told reporters according to People. “If I'm going to do something for someone I care about so much, I have to do it the right way.”

Coleman brushed aside reports that negative public reaction to an actress of biracial/mixed race heritage playing Aaliyah was a factor in her decision.

"I just felt that because I love her, and because I respected her so much as an artist, I don't want to do anything that's half or anything that's less for her," Coleman said.

Coleman says she is still open to playing Aaliyah in the future, according to People.com.

"By all means, when the right project comes along, and it's done the right way, I'll be the first person ready to play Aaliyah. But, this wasn't the right one for me," she told MTV News.

Lifetime Network announced Zendaya's exit from the film on its Twitter account on Sunday. Because of her departure, the film has been put on hold.

More from Sandrarose.com:

  • Zendaya Coleman Cracks Under Pressure; Quits Aaliyah Biopic
  • Aaliyah's Family Plans to Block Biopic
  • Throwback Thursdays: Aaliyah – Are You That Somebody
  • Throwback Fridays: Aaliyah – I Miss You

    • Photo: AdMedia/Splash News

    • http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06/26/video-the-moment-nancy-grace-stuns-the-father-of-a-missin User Friendly

      not all the way there....like her ass.

    • Struggleisreal

      Beautiful Young lady, regardless of her "roots"

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpImj7RI0Rc Man, I just don’t care™

      The lying begins...
      :coffee:

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/db78ef2b213fd6958c1aa6773fe9a6dc?s=80 jeniefrumdabloc

      “I felt like something with the production [wasn't] all the way there, the project wasn’t all the way there,” she told reporters according to People. “If I’m going to do something for someone I care about so much, I have to do it the right way.”
      ______________

      Good response :yes: but hell :shrugs: does Aaliyah really need a movie .... let's be real here :shrugs:

    • thriftStoreJungle

      stop trying to make fetch happen, zendaya... :tea:

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/db78ef2b213fd6958c1aa6773fe9a6dc?s=80 jeniefrumdabloc

      By the way I think she would do good in the role :yes:

    • https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=663758563679083 VDot

      I felt like something with the production [wasn't] all the way there, the project wasn’t all the way there

      ___________

      What does this even mean?

    • San ah make ya dance

      That tired outfit aint either :nono:

    • Gigi26

      Fukk this chick

      Anyone watch that show Power? Man that is my shyt!!!

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRALyMDoCBw&sns=em Nancy Drew (fka IsThisThingOn) has entered into witness protection :cool:

      not all the way there….like her ass.
      -------------------------------------

      Nah, you hatin' ....she toned :tea:
      Sitcho voluptuous arse down somewhere *dismissive hands* :lol:

    • Hershey

      Po thang, cracked unda da pressha :coffee: she should just quietly go away....

    • gbellab

      She tried to prove she black enough wearing that outfit :whistle:

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S8jrHDNQVE&list=HL1365174233 <–Doesn't Talk To Strangers

      Struggle :waves: You been alright? :tea:
      -----------
      ION care either way :no: I'm still an A-A-L-I-Y-A-H *sings her name* fan :lol:

    • gbellab

      Let me stop. She really is a pretty young lady though.
      Her parents are ummm F-ugly. sorry. stopping again.

    • Smonae

      Gigi me,, I :heart: Ghost
      Im conflicted on that whole love triangle tho, gone gv the old girlfriend the neclace and the wife gets the earrings :nono:

    • Wasting time

      Poor gal

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRALyMDoCBw&sns=em Nancy Drew (fka IsThisThingOn) has entered into witness protection :cool:

      Sow :think: no lifetime movie checks in her future huh? :shrug:
      #bridgeburned

    • OutsidetheBox

      not all the way there….like her ass.
      ___________

      Like her outfit. :yes:

    • San ah make ya dance

      Can't miss what you never had :shrugs:

    • Ms. YaYa

      Isn't that the same outfit Omarion had on in Stomp the Yard :think:

    • OutsidetheBox

      Po thang, cracked unda da pressha :coffee: she should just quietly go away….
      __________

      :shrug: She got her audience. IDK why she even said anything. The kids cant even read. They don't care if she don't really look like Aaliyah. :lol:

    • OutsidetheBox

      Nah, you hatin’ ….she toned :tea:
      Sitcho voluptuous arse down somewhere *dismissive hands* :lol:
      ____________

      Here for it. :hahaha:

    • SassySandra

      This really is a shame that she quit. After watching her on Dancing with the Stars...when I heard about the Aaliyah movie, Zendaya was the FIRST person i thought of. So stupid that people wouldn't give her a chance for the most stupid reasons... :cuss:

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRALyMDoCBw&sns=em Nancy Drew (fka IsThisThingOn) has entered into witness protection :cool:

      :rofl: @Ms. YaYa

    • San ah make ya dance

      Isn’t that the same outfit Omarion had on in Stomp the Yard :think:
      -------------
      :dead:

    • Uyanda

      Love is in the air this week for him, she’ll turn him out and have him dribbling a golf ball.
      ====================================
      :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: dribbling a golf ball! Lmao! :ghost: Rhi got that Erykah Badu snapper!

    • Struggleisreal

      @Ms. DTTS - Yes, I've been great, as I said in my previous post below, I've been good. I've been allotted more hours, the overtime is great. It has allowed me to get my water hose repaired on my car. No more bus, especially in this heat. Tell Ya.

    • http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06/26/video-the-moment-nancy-grace-stuns-the-father-of-a-missin User Friendly

      Nah, you hatin’ ….she toned
      _______________

      :lol: oh she tight and right like Opine likes em?

    • Gigi26

      Im conflicted on that whole love triangle tho, gone gv the old girlfriend the neclace and the wife gets the earrings
      ---------------------------
      HELL YEAH. I was hot behind that shyt!! But Tasha gotta do better tho, wanting your hubby to stay a damn dope boy when he's looking long term is not the move. She essentially put that seed that he could potentially have a future with Angela.

      I want Tasha to beat Angela ass tho. One time for the sistas and that filthy porto ricah gurl doing some sneaky shyt. :yes:

    • Hershey

      Uyanda says:

      Love is in the air this week for him, she’ll turn him out and have him dribbling a golf ball.
      ====================================
      dribbling a golf ball! Lmao! Rhi got that Erykah Badu snapper!

      _____________________________________________

      They need to patent their poosays...shyts lethal, looat Chris Brown all fat and drunk and shyt, and Common ai't been right since Erykah left that voicemail tellin his a-- Ion wanna be withchu no mo... :blink:

    • Hershey

      When does Powa come on? I know it's on Starz I think :thinking: I'll have to get my on demand on tonight

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRALyMDoCBw&sns=em Nancy Drew (fka IsThisThingOn) has entered into witness protection :cool:

      "allotted more hours"
      ---------------------
      Que? :hahaha:

    • http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06/26/video-the-moment-nancy-grace-stuns-the-father-of-a-missin User Friendly

      I guess the hairdresser said to hell with it toward the end of those braids, huh?

      I know the struggle. My hands start cramping up at that part. I start tapping my foot and humming trying to get thru that last little bit :phew:

    • Smonae

      Yeah Tasha not on her game she see her man wants out. She wanna her man to be the biggest d boy forever :facepalm:
      Now this is a good scripted show :yes:

    • Smonae

      I think Sat at like 9 central, but it plays back to back all night

    • SummerBaby

      Anyone watch that show Power? Man that is my shyt!!!
      -----------------
      :yes: I'm team Tasha! How Ghost hung up on his high school love. I don't get it. :shrug: I was also hot when he gave his wife the earrings & Angela got the necklace.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2SQh007k6U missyJ

      when I heard about the Aaliyah movie, Zendaya was the FIRST person i thought of.

      ========

      Ion eem think YOU believe that :tea:

      I like the gurl but Zendaya ain't the FIRST person anybody think of :eyeroll: She don't even think of herself when she wake up first thing in the morning :yawn:

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRALyMDoCBw&sns=em Nancy Drew (fka IsThisThingOn) has entered into witness protection :cool:

      tight, right, __________ ? <<<word association

    • Hershey

      I'll be watching right after I watch Ratchet tv...gotta see Benzino and his arm in a sling tonight after his nephew buss a cap in his azz :tea:

    • SOTHERNGRL

      not all the way there….like her ass.
      (((((((((((((((((((
      Chit like this statement right here is why I misseded yo azz.

    • SoNastyandSoRude

      I understand people get their own movies that hit the big screen.. selena.. la bamba.. notorious..marilyn monroe.. james brown... tina turner.. just take what you can.. at least someone is trying to keep her relevant.. my neice is 14 and has no clue who she is

    • San ah make ya dance

      I know the struggle. My hands start cramping up at that part
      -------------
      Me doing twist to my a$$ yesterday :phew:

    • SOTHERNGRL

      Good response but hell does Aaliyah really need a movie …. let’s be real here
      *************
      @Jennie I really am going to have to concur. As much as some folks may want it aint no need for it.

    • SOTHERNGRL

      Let me stop. She really is a pretty young lady though.
      Her parents are ummm F-ugly. sorry. stopping again.
      *********************************
      You know 2 unattractive folks make pretty kids. Or at least thats the lie I been told.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRALyMDoCBw&sns=em Nancy Drew (fka IsThisThingOn) has entered into witness protection :cool:

      I'm for real cleaning my closet and just found a pair of delicious black platform peep toes (in my defense they were already bagged with a bunch of other shoes for goodwill) :crying1:
      I gotta go... :sick: my lung hurt :ghost:

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRALyMDoCBw&sns=em Nancy Drew (fka IsThisThingOn) has entered into witness protection :cool:

      *Fergalicious

    • SoNastyandSoRude

      I think if teyana taylor perfected her acting craft she would have done a good job

    • OpinionHated

      She should have never been cast in that role in the first place.... this is like Liz Taylor playing Cleopatra....

      Frankly as much as I love Aaliyah I really don't care to see no fluffed up movie about her if they ain't gonna delve into the good and bad - i.e. the R Kelly files then don't bother I don't want to see no one sided biopic family stamped and approved biopic....

    • http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06/26/video-the-moment-nancy-grace-stuns-the-father-of-a-missin User Friendly

      missyJ says:

      Ion eem think YOU believe that

      I like the gurl but Zendaya ain’t the FIRST person anybody think of She don’t even think of herself when she wake up first thing in the morning
      ____________

      :casket: fugg wrong witchu? she looks in the mirror and be like who is you? :confused:

    • OpinionHated

      SoNastyandSoRude says:

      I think if teyana taylor perfected her acting craft she would have done a good job
      --------------------------
      NO this is what's wrong with entertainment - just cause you can sing doesn't mean you should act - somewhere out there is some unknown girl waiting for a break - sick of roles going to talentless celebrities just cause they can "draw a crowd"..... Aaliyah should be played by an unknown with real talent anything short of that is bullsh*t

    • sassyshe

      Gigi26 says:

      Im conflicted on that whole love triangle tho, gone gv the old girlfriend the neclace and the wife gets the earrings
      —————————
      HELL YEAH. I was hot behind that shyt!! But Tasha gotta do better tho, wanting your hubby to stay a damn dope boy when he’s looking long term is not the move. She essentially put that seed that he could potentially have a future with Angela.

      I want Tasha to beat Angela ass tho. One time for the sistas and that filthy porto ricah gurl doing some sneaky shyt
      _____________________________________________________
      I hate Ghost, he should not be cheating on Tasha....I cant wait for Ghost to realize Angela is DEA and then run with his tail tucked between his leg for Tasha to get him out of his mess. I love Tommy

    • SOTHERNGRL

      this is like Liz Taylor playing Cleopatra…
      ***************************
      I'm gonna give them a pass on this. Thats just the way Hollywood was back then they wasnt trying to hear no real facts and chit. Besides Liz can do no wrong in my eyes with her been married 50-11 dozen times azz.

    • http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06/26/video-the-moment-nancy-grace-stuns-the-father-of-a-missin User Friendly

      :hi: hey Sothern :kiss:

    • Blanche Devereaux

      OpinionHated says:

      She should have never been cast in that role in the first place…. this is like Liz Taylor playing Cleopatra….
      Frankly as much as I love Aaliyah I really don’t care to see no fluffed up movie about her if they ain’t gonna delve into the good and bad – i.e. the R Kelly files then don’t bother I don’t want to see no one sided biopic family stamped and approved biopic….
      ^^^^
      THIS!!! I honestly feel like thats why her family isnt on board anyway, because some things they would rather forget about will be brought up. ESPECIALLY R. Kelly...

    • SOTHERNGRL

      Hey @User witcho CRAZY self :hug: :love:

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nAbQogbMOk Buttercup

      I'm just going to :pizza: <----really watermelon.

    • SoNastyandSoRude

      i wouldn't watch it anyway... i wouldnt care if sweet brown played her

    • OpinionHated

      9

      Gigi26 says:

      Fukk this chick

      Anyone watch that show Power? Man that is my shyt!!!
      ---------------------------------------------------------
      I LUV Power - atually I LUV Tommy - white boys don't do it for me and its not like he's cute but when he finger phucked that chick upside the wall I was like yeah he can get it - Ghost and his square shaped wife are annoying - I come (cum) every week for Tommy....

    • SOTHERNGRL

      @Butter I dont know why but I was thinking about you the other day as I was picking plums off of my plum tree.

    • OpinionHated

      Why should Tasjha beat up Angela when her husband Ghost is the one playing themn both - Tasha dseserves to be cheated on with her narrow minded thinking and lets not forget this bish is finger phucking herself for the driver to watch... she ain't sh*t either - Tasha gets me as a project ho in designer duds... her mentality is gutter... trash... warped.... delayed.... Ghost is a punk azz your wife gets earrings your teenage crush gets a chain.... and yrou baby girl gets choked.... I can't wait for him to get shot and Tommy take over.... Team Tommy...

    • sassyshe

      Aaliyah's family keep referencing these other stars that got movies - there is a big difference between them and Aaliyah, they broke barriers and changed music, Aaliyah didnt she was part of the whole Missy/R Kelly soundtrain that was successful at one point. Like I said before, the only interesting thing about Aaliyah was her love life; her songs were cool at the time but how many people do renditions of One in A Million. TLC was bigger than Aaliyah and they only got a TV movie; Whitney bigger than Aaliyah and shes only getting a TV movie. This Aaliyah project will never see the light of day

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nAbQogbMOk Buttercup

      @Butter I dont know why but I was thinking about you the other day as I was picking plums off of my plum tree.
      ============
      Because you must've heard the vow I made to myself to beat the kids who stole all the plums off Mama Butter tree before they were even ripe :mad: That's okay though. I already have a list of trees I will have in my yard as well as what I want to plant in my garden once I'm done with this apartment living.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nAbQogbMOk Buttercup

      :newpost:

    • cookiesandmilk

      Aaliyah’s family keep referencing these other stars that got movies – there is a big difference between them and Aaliyah, they broke barriers and changed music, Aaliyah didnt she was part of the whole Missy/R Kelly soundtrain that was successful at one point. Like I said before, the only interesting thing about Aaliyah was her love life; her songs were cool at the time but how many people do renditions of One in A Million. TLC was bigger than Aaliyah and they only got a TV movie; Whitney bigger than Aaliyah and shes only getting a TV movie. This Aaliyah project will never see the light of day
      -------------------------------------------------::::::::::::::
      Umm I'm sorry Hun but Aaliyah did break barriers....she was very orginal with her style class and music. People still jock and copycat to this very day. She was more of a star then ppl gave her credit for. No ideas orginal under the Sun it's never what you do but how it's done,-Nas.

    • deedeegirl

      likely she realized this was not going to be a popular move for her future.

    • Struggleisreal

      @Nancy Drew -

      "Violets must be individually selected"

      Delta?

    • A.J.
    • A.J.

      testing purposes only.