Nina Simone’s daughter has defended Zoe Saldana following the backlash over Zoe playing the late singer.
The 37-year-old actress plays the civil rights activist – who died in 2003 aged 70 – in the upcoming film, Nina, and while her estate has slammed Zoe’s casting, Nina’s daughter Lisa Simone Kelly insists the controversy is not Zoe’s fault.
She told Time magazine: “It’s unfortunate that Zoe Saldana is being attacked so viciously when she is someone who is part of a larger picture. 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.”
However, Lisa is upset about the movie, insisting that it is based on lies, specifically the claims that Nina had a romantic relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson (played by David Oyelowo).
