Alexandra Shipp Replaces Zendaya to Star in Aaliyah Biopic

Nickelodeon star Alexandra Shipp has signed on to star in the already controversial Aaliyah made-for-TV movie.

Wendy Williams, one of the biopic's executive producers, tweeted the newsFriday: "I'm excited to exec produce the Aaliyah @lifetimetv movie w/ @DebraMChase. Prod starts later this month and @AlexShipppp will play Aaliyah."

Celebrity tans gone wrong

Last month, Disney star Zendaya dropped out of the project citing disappointment about the film's direction. "If she is going to do it, she wants to do it right," Zendaya's official account tweeted.

Not only was the Zendaya's casting panned, with many criticizing casting a biracial actress to play the black singer, but Aaliyah's family has also publically condemned the project on the grounds that Aaliyah deserves more than a TV movie that wouldn't respect or do justice to the late star.
Shipp is best known for playing KT Rush on House of Anubis, but her credits also include Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel andDrumline 2: A New Beat. 

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