Angela Bassett Not Bothered by Houston Family’s Criticisms of ‘Whitney’
Whitney Houston’s family boycott of Angela Bassett’s new biopic hasn’t upset the actress-turned-director, because she insists the clan’s silence is the “greatest gift”.
Bassett, who appeared alongside Houston in 1995 film Waiting to Exhale, stepped behind the camera for the first time last year to take charge of the movie adaptation of the late singer’s life, with former America’s Next Top Model contestant Yaya DaCosta as her leading lady – and immediately became the target of Houston family members, who were opposed to the project.
A spokesperson for the tragic superstar’s relatives said, “No one connected with this movie knew Whitney… 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.”
Bassett brushed off the criticism and urged the Houston clan to see the film for themselves on Tuesday night, when it debuted at the Paley Center for Media in California, just blocks away from The Beverly Hilton hotel, where the singer was found dead in 2012 – but they snubbed the invitation.
However, Bassett insists their absence won’t do much to hurt the film.
She tells the Associated Press, “It was the family’s choice and decision, because of what they want to do and whatever their desires or their plans are, not to be involved in this one. But they didn’t have anything negative to say about it. You know, sometimes to be silent is the greatest gift.”
Bassett reveals she didn’t sugarcoat the tough times in the singer’s life, including her tumultuous marriage to, and divorce from, Bobby Brown, but she is confident fans will appreciate the biopic.
She tells the Star-Telegram.com, “I just wanted to provide a loving tribute memory. Because she was a very loving person. Both of them were. So it’s loving, but honest.”
Actor Arlen Escarpeta portrays Brown in the film, which will debut on Lifetime network on Saturday January 17th at 8/7c.
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