Whitney Houston's mother has issued a statement regarding a forthcoming Lifetime biopic that is said to focus on the late singer's relationship with former husband Bobby Brown. Explaining that her family are "exhausted" by "continuing misinformation and comments offered by people who did not know her", Cissy Houston goes onto plead with film-makers: "Please, please let her rest."
Despite initial objections from the singer's family, the US cable and satellite television channel has reportedly decided to proceed the movie. In a statement issued to Entertainment Tonight, Cissy Houston said:
No one connected with this movie knew Whitney or anything about her relationship with Bobby. In the two years since Whitney's death, many people have stepped forward to speak about their close relationship with her. I find it difficult to believe people who knew and supposedly loved her would participate in a movie about her done by folks who didn't know her.
Contrary to Cissy's comments, however, the film does appear to include two people who worked with the late singer. It is set to be directed by actor Angela Bassett, who co-starred with Houston in the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale, while Deborah Cox – who is recording vocals for the film after Lifetime were unsuccessful in securing the rights to the late singer's music – also duetted with Houston on the 2000 track Same Script, Different Cast. “I have such regard for both Whitney’s and Bobby’s amazing talents and accomplishments, and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story,” said Bassett of her directorial debut.
Whitney Houston died in 2012, aged 48. The film is said to cover her life “from the time [Whitney and Bobby] first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Throughout it all, difficulties followed the superstar couple while they dealt with the overwhelming rewards and consequences of the fame and fortune created by Whitney’s meteoric rise, [which] would soon overshadow them both.”
In addition to the furore surrounding the Whitney Houston biopic, Lifetime has been embroiled in further controversy surrounding the production of an Aaliyah movie. The R&B star's family have voiced their concerns over the film, while Disney star Zendaya Coleman, who was set to star as the singer, recently left the cast after expressing criticism regarding its "production value" and the lack of rights to Aaliyah's music.
