Nina Simone's Daughter Defends Zoe Saldana Against Biopic Slander

Nina Simone’s Daughter Defends Zoe Saldana Against Biopic Slander

While a vast majority of us have been relentlessly roasting Zoe Saldana for her janky azz portrayal of black icon Nina Simone, she is receiving some measure of support from an unlikely source…Nina’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly. The singer’s celebrity seed spoke to TIME magazine to express her feelings on Zoe and the upcoming film…

“It’s unfortunate that Zoe Saldana is being attacked so viciously when she is someone who is part of a larger picture,” said Simone Kelly, 53, who is also an actress and singer. “It’s clear she brought her best to this project, but unfortunately she’s being attacked when she’s not responsible for any of the writing or the lies.”

In regards to the tweet sent from the Nina Simone estate (@NinaSimoneMusic) slamming Zoe, Lisa says that she did send it nor did she ask for it to be sent.

“The movie is about a relationship between my mother and Clifton which never took place. They never had an amorous relationship,” Simone Kelly said, adding that Henderson was a gay man. “The project has been tainted from the very beginning. Clearly, it is not the truth about my mother’s life and everyone now knows that. This is not how you want your loved ones remembered.”

If nothing else THIS should be a reason to have an issue with Zoe, she’s helping to perpetuate a false narrative…

“I really didn’t feel much of anything except for poor Zoe,” she said. Simone Kelly’s husband, Rob Kelly, said it was difficult to watch the clip, which begins with a scene in which Saldana is strapped to a hospital bed after fighting doctors. “Everything from the first scene when she’s strapped to a gurney is a lie,” Kelly, 49, said. “We’re both very passionate about her legacy being told the right way. What she actually accomplished is not common, and most people don’t know that.”

Poor. Zoe. Smh.

While the family is “not upset with Zoe,” Simone Kelly said she didn’t think the actress was the “proper choice, appearance-wise.” “There are many superb actresses of color who could more adequately represent my mother and could bring her to the screen with the proper script, the proper team and a sense of wanting to bring the truth of my mother’s journey to the masses,” she said. “And Nina, in my opinion, doesn’t do any of that.”

*drops mic*

It’s hard to fathom how Simone separated Zoe from any culpability for this disaster of a movie. She accepted the role despite the family’s displeasure, she cashed the check and she’s going to The public at large certainly won’t.

Image via AP