Disney channel star Zendaya Coleman explained the reasons that led her to drop out of the upcoming Aaliyah biopic in a series of Instagram videos posted on Friday. The 17-year-old actress explained in her first post that her decision to leave the production of the Lifetime movie had nothing to do with the "haters."
"The main reasons were the production value wasn't there, there were complications with the music rights, and I just felt like it wasn't being handled delicately considering the situation," Coleman said in the second clip. "I tried my best to reach out to the family on my own and I wrote a letter, but, I was unable to do so. Therefore, I felt not really morally okay with moving forward with the project."
Coleman exited the film in late June, telling MTV that she felt the project was being "rushed". Weeks after Coleman's departure was announced, Lifetime said it had cast Alexandra Shipp to star as the late singer.
"Congratulations to the new woman playing Aaliyah," Coleman said in her third and final video. "I only hope that she does not have to deal with half the hate that I had to deal with. Remember that we are all human beings trying to do what we love to do. Let's practice motivation and love, not discrimination and hate."
Aaliyah: Princess of R&B is based on the Christopher John Farley biography, "Aaliyah: More Than a Woman" and it's set for a 2014 release.