Wendy Williams faced backlash for her involvement in the Lifetime movie “Aaliyah: The Princess of R & B,” which aimed to depict the life of the late singer Aaliyah.
Despite defending the project’s intention to honor Aaliyah’s legacy, the biopic received criticism from fans, celebrities, and Aaliyah’s family.
The controversy included casting issues, portrayal of Aaliyah’s relationship with R. Kelly, and objections to the use of her original songs. Timbaland tried to warn Williams about the possible backlash and Zendaya dropped out of the project due to doubts about it’s quality.
Despite the negative feedback, the biopic attracted 3.2 million viewers, becoming the second-highest-rated television film of 2014.