Zendaya Coleman quits Aaliyah biopic after criticism from family and fans

The star of Lifetime's upcoming biopic about Aaliyah has quit the project, after increasing protests from the late singer's family and fans over the production.

It was announced just under two weeks ago that Disney star Zendaya Coleman would be portraying the late R&B singer, who died in a plane crash in 2001, in a Lifetime biopic called Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B. However, Coleman's camp have now confirmed to E! that the 17-year-old is no longer attached to the project.

Coleman's exit is most likely the result of major criticism from Aaliyah's family and fans after the biopic was announced. Aaliyah's family even wrote an open letter slamming the film, saying Aaliyah "deserves to have a tribute much more grand than a television network debut that won’t even consider the perspectives of those who were closest to Aaliyah."

Lifetime reportedly never asked Aaliyah's family for permission to use her music or image, leading to the family now taking steps to halt production of the film, which was slated to be released later this year. 

Zendaya's "people" cite "production issues" as the official reason for her departure from the project. All things considered, it's probably a wise move for her to distance herself from the film - especially as it's being made by Lifetime.