These are photos of Zendaya at the BET Awards last night. She’s wearing an Emanuel Ungaro ensemble that’s both funky and somehow age appropriate. Her belly’s showing, but it’s not scandalous. She wore a really pretty Peter Pilotto asymmetrical dress to a pre-awards event on Saturday. It’s a stunning design on a beautiful girl, and I’ve included photos at the bottom of this post.
Until a few weeks ago, 17-year-old Zendaya was best known to Disney audiences and DWTS addicts. Then she landed the lead in an Aaliyah biopic. A Lifetime project hasn’t received so much buzz since the halcyon days of Liz & Dick. Some people were upset about Zendaya’s casting, and she issued a response (a classy one) about the criticism that she’s “not black enough” for the role. Aaliyah’s family added to the negative chatter, probably because they were upset that Baby Girl’s life was being summed up by freaking Lifetime.
Z has now dropped out of the entire project for unknown reasons. Here is the Lifetime tweet that prompted “Zendaya why” search term to trend like crazy on Sunday:
We are sad Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. Production is currently on hold.
— LifetimePR (@LifetimeTV_PR) June 29, 2014
Zendaya’s team tweeted a brief acknowledgement of the news as well:
"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
Zendaya’s people are keeping things simple and not giving an exact reason for the dropout. Maybe the script was awful. Maybe Aaliyah’s family made good on their promise to keep the film from recording any of Aaliyah’s music. Or maybe Zendaya decided all of the criticism she was receiving wasn’t worth a freaking Lifetime movie. Onto bigger and better projects, I say.
Here are some photos of Aaliyah in 2001 shortly before her death.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, Getty & WENN
Yeah nothing at all about the flaming monkey shit gobs of hate asshats on the interwebs have been spewing at this kid. Not worth the BS for a Lifetime feature.
Agreed. I feel really sorry for this girl. She’s seems cute and talented and didn’t deserve all the hateful BS flung her way. I hope she’s able to find better projects to work on.
Glad shes out. She pissed me off when she brought up Angela Bassett playing Tina Turner to illustrate her point. She clearly didnt understand peoples concerns that she was picked over dozens of other actresses because being lighter skinned makes her more appealing. Angelas casting was the exact opposite, she was darker than her subject matter and she not only did a great job, she drew a mainstream audience. Now I know Aliyah wasnt a dark chocolate but she was clearly several shades darker. This chick just didnt get the politics of color at play with her casting.
I hope the casting call is more sensitive next time.
To anyone who loved Aaliyah. The casting was disrespectful. A 17 year old hipster, thinking copying fashion is emulating someone? Wait, let me say again! How can a 17 year old play Aaliyah!! I won’t go in on the girl, she’s like every other kid trying to be grown. I’m just grateful someone who was so major in my life, won’t be treated less than. Lifetime F off!
Ericka
Be sure this movie will happen on Lifetime in time.
Lifetime will likely choose an actress with darker skin and it will move forth.
Will she be a terrible actress? Maybe, but at least she’ll be the right skin tone. And in the end that’s what truly matters. How we look on the outside.
Why couldn’t a 17 year old play Aaliyah?
Do you even know what the focus of this movie is going to be about? Aaliyah sign to Jive Records at the age of 12 her first big song was “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.” She was 15 years old and she died at 22.
So why are you so focused on her being 17 ? Would you rather some 20 year old play a young teen?
Aaliyah was only 22 when she died. If they were making a movie about her rise to fame, that would include her teenage years. It doesn’t seem disrespectful at all to me to cast someone who is actually around the age of the person she’s playing.
True. I think no matter who they choose, it wouldn’t be good enough for me lol. I just wasn’t sure a young girl who most likely hasn’t experienced enough emotionally could portray her well enough. Let me remind myself this is lifetime!
How is it disrespectful? Disrespectful to whom?
I loved Aaliyah’s music, and she seemed like a real sweetheart but I don’t understand why people are so emotional about this.
@Jayne- I believed you are contradicting yourself. Angela Basset was good in her role because she became the character which is what Zendaya was implying. “Actors become the role”, is what she said. I don’t think it had anything to do with race. Perhaps she was the best chosen for the role out of all the others and plus she’s already popular with an age range therefore has a built in audience. This girl wasn’t even given a chance before the internet blew up protesting.
Jayne
Bassett being several shades different was the point. Not darker or lighter. Just different.
And Bassett is an amazing actress. It didn’t matter because she played the role well. To make something more out of it seems needless.
And politics shouldn’t be brought into casting like this. It only reinforces racism is alive and well on both sides. That she was picked for the role shows racism. That she had to leave the role shows racism.
That people took issue with this girl because of her skin tone and not because it’s a terrible lifetime original movie is awful.
FLORC
I think the point the first two ladies were trying to make is Hollywood has a problem with casting Black women period or non light skin Black women. There is a belief that an actress needs to look as close to White as possible for broader audiences to be interested. There is a belief that light skin or biracial actresses are more desirable than Black women. So MOST roles that are written for a Black actress end up being cast by a biracial or “exotic” looking actress. Leaving Black actresses without a job and Black audiences or little girls wanting to see themselves on TV or in movies disappointed. The reverse happens for Black males, Hollywood prefers darker skin men over light skin or biracial men.
The closest example that maybe you can relate to is Hollywood picking actresses in their 20 ‘s to play the role of women in their 30’s or 40’s. Even when there are actresses in their 30’s and 40’s who can play those roles and aren’t being offered more work now that they are older and not considered desirable anymore. When this type of BS casting happens be honest you and many women on CB get pretty pissed. Jennifer Lawrence became enemy #1 for being cast to play older women characters. Not the person that cast her because guess what older women just like Black women like to see their self reflected on TV and in the movies. Black women have been battling suppression of their image since Black girls chose White dolls over Black dolls as prettier before Brown vs The Board of Education.
The ageism comparison is a good one.
How many people have voiced displeasure at the continuing practice of romantically pairing up older men with young women? At women portraying characters or real people who are years, even decades older than they are? What message did you think it sent? I imagine it was along the lines of: the images and presences of any women who aren’t incredibly young are undesirable, so we will replace them with ones that are. Sure, some 23-year-old women look older than they are or can be made to look older, but are you saying there is no older woman who can do the job? Sure, but who wants to see that?
If you say that you would like to see stories about 40-year-old women who weren’t mothers to the lead character or dying of cancer, would you roll your eyes a little if in those few instances when it happens they get Jennifer Lawrence to play them? Of course you didn’t, I mean, wouldn’t. Meryl Streep holding down the fort for the lion’s of these roles today in real life isn’t sufficient evidence that Hollywood is interested in anything but the nubile but what if it were the case that all of the women looking out for examples and instances of those ‘Meryl Streep’ types of roles had a movie from 20 years ago as their ‘proof’ that this isn’t a problem?
I can’t remember the last time I heard someone’s use of the word ‘haters’ called classy. I imagine if she were talking about ‘middle-aged women’ and said that, nothing would change.
Am I personally invested? No. The part that gets me is that I can’t see what is so enlightened about telling other how they are allowed to feel about how are represented in the media and crying ‘bloody murder’ when they don’t take your expert testimony. This isn’t new. I don’t know why pretending that colorism doesn’t exist automatically makes the people who know that not to be the truth out to be villans and I really don’t need to be told that the world needs to be protected from the irrational anger of the Angry Black Woman, as though it’s somehow inconceivable that the people opposed might have a point.
And I’ll say it again, on a site that once featured an extended discussion on the particular shade of blonde of Grace Kelly’s hair and the million and one reasons as to why Nicole Kidman was physically unsuitable to portray her it’s rich that this ‘black enough, kumbaya, we’re all one’ mentality is suddenly of the utmost importance. What changed?
This movie was a bad idea from the start and Alliyah’s slimy uncle needs five across the eye for tying her to R. Kelly before and after her death.
This is DUMB because Aaliyah is only barely darker than Zendaya. Forreal ya’ll wanted the casting director to hold a picture up to each girls face? With all the shades of black there are. Even if the cating was “racist” it certainly wasnt that girls fault. So now HER skin is the problem. Yeesh people get ti together.
I think it is completely insensitive to base a casting decision solely on skin color. Just as that didn’t define Aaliyah, it doesn’t define this girl’s talents, either. Sigh.
She is 17 freaking years old. She isn’t going to say things perfectly, but in this case she was correct. The amount of hate thrown at her for being biracial is unreal. Not white enough, not black enough- who are you to judge if her skin is the correct color? Would you be this annoyed if she was hired to play a white role? Oh, that’s okay because she’s light enough for that? Aaliyah was fairly light skinned, but what are they supposed to do, hold up matching skin cards? Bassett looked nothing like Turner and did an exemplary job. Now a bunch of bullies have driven a teenager off from trying to play a role. Nice work.
Oh please stfu. No one has bullied this girl for being “light skinned”.
The reason people are rightfully upset is because, yet again, black women are being replaced in the media by biracial women and girls.
Black women can’t even play other REAL black women anymore! It’s sickening.
This girl has a WHITE mother – Why can’t she play Dusty Springfield? Amy Winehouse? Marilyn Monroe? You know why! Because racist shitheads like you who think ANYONE can be black but only the special people can be WHITE. Peopel would come for this girls HEAD if she were to play a Marilyn and you know it, but black women, who already have it bad enough int he industry, should just step aside, huh?
And she looks NOTHING like Aaliyah. The features are all wrong and the skin color obviously shades lighter but yeah sure close your eyes and pretend all black and biracial people look the same you fvcking moron.
How do you know I’m not biracial, sweetie? Because you jump to conclusions. Who is she supposed to play? Only other biracial women? Not white enough, not black enough- should we crawl in a hole and die? Bassett looked nothing like Tina Turner but did a great job is what she was trying to say. She is a teenager trying to deal with the insane amount of venom thrown her way, just like most biracials get for simply daring to exist. But go ahead and think I’m a racist, little keyboard warrior. Do you hate on the president for being biracial? Is he black enough for you? But you unload on me- at least I’m an adult, unlike the CHILD you’re spewing hate at- and say I’m a racist? Throw that word around much? This is a forum, I have an opinion, and at least I say it politely, and you sure as hell won’t bully me into anything. The end, bye.
Oh, and um- get your facts straight. Follow the link to her Twitter right above and look at these comments. Bullied for being light skinned is the polite way to say what they are saying to this CHILD.
NN are you freaking kidding me?!?!??!!? everything that just came out of your mouth was racist as HELL. Im a light skinned black woman about Zendaya’s complexion and BOTH of my parents are black. So because Zendaya is bi-racial she isn’t Black? She wont have the same experiences as a Black woman? Tell that to your Preisdent. You just made me sick to my stomach.
*Sigh* it’s like people just don’t want to read and understand.
If you have ONE white parent and ONE black parent you are biracial and should play biracial characters or at the very least not take jobs from full black women who already have it bad enough in Hollywood.
Why not play a white character? You are as much white after all and there are more white roles being made so why not go for them? Do you understand that the one drop rule is racist and was created to protect white privilege? Do you know that you are upholding a system that doesn’t recognize you as white and wants you to get NONE of the privilege that comes with being white? And you support this?
Black women in media are being replaced with biracial women.
You can read more about it here: http://muslimbushido.blogspot.se
Newsflash NN nobody is FULL black. Thats where your argument becomes mud. Both of my parents are black but what if both them were both biracial? Would I then be not black enougg. Becuase lest i forget Im still a nigger to everybody else but to full black people? Why does my experience count less because one parent is White? Im still treated as a black when I walk down the street, I still check the African American box when I apply for jobs so WTF are you talking about. Im “FULL” black but you can bet my light skinned ass had some bi-racial going back in there. I have nieces and nephews that are bi-racial and you know how society is going to treat them? Like theyre Black. GTFOH
Awww, what is the matter, NN? Someone called you out? And you have to suck it down because you consider her a real black, unlike a biracial person? Hollywood does suck, but some RACIST like you suggesting that biracials should only play other biracials sounds just like them. Find a box and put someone in it and if they don’t want to be there, too damn bad. I’m upholding a racist system if I don’t identify as white? Because I don’t think Zendaya did anything wrong by vying for a role she wanted? She doesn’t look Caucasian, does she? Should we replace the president with a real black, as defined by you? My best friend is 100% boriquena, but her mom is olive skinned and black haired and her dad is blond and blue eyed. Yes, even though he’s FROM Puerto Rico- shocking! Imagine him not looking like you think he should! Her brothers look like her mom and she looks like her dad and she’s always told, “But you don’t LOOK boriquena!” You’d probably make sure she only plays white people because she doesn’t look Puerto Rican to you. Because only dark skinned people are real blacks according to you, and I can only imagine what you think of someone who doesn’t fit your whacked out status quo. I don’t give a crap how harsh you were initially or after- look how fast you backed down when someone you consider a real black came at you with the same comments I did, and even called you a racist. Which you are. Case closed.
Ms. Boof’s online petition against this blatant miscasting regarding Aaliyah raised awareness about the ongoing whitewashing of BW, and surely played a major part in this outcome. As Ms. Boof has said, it’s not about this teenage actress. This girl’s management put her in a bad position. Furthermore, since she’s as much White as she is Black, her management can send her to audition to portray Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, or other historical White women in upcoming biopics. Let’s see if Hollywood allows this actress or the rest of the biracial actresses (like Paula Patton, etc.) to portray historical White women.
It’s not about this actress, it’s ALL about the systematic whitewashing, replacement and erasure of Black women in the entertainment industry. As I discussed HERE, things have escalated to the point that roles portraying African-American Black women are increasingly reserved for women who are not African-American Black women.
Furthermore, it’s obvious that if Angela Bassett, Diahann Carrol and Vanessa Bell Calloway were starting their acting careers now, they would never get hired. As many of the comments I’ve read in the online discussions inspired by Ms. Boof’s petition have noted, the same whitewashing is entrenched in today’s music industry. If Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight, Dinah Washington, Dionne Warwick and Donna Summer were starting their careers now, they’d never get any recording deals.
Hopefully, this marks the beginning of the end of the whitewashing and erasure of African-American Black women.
I know she apparently pulled out. But thank god. If you can’t do something right, don’t do it at all!
I don’t think that’s the real reason she backed out. The backlash probably wasn’t worth the minimal exposure she’d get from doing a Lifetime biopic, and with Aaliyah’s family withholding her music…her people probably decided to pull her out.
Sigh. I miss Aaliyah.
That is all.
Aaliyah’s death really affected me. Even just looking at her pictures can take me away. Those who loved Aaliyah understand why. Her soul and energy was so powerful, even a picture makes you feel something. She was a person who made mistakes(human), but she was real, loyal, and a leader. What did I take away from all she left behind? To laugh, try, smile, love, and keep dreaming.
I do, too. I LOVED her. Cried and cried when she died.
That is one hideous outfit.
Completely.Freaking.awful
I think it would look super awesome on rihanna, though.
It would look even trashier on Rihanna.
but that’s what rihanna does. take trashy clothes and wear them like she means it. she can wear pretty much anything and make it look good.
No offense to the little girl she’s only 17 but I don’t think she’s mature enough to understand Aaliyah’s real appeal. Trying to dress like her doesn’t make you Aaliyah. Aaliyah’s clothes fit her like a glove in a very sexy, edgy but sweet way. She was a fashion icon because she picked very unique and top of the line clothes that looked so hot on her. No one else could carry off the same clothes when they tried to copy her.
Zendaya in trying to imitate Aaliyah by wearing what she thinks are the same clothes just comes off as a little girl playing dress up and not being able to carry it off well. She is a pretty girl and should find the clothes that fit her own music style and personality. Lots of people say she is really talented (I have never watched her Disney shows or heard her sing) so if true she will have no problems.
Rumor has it that Aaliyah’s family was not behind the biopic and didn’t want it made. If Zendaya pulled out because of respect for the family, then I’m behind her 100% Also it seems there were production issues, including problems obtaining the rights to Aaliyah’s music.
Aaliyah’s family already shutdown 1 movie and they are looking to do the same with this one. The family does not want a movie made about Aaliyah I don’t get why Hollywood can’t respect that and move on.
No. They want a movie, but they don’t want a LIFETIME movie. They want a big screen production with A List stars. There was an article just yesterday about it with a quote from a family member saying as such. That’s what all of this is about.
‘We want a major studio release along the lines of ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It,’ the Tina Turner movie,’ said Jomo Hankerson, the singer’s cousin, noting ‘this needs A-list actors, A-list talent.’
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/aaliyah-family-tina-turner-style-biopic-article-1.1842106
Bad business decision. I loved Aaliyah, but it’s been 13 years since she passed. She was MY age – just 2 days older than me, in fact. I hate to say this, but our generation is OLD now. This younger generation doesn’t know who Aaliyah was – but they do know who Zendaya is. What her family is failing to realize is that by authorizing this Lifetime movie, they create public interest, renew interest and bring in a whole new generation of Aaliyah admirers via Zendaya, a Disney Pop Culture Princess, who’ll buy her music/product/etc. and reboost her star power. This makes room for an even bigger screen production and bigger box office sales. There’s room at the table for 2 Aaliyah movies. Both a small screen and a big screen production. It doesn’t have to be either/or. I just think if we’re making this solely about business/money (removing the race thing entirely), this is a piss poor decision. I’ve been reading the comments around the web on this and I see just as many pissed off Zendaya fans as I do pissed off Aaliyah fans.
What rumor they came out and said they didn’t know of the movie and how can they make a movie without their consent. Said they wont allow any of her music
I don’t get why people were so mad about her getting this role… She looks pretty similar to Aaliyah imo and isn’t that much lighter skinned. Give the kid a break, geez. It’s a LIFETIME MOVIE.
I loved Aaliyah – I was an original fan! I am old enough that not only do I remember watching Star Search as a part of our tv routine, I remember crooning along to her hits (Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number Album – now you know I am old – we called them albums – was huge!) and freaking out when the whole R Kelly scandal broke, being totally stunned at Queen of the Damned – and I did not think the casting of Zendaya was disrespectful. I do think the backlash regarding her casting a shame, as Zendaya is a lovely, extremely talented artist – as well as a young gal in our society, and it is sad that folks decided to dump on a kid who was just doing her thing! I think she would have done Aaliyah’s memory proud. I would have watched . . .
I think everyone’s getting a bit more worked up than necessary. Aliyah died at 22. Zendaya is 17. If they were making a movie about her life, a teenage is a better choice than someone who’s in their mid 20s. Zendaya has talent, regardless of being a Disney kid. Way before this movie was even in the works she said she looked up to Aliyah. I was 11 when Aliyah passed and I’m too old to listen to Zendaya now so I’m neutral in this argument. However, the girl had more of a right to pull out based on all the hate people were spewing at her. No one is ever good enough for anything once someone is idolized to such an extent.
When Z. was on Fashion Police she was amazingly composed for her age, amazingly mature. Surprisingly so.
where were all these negative nellies when the cracken was hired to play dame elizabeth without an accent or weight gain/padding?
Right here.
Are you serious? There was outrage everywhere! Hell, even Nicole Kidman’s hair color wasn’t right to play Grace and got a lot of crap thrown at her so please spare me.
Unknown reasons? I read somewhere else that since they couldn’t use Aliyah’s voice and they were unable to get the rights to her music, Zendaya (or anyone else, really) wasn’t going to be able to sing any of her songs. Not sure how true that is, but it sounds believable.
Also, though I wasn’t bothered by the difference in skin tone between Zendaya and Aliyah, I saw a couple of great points raised in comments above. One point was that in Hollywood, light-skinned, exotic, or biracial actresses are preferred for black roles and usually win the best ones available. Recognizing there are a couple of exceptions, I agree with this completely.
The other point someone made (too harshly) was that a lot of people claim skin color doesn’t matter. But if Zendaya, being biracial, had been trying to play a white character, it would most definitely make a difference. Wouldn’t there have been an uproar if she’d been chosen to play a young Amy Winehouse instead? Not that that would ever happen, because white characters can only be played by actors in a limited range of pale skin tones.
There’s a reason behind why so many black women get upset about color. Unless you’ve actually experienced colorism, you don’t have the kind of context necessary make the judgment that color doesn’t matter. I think most black women can tell you from experience that it does make a difference in how you’re treated and valued.
Anyway, all that being said, I mainly care about acting and singing since they’re not able to use Aliyah’s voice. I haven’t seen anything Zendaya’s been in, so I don’t know how talented of an actress she is. The one song I heard of hers wasn’t great. But I feel a bit sorry for her because she seems like a nice kid who wasn’t ready for the kind of madness she stepped into.
It gets to me because my family is biracial. People act like you should just crawl off somewhere if you don’t fit in the boxes people put out for you. My 2 cousins have a Black/Jewish mom and a Puerto Rican/Chinese dad. The stupidity they get on a daily basis is staggering and we live in NYC, where this is more accepted. If you don’t fit into either category set out, people want you to STFU (see someone’s nasty post to me above) and just shut down. Not happening.
Did you even read Fatty Cakes comment!? Which was great btw.
Stop playing victim here – No one is forcing you to I.D as one thing or pick and choose, that is the complete opposit of what is being said here.
It’s saddening that you cannot read what is actually being written, but I guess you don’t want to and just want to keep ignoring the great points being made and focus on shit no one has said in order to keep the staus quo. Well, many of us have had enough of it so you’ll just have to deal.
Oh and do you know why I was so harsh in my tone in my first comment to you? Because I genuinely thought you were a racist, that should tell you something about your writing.
NN, I really could not care less what you think. “It’s saddening”? Can you even speak proper English? I see the African-American woman told you off, too. Don’t tell me what I should or shouldn’t think because it won’t matter. I will still think it and speak out. Stop playing victim? You mean when someone like you calls me a racist for how I identify? Don’t tell me what me or my family go through on a daily basis. I never said biracial people shouldn’t try to get white roles and I certainly don’t know where you get racism from anything I’ve said. Did you not just say that biracial people should just play other biracials, or at least try for white roles? Because we don’t suffer prejudice, right? Did a BLACK woman not just call you prejudiced? Go have a seat, little girl. Break the meds in half next time.
You’re not forcing me to identify? That’s why right above, you said biracials should play biracials or at least go play whites? And got shut down by a Black woman calling you racist? Doesn’t that tell you something about YOUR writing? Poor thing- you really believe your own crap. Because biracials look so white we get patted on the head for our whiteness every day, all the time.
NN and Jenny12 – My intention wasn’t to tell anyone off or shut anyone down. I just wanted to recognize that one person made a really good point, but that the tone/delivery of that point was more encouraging of an argument than a discussion. And I hate to see a good point get lost in the middle of heated feelings! This kind of topic is personal to a lot of people, so it’s easy to get upset (I certainly do).
FattyCakes- no worries. I didn’t mean you were shutting her down. And I have no issue with a discussion, but when someone starts calling me a racist and a f—g moron and telling me to shut the f up, then my attempts to discuss or hear the person out are over.
@Jenny12
http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saddening
saddening adjective
causing unhappiness
Synonyms depressing, dismal, drear, dreary, heartbreaking, heartrending, melancholy, mournful, pathetic, saddening, sorry, tearful, teary
Related Words deplorable, distressful, grievous, lamentable, unfortunate, woeful; discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing; affecting, moving, poignant, touching; discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting
Near Antonyms heartening, heartwarming, inspiring, stimulating, stirring, uplifting; agreeable, delightful, enjoyable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome; exhilarating, thrilling
Who should go learn English? Surely not me.
FFS, I never said biracial people don’t suffer from racism. Yet again, you only read what you want to read.
It’s like talking to a wall, it just doesn’t get through to you, does it?
Black women are suffering from systematic erasure in the media. I already gave you links to prove this fact, but you didn’t bother to click.
The reason people are so upset about this is because it has literally become too much and disgustingly obvious, hell, black women can’t even play/voice a black cartoon (jem movie) even though the character is black. (again if you had clicked on the link…).
You keep saying it would be okay if a biracial played a white character but THIS IS NOT happening so obviously it’s NOT okay and white Hollywood doesn’t want it so really instead of fighting with black women you should talk to WHITE people/women who won’t allow you guys a piece of their cake.
And boy do they have a lot of cake! Hmm, wonder why they won’t share with you…
It’s also funny that you keep saying this girl looks more black.
Please go look at a color chart and come back to me.
You are looking at her with a white lense.
We have been so conditioned to think biracial people ‘look more black’ because the term ‘black’ has not been properly defined.
Who is black? When biracial and other people with even less of an admixture can I.D. as black, who then is really black? No wonder people don’t know what a full black person without admixture look like (hint hint; it’s not Zendaya).
MOST AFRICAN AMERICANS are actually DARK skinned and look more West African. This is the norm, the majority.
It’s a myth that most AA’s are mixed “somewhere down the line”.
I can go on and on but frankly, I bet you didn’t even read half of this so what’s the point?
The correct term is it saddens me. Sadly, I actually agree that Hollywood sucks and is racist, but you are determined to believe I’m a moron who can’t read so whatever. And you started off calling me a racist, while having what you consider a real black saying you’re a racist. You said it was my writing that made you think that- perhaps it’s your mindset. Biracials suffer in different ways- so sick of the “Sooooo….. what are you?” comments- and can’t identify anywhere. Weren’t you the one who said that biracials should only play other biracials or at least whites because we aren’t black enough? I definitely have relatives who could pass for white, while others can’t. Naye told you that most African Americans are different mixtures, not me, but I do agree with her. Do we need more Lupitas in Hollywood? Of course. But- quoting you again- biracials are stealing roles from real black women. I would say it’s the idiotic mindset of executives. By the way, both Naye and I felt we had to identify ourselves racewise after your comments. And if you don’t like being condescended to, consider how you start off most posts: with insults and nasty rhetoric.
NN says:
July 1, 2014 at 9:09 am
*Sigh* it’s like people just don’t want to read and understand.
If you have ONE white parent and ONE black parent you are biracial and should play biracial characters or at the very least not take jobs from full black women who already have it bad enough in Hollywood.
P.S. It’s Who should learn English? not Who should go learn English? You’re welcome.
“they couldn’t use Aliyah’s voice and they were unable to get the rights to her music, Zendaya (or anyone else, really) wasn’t going to be able to sing any of her songs. ”
That isn’t how it works. ANYONE can record a cover. You don’t need permission, you just have to pay royalties on money you make from it to the writer(not performer) of the song. If they were going to use the original recording, they would have to get permission. But I don’t think using the original tracks would make sense in a movie, except for bit parts perhaps.
I think this is a bad move by her parents to force the movie out of production. MORE people should hear her music, especially girls in Z’s age range. Her family just cheated Aaliyah out of many new fans.
Okay, that sounds believable too. I really don’t know how music licensing and such works, so thanks for the note.
You know you have won when someone attacks you for your spelling/grammar lol.
And FYI, I actually used it correctly, but nice try.
“It’s saddening that you cannot read…” was used correctly. (and I don’t use autocorrect or spell-check like you do)
lol at you trying to find flaws where there are none. I can tell you have nothing to say about the great points I made though, but then again, I expected that.
Honestly, you seem confused and angry as hell.
Is it my fault biracial people are excluded from white privilege? Again, there are plenty of white roles being written, why not go after those roles? There are more of them! What do you not understand?
You keep bringing up your relatives like it matters. MOST AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE DARK SKINNED.
Let that sink in.
And I see you STILL haven’t read the link.
And you keep whining about me being so “mean” to you when you are the lunatic here calling me all kinds of names and telling me to take meds and putting me down for silly things like spelling. Seriously, chill the F out with the attacks and go to the source of your problems.
I don’t know why I am wasting my time writing to you when you won’t even go to the links which will prove that what I am saying is right.
Not confused, not angry, and you’re right, after a while, this becomes repetitious. Nope, don’t use spellcheck, whatever. It’s saddening wasn’t correct, but okay, whatever you say. Bad grammar annoys me, but to each his own. You’ve made so many incorrect assumptions that there’s no arguing. You’re opinionated and judgmental and that’s all you are. YOU think you’re correct. YOU think you’ve made great points. I’m curious as to why you never bothered answering Naye’s points to you, including that you’re racist, but you are too engaged with arguing with me. I give her props, because she shut you down and you backed off, meek as anything. No more interest in this.
BTW- be realistic. My first post you went at me full on and now you’re saying I called you names? Yeah, I do that when someone comes at me. Glad you think you made good points. Like I said- I give Naye full props because she put your tail between your legs and you don’t even try to go at her. Don’t know where you get whining from. Why don’t you go tell a few more biracials how to live their lives?
In the 4 years that I have been coming to celebitchy I have never written a comment. I have felt compelled to do so because I unequivocally agree with all of your points. Although I do not agreen with the name-calling or the tone, all your points are well-founded and anyone that cannot see the unjustice that (strictly) black women face in the entertainment industry is being ignorant or just naive.
I don’t know who “Naye” is? I must have missed her comment because I can’t see it and for the last time: You are wrong about my grammar but whatever makes you feel better.
I am done going back and forth with you.
And I am sorry I even got into this discussion with you because it was clearly a waste of time.
Edit: See it now and my response was meant for both of you!
I have said all I can say about this topic and if you still don’t get it, you never will.
Take care!
@Merc: yup, that was why I said repeatedly that Hollywood is painfully racist. My kids were watching the Zendaya Disney movie the other day and kept asking why there were only 2 Black kids in it. I explain to them about racism all the time, including when Disney put out that Let It Shine film where they felt they had to use every stereotype possible for Black people, but hey, look, they were finally making a movie with us! My argument was simply with someone who cursed me out and called me a racist for thinking Zendaya had the right to try out for a role- racist to me is the biggest insult possible. Hollywood may prefer biracial people over Black people, but there’s no love lost. They prefer white people, period, but everyone is scrambling to find roles in Hollywood and they are few and far between for ANYONE of color. People say Barack Obama is the first Black president because that is how he appears, but realistically, his mother was white and he was raised by his white grandparents. It doesn’t change how HE feels. He has talked about the racism he has faced and the lack of justice (unjustice isn’t a word) he has felt. My opinion: Blacks suffer racism, absolutely, and so do biracial people, especially if they appear Black (like Obama or Zendaya). Surely you believe Obama when he says he suffered racism as a BIRACIAL man.
YAY! Can’t stand Zendaya’s mugging. She needs to give it a few years. So desperate in everything she does to appear “grown” as others have pointed out.
I so understand the uproar of why people of African American descent resent that African Americans with a white phenotype and a white parent are given preference over African Americans without a white phenotype. I think the difference in how Quincy Jones’ daughters are treated is a good example. It is a throwback to slavery of the mulatto versus the African .
This is also why there is a movement to classify the “biracial” offspring into a separate category. Those parents understand that category of folks are to be treated differently than “African Americans”. Why not fight for fair treatment of all?
1. Zendaya is not that great of an actor or singer. Maybe it’s because she’s young and needs more practice/experience in those areas? But the point is, if Lifetime wasn’t given the rights to the original songs the movie would be pointless. Yes, she could easily do covers of Aaliyah’s songs but, how similar to Aaliyah would they sound? All the editing in the world can’t make your voice sound as angelic as Aaliyah.
2. Who honestly would agree to a Lifetime movie when there is a 98% chance you can get a film to play in movies with A-list actors? Or atleast something that would attract the right audiences like Vh1’s TLC.
3. Let’s be honest, her skin is not that much lighter than Aaliyah’s. But it’s like they put no effort into finding someone who atleast looks somewhat similar to Aaliyah, can dance well, and actually act. The singing part is not so important (pay attention to other movies about artists).
She did not drop out. She was fired by the producers. The blind gossip website as well as several other publications reported on this. The producers totally threw Zendaya under the bus due to all the negative backlash.
Seriously, Aaliyah was mixed with Native American and that was probably where she got her lighter skin tone. As somebody else said “most African Americans are dark skinned”. Aaliyah was clearly not dark skinned; she is a gorgeous African American woman but she has obviously mixed heritage, like 99.9% of Americans.
I really feel bad for this actress, as a bi-racial individual I can conclude that there are a lot of racism for being mixed. People constantly punish you for not looking one way or the other. It is really sad that you have to be “all” black or “all” white to gain any respect within your community. And yes people will push you in a box if you look white, black, or hispanic no matter what your heritage is. Its not the individuals fault.
As for the other commenters saying she couldn’t play Amy Winehouse: Zendaya could if she looked similar to her but she doesn’t. She would have to pull a Charlize Theron, and I do not think she has the acting chops for that.