Aaliyah, Britney & The Apathy of Lifetime "Biopics"

[@f.d.5173]

I just need to say: Brittney is still alive. That trainwreck was not needed. Aaliyah was a victim. That trainwreck was not needed.

[@nicole.watson]

Pete Digital i think they meant it like aaliyah, a victim to death , and britney is still living

[@kittygrimm7301]

@@nicole.watson Aaliyah was also sexually abused by R Kelly when she was still a minor.

[@lia.azzles1328]

@@IrisMiaNola they’re talking about what her family (uncle mostly) & the abuse from R Kelly so YES SHE IS AND WAS A VICTIM especially because of how Wendy Williams made Aaliyah’s biopic and portrayed her story awfully

[@sugarpearl9781]

@@IrisMiaNola You can be strong and still be a victim.

[@sr1445]

@@IrisMiaNola britney is also those things too but she is a victim... victims can be strong, mature, influential, and so much more

[@georgier9151]

The fact that the R Kelly portion of the film also features a fully grown up actor playing a child, while painting the relationship as romantic and consensual, is *telling*.

[@kirkberryjr8724]

WHAT DO YA MEAN TELLING?!!?????!!

[@_aideyn]

The ending clip just... sent me into shock. How can you look at someone with so much passion and talent and such a huge life story, and boil it down to ... three major events that have to do with the men in her life??? Her abuser, her father, and her boyfriend?? God that's disgusting.

[@TheSongwritingCat]

This happens when a lot of women's stories are told. Marilyn Monroe, Cher, Loretta Lynn, Tina Turner, etc. Arguably, a lot of female entertainers/artists/etc. were heavily influenced by their relationships with the men in their lives. Especially if those men were physically abusive or controlled their careers in some way. But also, a lot of people writing stories seem to struggle with not putting focus on a male character if one exists. And if one does not exist, they will sometimes make one up. I'm hoping to watch Frida and track down that Georgia O'Keefe movie one day. Idk, maybe one day I'll find a good one.

[@Me-mb1ex]

That’s how it goes in Hollywood, even when it’s not about the men...it’s about the men.🙄

[@ievadee]

@@Me-mb1ex myjuig

[@marnenotmarnie259]

yeah seriously :|

[@kittygrimm7301]

I didn't know this about Zendaya until watching this and, honestly, it just makes me respect her even more as a person. The fact that she went as far as to reach out to Aaliyah's family (and even backed out when they didn't give their blessing) just shows how emotionally mature she is and how much she respects Aaliyah. She handled that with a lot of grace and I applaud her for that. Wendy Williams, on the other hand...

[@Aster_Risk]

She just keeps making me like her more and more.

[@zombieedrea]

It also helps that Zendaya was a legit fan of Aaliyah. She showed much more respect and maturity than Wendy Williams. Shows that she wasn't in it for the notoriety.

[@honeylamour1]

The girl Alex or whatever her name is that played Aaliyah is just like Zoe Saldana they will take any type of work regardless of the estate or person disapproval

[@CrystalLovesChrist]

Honey La’mour Alexandria Shipp really butchered that role. She’s also generally a very average actress

[@honeylamour1]

Netochukwu I recall Zendaya saying Aaliyah family did not want that movie made so she dropped out, Alex Shipp said something about she was unable to reach out to the family to talk to them. Like girl her family but put statements denouncing lifetime but you pretending you ain’t hear about it

[@music_YT2023]

Wendy Williams is a horrible person. Anyone who would try to repaint R. Kelly's grooming as romantic or loving is gross, problematic and exploitative. The intermission to calm down was needed. Both biopics really did forget that these were real people with thoughts, wants and motivations. I like the pared-down versions you came up with (focus on young Aaliyah before and after the loss on Star Search and a younger Britney between the Mickey Mouse Club and opening for NSync); I think they would have been vastly more interesting than whatever darts they were throwing at the walls to make these Lifetime* movies.

[@rekindle7602]

It's even worse because she was trying to portray R. Kelly's grooming in a way that people would buy to voyeuristically gaze at and pass judgement on, the grossness has layers

[@ronstoppable5659]

“Wendy has done one thing in her entire career that wasn’t incredibly terrible, it was when she blasted a creamy fart into her panties on her television show” -Cr1tikal/Hunger Games Star, Charlie White Jr

[@soberakin9415]

@@ronstoppable5659 a modern philosopher

[@ronstoppable5659]

@Sober Akin Amen to that, this platform truly doesn’t deserve such a legendary being

[@graysonelliott6115]

I recently started watching surviving R. Kelley and was disgusted to see her interviewed, acting like she didn’t contribute to the glamorization of Aaliyah’s abuse. She obviously doesn’t have a functioning moral compass.

[@Monique.Marceline]

The mispronunciation of Aaliyah in a BIOPIC ABOUT HER just kills me.

[@thefactsaccordingtogabbie149]

Me too and I'm STILL mad about it 6 yrs later.

[@TheJrockfreak]

did they? I didnt even notice that when I was watching it but thats crazy

[@joxysurge9631]

Guuuuurl..

[@jessicaann1079]

Um actually the girl in this video is saying it how Aaliyah pronounced her name in a interview so you died for no reason

[@Sofia-re3hj]

@@jessicaann1079 They are talking about the biopic not the video

[@carmamoore]

35:09 The way Wendell says "when YOU [15 yrs old aaliyah] bring home a 28 yrs old man" as if the child and victim in this situation was the one initiating it?????? 🤮😰

[@pinkrutabaga]

exactly, she didn’t bring home anybody! r kelly groomed and manipulated her. wendy acted like their relationship was consensual and an act of rebellion on aaliyah’s part which isn’t even possible when a grown ass man is trying to form a romantic relationship with a child!

[@kokolatte825]

@@pinkrutabaga and this is the problem with ALL the R. Kelly cases. I remember how people talked about it. That "those girls know what they doing" sentiment. I NEVER understood it but, I'm beginning to think the world just sees young Black girls as over sexed Lolita's who are "asking for it".

[@cristinarivera5707]

Exactly! I don’t understand why people think 15 year old girls are so sexually sophisticated simply because these predatory older men can’t contain themselves around them. The misogyny surrounding young female victims is so infuriating!

[@kennedyjojackson1202]

@@kokolatte825 you really hit the nail on the head with the lolita comparison! as a young black girl when I always heard the story of Aaliyah with R. Kelly it made me sick to my stomach. she'd made it big in my book and people still like their very public marriage isn't a testament to R. Kelly's character. 🤮

[@honeylamour1]

R kelly also got to Aaliyah at 11 not 15 he had her singing on that 12 play album at 11 years old the whole album is a sex album and he featured an elementary school girl rather than any woman who was around music scene in 1991/92 idk wtf her parents or even the industry was thinking

[@kayl2807]

That Britney biopic is so tragic. The stuff she’s had to deal with in her life, it’s no wonder she’s struggled with her mental health in the past. The way they portrayed her as a ditzy blonde bimbo is so sad, she’s iconic and they did everything they could to tear her down.

[@MadGravityStudios]

#freebritney

[@cerebrumexcrement]

everyone i know who's worked with britney says she's a sweetheart. she has a lot of respect.

[@taylorcathey4066]

Tell the truth!

[@nehemiahsaycsar]

A hard worker! Sis has been working since a kid

[@ancientfae7246]

I would literally die for Britney Spears

[@Yharazayd]

***also i forgot to put a text clarifying that the role cate was beat out for was elizabeth: the golden age because she was nominated twice that year. i’m a mistake machine 💗 1. free britney 2. free aaliyah's music 3. if you're masochistic enough to watch either of these movies, i implore you to jack sparrow that shit 💗💚

[@willisthrilled]

And while they’re at it can they please figure out a way to put Liyah’s first album on streaming without giving Robert Kelly a single red cent??? Like a loophole or something???

[@Somefool669]

@@willisthrilled Ride the seven seas with me, it's the only way

[@calebgore1914]

Cate also won her first Oscar for a biopic playing Katharine Hepburn in the Aviator.

[@katiemordhorsty]

Does "Jack Sparrow that shit" mean to get into character like Daniel Day Lewis and stay in character? Watch it back to back? I was never a fan of pirates of the carribbean

[@AndySDoughnuts]

​@@katiemordhorsty I feel it means drink all the rum

[@Megan-wf2yv]

This channel reminds me of be kind rewind but focussed on 90s/2000s pop culture instead of 40s/50s/60s culture !!! Love to see it

[@isitamoguel]

Yesss

[@Garbagepond]

Poignant.

[@horseenthusiast9903]

Yes!! It's great how in depth these channels are, I love it.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Yes I would love to see these two channels collaborate

[@emmabluu]

yessss i love both channels so much

[@BroeyDeschanel]

I'm so glad you made a vid about this, I'm still traumatized by the Brittany Murphy biopic!!! you outdid yourself

[@littleanchovy9013]

first of all you have the most relaxing voice ever. but SECOND, these movies are objectively horrible cinematically, but I genuinely cannot fathom how they included that Aaliyah/R Kelly plot line. Absolutely sick. She was a baby. She would have been a freshman or sophomore in high school. He was almost 30 years old. HOW can you possibly frame that relationship as anything but a disgusting man grooming an innocent girl. Wendy Williams is despicable. I cannot imagine how fucking twisted you have to be to exploit their "relationship" like that. Anyway, this was an amazing video, you deserve so much more hype.

[@brittneybrisbin744]

Same. I especially think the fact they didn't do anything to give hints as to Aaliyah's age and for the most part she looks like a 20 something the whole movie, just with outfit changes, really takes away from the uncomfortable reality that Aaliyah was a literal child being manipulated by a grown man. Wendy also victim blamed, as did a lot of media during the time the "relationship" was actually happening, and that's so disgusting. I hate that it was portrayed as a "sweet love story" when it's literally pedophilia.

[@gabriellaberman]

A Whitney Houston biopic was just announced, and I’m already scared for it. If they don’t treat her with the utmost respect, I’m going to be furious. Also I think an Amy Winehouse biopic is in the making, which also scares me

[@Yharazayd]

since lifetime did a whitney biopic, i feel more prepared for that one but the idea of an amy biopic is filling me with so much dread ehhhh

[@MONET8iAM]

They also did an Aretha Franklin biopic with Jeniffer Hudson. Aretha was a character. I wonder if she was able to pull it off.

[@TheSongwritingCat]

F*ck... I so don't need them to do that to Amy. I really don't.

[@janellcharm]

MONET8iAM Jennifer was hand picked by Aretha years ago cause she can sing and act her ass off i just pray they dont mess up the biopic of the queen of soul

[@janellcharm]

Yhara zayd how many Whitney documents do we need they just keep messing them up

[@henrycoburn607]

First of all, names are your identity and I think that means it's a big detail. Second, the cover of Age Ain't Nothing But a Number literally has the pronunciation of her name on it.

[@inuhime]

All these years I assumed the prounounciation was the commonplace one, so I can see how the mistake would be made, but as someone whose name is also mispronounced, I do understand the frustration.

[@altounedited3]

When Are You That Somebody came out, my mom was pregnant with me and named me Alia pronounced the same way… I love my name and the meaning… didn’t like how they mispronounced her name wrong when she made it _CLEAR_ Edit: I often tell people “It’s like Muhammad Ali”

[@altounedited3]

@matisse two words: English language

[@Beats4DaStreets]

I just listened to this podcast that went deep into Britney's career and it is scary how many predators she was around back then. Her managers even picked out her underwear. Yuck.

[@birdi3beez]

mrowzer what’s the name of the podcast if you don’t mind sharing it? I’d like to know more about Britney and her early career

[@Beats4DaStreets]

birdiebee it's on Spotify, Page 7 is the Podcast and the episode is Pop History: Britney Spears Part 1 (there are 3 parts). They start from her early childhood and beginning career, thru to the conservatorship she is currently in court for. Enjoy! 🍾🥂✨

[@Beats4DaStreets]

birdiebee open.spotify.com/episode/3joEI1fAn4ajmlMBGBTQPn?si=aUhcmOsjTeemuM2pv6vBLA

[@birdi3beez]

mrowzer thank you💕

[@maisie2867]

Another great one is Les Deux You Remember This!!!

[@EduardoLopez-pq2pf]

The actor not having to look exactly like who they’re portraying is very true!!!! JLo looks nothing like Selena but her essence (and costumes) were there

[@aristothearies]

Yess Jlo's makeup and style was Selena, for years as a child I didn't know the difference but Angela Bassett is another actress who didn't look anything like Tina Turner

[@hciapetus1251]

I could ramble for an entire day about the compassion behind the Selena movie. It was so well done. The director understood how to show her story. He trusted that audiences would want to know her struggles, and knew how to make her not appear dumb, as well as not making her dad come off as the villain of the story. The director also knew how to handle Selena’s “#1 fan” because at no point did I ever feel sympathy for that woman. He didn’t dive into that woman’s mindset to have the audience understand her motives, and I appreciate that. By the end of the movie, you really feel like the world lost a wonderful and talented woman. Plus, the fact JLo doesn’t really look like Selena adds credit to the movie. They trusted the audience. We don’t look back and focus on how the movie could have cast someone with more likeness, but rather mourn the loss of Selena herself.

[@shllby1]

I believe JLO did amazing, But nobody will look like selena. She was one of a kind. Period.

[@grandunification]

It sucks how it's so much easier to get a cheap, awful, inaccurate movie out capitalizing on a real person's suffering than it is to get a film that is truly celebratory and loving with the subject matter. I don't make a habit of watching biopics, but Rocketman is the only one I've seen where it felt appropriately honest, yet still fantastical and fun. Bohemian Rhapsody was straight up propaganda from the rest of the band trying to paint Freddie as difficult and petty.

[@AJ-cq5pw]

Yeah, Bohemian Rhapsody was so disrespectful to Freddie. This is why it's not always necessary to have people who were involved in the story to be apart of the movie making process.

[@athenajaxon2397]

And the fact that it was pg-13? Blasphemous, Ray is also a really good bio pic and so is What's Love Got to do With It

[@carefulcrosser]

Have you seen love and mercy it's a biopic on Brian Wilson of the beach boys but it's extremely different structurally from any other one I've seen highly recommend

[@marchforth3515]

Bohemian Rhapsody was the only biopic I’ve seen in theaters, I was honestly just there for the music and Rami

[@jessharkness5534]

@@carefulcrosser love and mercy is a beautiful movie, and so underrated

[@caminandoyflotando]

I think one the best examples of a artist/performer biopic done right is Selena (1997). My entire family is from Corpus Christi where she lived most of her life and my parents actually interacted with her several times. My mom has always said JLo played her mannerisms/affect very close to the way she was in real life. There was always a lot of shit talking from (protective) Mexican Americans casting JLo who is Puerto Rican over casting an actual tejana woman which I always found baffling because when you watch her squint her eyes when she smiles, or laughs, or glide across the stage as she’s performing during a concert montage she BECOMES Selena.

[@Dany_C.]

YESSS I love that movie! I still cry when they play “dreaming of you”😭😭

[@kokolatte825]

Yes, I remember the backlash. I think people go overboard in their desire for representation. Some people actually would've preferred a less talented Mexican actress for the sake of being "authentic". Atleast they casted a latina.

[@BabyLove1D]

I remember reading once that Selena’s actual mom cried the first time she saw JLo in the purple outfit, because she looked so much like her daughter.

[@tanyajemm]

JLo also spent time with the family to learn more about her. I’m hesitant to watch the new Netflix show about Selena though.

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

Rocketman is also pretty damn good.

[@emmabluu]

Aaliyah is an incredible singer who’s voices gives me chills. For those of you who don’t know, she covered the song “Journey to the Past” for the 1997 animated film Anastasia which is one of my favorite childhood movies of all time. She definitely put a twist on the song to make it an incredible counterpart to the original sung by Liz Callaway, Anya/Anastasia’s singing voice. Truly an icon!

[@vanillasteamerenthusiast]

27:03 "That all that happened in 2007 and all the years leading up to it were because she was just sOO utTERly iN lOVE with JUstin TimbeRLAkE" *zooms in on Justins top ramen hair*

[@gwencere9383]

Absolutely harrowing

[@ThexDynastxQueen]

Oscar worthy editing right there.

[@TheSongwritingCat]

Honestly, I kind of love that the movie committed to recreating his dumb hair.

[@LeeyaMakesNoise]

It just makes me sad that both these very young artists were victims of the adults around them to varying degrees being predatory and dictating artistic/showbiz decisions about them- only for a studio to turn around and do the same thing by capitalizing off of their life story. Gross.

[@Pkg597]

It’s weird because even tho they went threw all of that their seen as the respective princess’a of pop and r&b

[@evuscraft6989]

Awfully sad tbh. And infuriating

[@najadamu2724]

They won't be satisfied until they're dead... and then they'll capitalize on their death too.

[@LeeyaMakesNoise]

@@Pkg597 Right! But also ironic cause when i think about it Princesses don't particularly have autonomy or rule anything themselves- not like Queens do...

[@RobinTheBot]

Well, she and all these celebrities are products. They are owned and traded. Why is anyone surprised?

[@SabrinaRina]

That Star Search footage is creepy how aged up Aaliyah was. It's hard to believe how young she was through everything, she was always presented more mature. You tell me early 20s is when she passed, she struck me by her presence as in her early 30s. And starting her music career essentially at 15, she was presented as someone twice her age to the point it's disgusting, other obvious factors included.

[@acerowoodberry1236]

Honestly she made 2000-2001 look like a 5 year timespan

[@djjay-kay7636]

The premature sexualisation of young girls, especially in the entertainment business and the media, need to stop. Completely. It's horrendous and it's psychologically conditioning grown ass men to inadvertantly think like pedophiles. It is normalizing sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Period🧐😤💯🖤💔👎

[@lesbiangoddess290]

@@djjay-kay7636 SPEAK ON IT

[@ariesgirl371]

They sexualize black women even more too (especially in 90/00s) from a young age so she never had a chance to be a teenager in the industry.

[@SabrinaRina]

@@ariesgirl371 Ugh. So true and sad. But not just sexualizing, treated as older and less innocent and more aggressive. Expected to be, behave and held accountable as adults much earlier. So gross.

[@LolaSebastian]

Thank you for this, it was fantastic. I have hoped someone would comprehensively cover the Aaliyah biopic (and the R Kelly content therein) since I heard about it. I so long for the day we can stream Aaliyah and Britney without giving any money to the people who hurt them.

[@mychannel-rt2gn]

I literally just found your channel by chance yesterday.

[@maffieduran]

Love the two of you so much!

[@kostajovanovic3711]

Oh, the shared universe thingtens

[@shardeabre]

People were upset because they kept trying to cast a biracial women as a fully Black women Aaliyah + her family wasn’t involved + plus the music wasn’t included + lifetime movies are trash 😭 they get by on people hate watching

[@masonallen3961]

Well I kinda understand the casting a biracial actress. Aaliyah was definitely on the lighter side.

[@kennyb1588]

Mason Allen I promise you there are plenty of Black women who are lighter skinned, and lifetime is known to have a colorism isssue when it comes to casting black women

[@Pickingpetalsoftheflowerslike]

Mason Allen No that’s not fair. I’m light skin but I’m not biracial. There’s plenty of us, they could of casted someone better that’s a black woman.

[@nelumboandrews6762]

I definitely get that i hate when they call for a black child and get they get a mixed one and eventually theres only like 2 non lightskin black people in media

[@lisah3460]

@@Pickingpetalsoftheflowerslike So should they make you fill out a application and ask "Is both of your parents black?"

[@MarthaRose92]

The wild thing is, that Britney/Justin dance off thing was a huge rumor in like 2003 and a lot of people claim it happened. However, of all the things to include in a movie about her life...no

[@Yharazayd]

i'm laughing but i'm also muttering "oh god" to myself

[@Liquidplasticable]

Uhhh I can't believe you would say that The Temptations are the best boyband ever, when the best boyband ever is obviously Boys in Motion. They gave us their devotion!

[@astoldbynickgerr]

Period.

[@GODSLITTLEMEOWMEOW]

Boy in the sink from veggie tales is

[@skinni_the_P00hBear]

Facts 🙌🏽🤣

[@wonderlust1308]

Yeah c’mon everybody and make some noise with the Boyz

[@lucyhannah1227]

r kelly 🤢🤮

[@KamisKisses]

Wendy is poison. I used to be a fan but I started to see under the sheen and I am disgusted. She stands by R.Kelly and keeps mentioning her "sit down chat" with him as if she got the cream of the crop. She disregards the trauma of black women. Exploitative does not begin to describe her. smh.

[@danielbergonzi7319]

Wendy: Death scenes are exploitative! Also Wendy: *casually embellishes Aaliyah's life story like nothing*

[@r3dharl0w]

ugh , I wish aaliyah could’ve gotten the chance to tell HER story from HER pov

[@angie7486]

me too! that lifetime movie was a crime. hopefully one day someone will do her story justice

[@yeoldegeorgemac]

i remember seeing a preview for The Princess of R&B while watching tv with my mother. she, someone who has never mentioned anything related to R&B ever in her entire life, just tutted and said “Can’t they leave the poor girl alone.”

[@TindraSan]

Zendaya chose to be Meechee instead of Aaliyah and we respect her for that.

[@jordancefalo1614]

Aaliyah and Britney Spears are beautiful souls that deserve all the respect and humanity in the world

[@lowkeybruja]

queen of the damned is one of my favorite movies _only_ because seeing golden Aaliyah at age 10 mesmerized me

[@JaiProdz]

Who cares abt the plot. We stan Aaliyah lol. Cult classic!! The visuals and costume design >>>

[@HannahFortalezza]

The soundtrack is fire too though

[@ancientfae7246]

Favorite guilty pleasure. Great soundtrack

[@hciapetus1251]

_Queen of the Damned_ is actually a good modern gothic vampire movie. It’s just not a good adaptation of the books it’s based on. Lol. Aaliyah is amazing in that movie. For me, it’s one thing they nailed in adapting Akasha to live action. All simply for the fact that every time I watch the movie, I hate blinking when she’s on screen.

[@uneducatedenthused8546]

Honestly, you are one of my favourite video essayists. You are so clear, articulate, visually engaging, and cover such unique and fascinating topics. I know you don’t want to blow up, so I don’t wish that for you, but I hope you realise how talented you are and how blessed we are for your contributions to film & entertainment discourse

[@Yharazayd]

thank you, love 💕💕💕

[@1dr_wall769]

Whenever someone mentions biopics I remember how good Honey Boy is but also how *nobody* saw it so thank you for validating me at 2:46

[@mbrannon]

I can't believe this channel only has 53k subscribers. Its not always a subject I come in already interested in but I have watched every video and without fail I am enthralled within 5 minutes. They are all so well made. These are some of my favorite video essays. Thank you.

[@dtoudassous]

She legit produces some of the best video essays I've seen on youtube. I really hope her channel continues to grow because she deserves it (and viewers deserve to see content this good).

[@redrooster3420]

totally agree!!

[@TJ-ev9vq]

92.2k subscribers as of 1/21/21

[@SW23252]

In some ways, a documentary would be preferable to a biopic, at least on paper. A documentary is supposed to take an objective view of the subject, and tell it like it is. There isn't the expectation to have a narrative that can fit into a conventional movie plot, so no overdramatization, no exaggeration or leaving out certain events or alternative "interpretations" of certain people. Just a look at the person (or band) as they were/are, what was recorded, and interviewees "candid" thoughts and recollections. However, I do know that, despite a documentary aiming to be "objective" in theory, it doesn't always work out that way. So I guess it's just pick your poison.

[@dlaniganohara]

Unfortunately, Documentaries also do that. You can't put everything in there, so they have to pick and choose to make their point. There's also the idea that you have to make it engaging and interesting to the viewer. A documentary isn't the visual version of a Wikipedia page, it's an artist using documented footage of something to remix into a coherent story with a point. It isn't like how a biopic is about reenacting someone's life, but it is still just as bias.

[@SW23252]

@@dlaniganohara I agree, which is why I said that they try to be objective *in theory*. I'm actually not sure which is worse. With a biopic, there's a sort of subconscious understanding that this is (first and foremost) a dramatization of actual events. Therefore, we should expect some artistic liberties. But then the team could get carried away with those. A documentary has the reputation of being "just the facts". But as you pointed out, the team still has to pick and choose what to include, and yes, make the narrative flow. So while we may be getting something closer to the truth, we're still not getting the whole picture. I'm just going to have to go back to my original conclusion: its a "pick your poison" kind of game.

[@PancakemonsterFO4]

Cough the history channel cough Hitler documentaries

[@SkyeID]

My dad was a touring musician with The Temptations in the 70's, and I was born on a day he was set to perform with them. After my mom gave birth to me, he went to work that night (not sure how I feel about that).. On stage, in front of a crowd of thousands, my birth was announced by one of the band members, while my dad was sitting behind his keyboard. Dad said that the crowd cheered upon hearing the news, and he stood up to take a bow. This story has been a family anecdote for the past 46 years, so I'm not sure how much of this is mis-remembering on my parents' part.

[@iriejones8292]

7:28 it's interesting to me that she refers to Aaliyah's mom as 'the' mother, not ' *her*' mother. It's like Aaliyah and her mother are not people?

[@angie7486]

i cringed

[@beccabasson4285]

I love when my KZbin recommended page gives me a new channel to binge. Now I know what I’m doing for the rest of the day.

[@laexploradoraaaXD]

The worst thing about the Britney biopic is that... She's still alive and she's still dealing with the consequences of being trapped in the boxes they've kept her in for years and years.

[@pinkmazohyst]

But Taron Egerton got no Oscar for Rocketman, and unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman was actually good. I don't even like Elton John like that either

[@Yharazayd]

the way he knocked that performance out of the park and got paid in dust disturbed me

[@pinkmazohyst]

@@Yharazayd Honestly. Taron Edgerton is actually a good actor too

[@grandunification]

Hollywood only likes their gays if they're dead by the end of the movie :///

[@musicalnerds101]

WinsomeMisfit TEA!!!

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

I’m still not over that snub. This year oscars only make up was giving parasite the best picture award which along with moonlight giving best picture over la la land were the best decision the academy done this past decade but besides that parasite win, this year’s award ceremony was lackluster when you think of the amazing movies and performances that were snubbed. Taron Egerton for rocketman, Adam Sandler for uncut gems, the entire cast of knives out, waves, parasite and dolomite is my name, lupita Nyong’o for us, Awkwafina for the farewell, kelvin Harrison jr and Octavia Spencer for Luce, Michael b Jordan and Jamie Fox for just mercy, etc it was a huge mess

[@marianar2948]

"yeah I called NSYNC some boy band. fight me" I loved that 😂😂😂

[@oxch0ngxo]

She didn’t even look like Aaliyah. She looks like *Kiely Williams*.

[@rg0229]

Omg yess🤣🤣

[@jamilabrownie]

Lol

[@NYCKZ360]

She actually look more like Alicia keys

[@lyledeyounges1276]

Also, Aaliyah had *PERSONALITY* and she really seemed to have a lot of fun too She was just getting started

[@IshaSidi]

i’m so glad this was recommended to me! the influx of black girls doing whatever the hell they want is so darn cool.

[@loryndabenson2118]

I really liked your idea of doing a story about Aaliyah and Gladys being her mentor and binding with her in music. That would've be epic if we can get some good writers/directors working on this script ASAP. Someone please produce this

[@angie7486]

i would watch that!!! 😍

[@rekindle7602]

That Wendy Williams clip made me want to slap someone like wtf Wendy, what the actual f

[@masonallen3961]

There's no "love" in a romantic relationship between a 15 year old and a man who's old enough to rent a car.

[@SabrinaRina]

That Britney stuff is BS. We sure her dad didn't make it as support for stealing her agency as a person for what, over a decade? That looks like someone pretending only the public image was her and the best most mature side of her and what we didn't see was a much more ditzy shallow incapacitated girl. Something her dad would probably love. 🙄

[@sweetpeabee4983]

Omg I hate how pervasive the stereotype of Britney as (as you so aptly put it) a "ditzy shallow incapacitated girl" is. Like, while this is a more harmless example (relatively speaking...), I'm reminded of a website called "Britney Spears' Guide to Semiconductors." It was written by some physics PhD bros in the late 90s, early 2000s, and is tbh probably the best-written freely available material you can find on solid state physics. I found it super helpful, but! Still, the implicit ""joke"" (🙄) that "haha these notes were written by Britney the airhead and what? they're actually competent?!" or whatever is...god, just so _deeply_ tedious.

[@SabrinaRina]

@@sweetpeabee4983 Last time Free Britney rolled around I didn't get it. I didn't understand the legal action her dad performed on her. So many people with bigger presenting issues, not robbed of their freedom like her. I thought it was like free her to making public appearance after a long period unseen. But after looking into it... how creepy and despicable and only done because of her being a pop princess already deemed to belong to the public shortly after her debut. Even Jessica Simpson who leaned into the ditz image has been revealed to be performing, and Britney didn't perform like that. She was an average young girl really.

[@cityboy2092]

It's funny because if you watch Britney's interviews, she's not this ditzy, dumb blonde type like the media made her out to be. She's very quirky, soft-spoken and calm, and was always super kind and respectful. Interviewers would insult her directly to her face and she'd still roll through with the punches and when they'd try setting her up to say something mean about another celebrity, she would decline any negative response and wish the best. People really made her out like she was this bumbling moron because she was a young blonde sexy pop star and it still mesmerizes me to this day how there are still people who like to degrade her for that

[@jehold2010ify]

@@SabrinaRina I didn't realize how messed up her situation was either. The woman can't even hire a lawyer to protect herself.

[@kokolatte825]

@@cityboy2092 this is so true. She was always positive and sweet even while being insulted to her own face, I think that's what made people think she was a dimwit. People thought she was a country bumpkin that didn't even know she was being ridiculed.

[@MelMelodyWerner]

so my only reference regarding Aaliyah was her being in Queen of the Damned (my mom loved it 🤷), but it's ridiculous that none of these people knew how to pronounce her name--or pretended to not know for shock value--when the pronunciation's literally on her album covers.

[@monqueriusmaben2563]

Right it’s Ah-Lee-Yah that’s my baby girl Aaliyah ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ThexDynastxQueen]

It's even on the music videos as it was a common mistake!!

[@TheEstrellastar]

I don't watch many biopics, but I remember watching Selena in theaters as a kid and falling in love with her music.Thinking back on it now, it breaks my heart a little on how it was made. Almost as soon as she was killed, many unauthorized biopics started floating around, and her family didn't want her story to be told by people who didn't know her. So they were forced to start this project not even a year after her death, and also while still in mourning. Watching it now, it is a little formulaic and has all the parts you'd expect a biopic to have. However I think it has more heart than a lot of the others.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

It’s crazy this biopic was the beginning of Alexandra shipp’s complimented relationship with the black community. She got a pass for this role and then came her playing storm in the new x men movies, once she got called out for it she literally have gone on so many anti black colorist tone deaf comments on twitter. Even her character in love, Simon was written in the original novel as a brown skinned black girl. That’s literally one of the major reasons why I will forever hate this Aaliyah biopic not only bc it watered down on Aaliyah’s life/career and romanticize her sexual abuse from r. Kelly, but introduce us to Alexandra shipp. Thanks Wendy Williams and lifetime 😒😒😒😒

[@maffieduran]

Wait, they casted a black actress for a brown character? Why does Hollywood still believe all poc are interchangeable?

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Maffie Durán bc it shows the complexity of racism. In the USA when it comes to POC and mostly black Americans they try to pick in different type of blackness that is considered safe, rather it’s picking lightskin mixed race people or non-American born black people.

[@maffieduran]

@@Kevin-rg3yc yes! Someone I know pointed out to methat Tinashe, a non latina black woman (who I do love and respect) was casted in the role of a latina in Rent live! And no one was outraged, it's as if they purposefully erase latinx, and while we can look any damn way, it's not like they could not get a latina actress, I mean, they did get a latinx performer to portray Angel, I am sure several latina and afro latina actresses could have used the oportunity. They also ommitted the role of Raya, a Mexican woman on the Jem and the Hologram film. And most recently, a biblical film starring several actors I respect casted a Maori actor as Jesus and latinx actors as the disciples/apostles instead of arab actors or the right ethnicity/race. They cast "whiter" latinos in white roles but God forbid they cast one of those actual lighter skinned latinos instead of plain to notice white people on lighter skinned latinx roles. They also lazily cast black people as arabs and arabs as latinx. It's really as if we all looked the same to them and they could not distinguish or made an effort to tell us apart from eachother.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Maffie Durán yes that’s been a thing among latin media representation for a long time. It’s always the mixed race or white passing Latinos and latinas as the faces for the culture but the black and indigenous Latinos/Latinas are constantly erasure. Like for the new west side story remake coming out this year in December, the entire cast who will play the Puerto Rican characters are either racially ambiguous or white passing. I mean it’s even reported that camila cabello was Steven Spielberg’s first contender for the lead role as Maria before camila had to drop out early to finish her album and we all know camila has the spicy white passing latina look that made her marketable as a member of fifth harmony. I feel to this date amara la negra from love and hip hop shouldve gotten the role of Anita for the new remake bc she’s a triple threat talent as a singer, dancer and actress, she has a naturally youthful look to her (in addition to being drop dead beautiful) and her personality is literally identical to anita’s entire characteristic but a biracial lighter skinned Broadway actress and singer named Ariana DeBose (who’s is talented in her own right) is gonna play Anita the upcoming remake instead. It’s quick annoying, offensive and problematic

[@maffieduran]

@@Kevin-rg3yc I don't think that is problematic at all. Spielberg casted unknown and up and coming performers in latinx roles via online auditions which was clever. The whole idea of "white passing" in latinx is actually problematic in itself, we did not ask for europeans to come and mass r*pe indigenous women, nor we asked for slaves to be brought in here. Latinx identity is a super complex topic tbh, and may I ask, are you latinx too? The only problematic issue about the film is Ansel Esgort. You know why they do not cast black people as latinx? Because americans for a very long time never acknowledged the existence of black people being latinx and many afro latinx living in the USA decided to not acknowledge that to blend in considering this, apparently several presidents of the USA even denied the existence of afro descendants on latin america. American media often hires native americans or other indigenous people in the roles of latinx aboriginals because they are lazy. Latinx can look any way you can imagine, but it is important to cast actual latinx on latinx roles, and not hire just white, black, arab or asian people who are not of latinx ancestry.

[@acerowoodberry1236]

First of all, they didnt even have Aaliyahs familys permission nor her friends. Alexandra Shipp is very pretty but imo she really didnt look or vibe anything like her. Same with the actors. The only somewhat similar clothes, lack of plot, the romantization with Kellys crazy ass... The directors didnt even have the rights to her music. It was just a random collage of life moments rather than a story of her actual life.

[@acerowoodberry1236]

Also the EYEBROWS. We cannot forget Aaliyahs eyebrows.

[@playfighting]

i love the sound of your voice... it's like asmr. great video, you have a high degree of empathy and compassion that comes through when you talk about film and pop stars/celebs of the early 2000s. loving your work!

[@willisthrilled]

I actually found the Anna Nicole biopic to be one of Lifetime’s better efforts. The casting was perfect and the actors clearly did their homework, which is a lot more than can be said for many of the others!

[@AngelinaParker]

Thank you for educating me on the proper pronunciation of Aaliyah's name! I didn't know that was the correct way of saying it. And as the biggest Britney stan, that "film" made me wanna punch my TV okay. We're both southern December Sagittariuses who have had bad 2007s. (That's the year I had my first attempt so I had to go to the hospital.) I relate to Britney so much about wanting freedom and to just be yourself. Britney wants to be Britney not Britney(tm). I love her so much omg. I'm sorry I went on this rant y'all. I just gotta vent about my girl.

[@mischr13]

Hope you're doing better, take care!

[@michaelpatton7649]

This is such a well researched and well put together deep dive but that intermission gave me ASMR

[@AJ-cq5pw]

"I don't think it's always necessary to get an actor who looks exactly like the person" thank you. This is what I was saying when Zac Efron played Ted Bundy. Sebastian Stan would've been a much better choice imo, but people were like "but why? He looks nothing like him" as if Ted Bundy had these crazy unique features. He was an average looking white man, I'm sure there are tons of white me who look like him and, Zac Efron Efron can't act, so looking just like him is not the most important thing in the world. Margot Robbie looked nothing like Tonya Harding, but she played her extremely well. Angela Basset looked nothing like Tina Turner but she sure played the hell out of her. And honestly having an actor look exactly like the person they're playing throws me off and is almost distracting. I think filmmakers like to cast someone who looks just like them so that audiences will be amazed by the resemblance. I'm more amazed by the acting and the performance. The only time I have an issue is when they cast a thin person to play someone who was more heavy set or when they cast a light skin person to play someone who was dark skinned. Or casting someone of a differenct race etc.

[@niamhheron5587]

yeah, it's always f*ed up to cast someone with desirability privilege over the person depicted bc it plays into those existing kinds of discrimination like colorism, fatphobia, misogyny, transphobia etc etc etc. not only is a less privileged person out of a job, it's implied that how the person depicted looked in real life wasn't "good enough" and consequently shits on every person who looks like that as well.

[@TheBlackCinephile]

Makes me think of the backlash Zoe Saldana got when she portrayed Nina Simone. Instead of getting an actress that looked somewhat like Nina, Zoe was fitted for a prosthetic nose and had her skin darkened to resemble Nina

[@MONET8iAM]

The Black Cinephile Yes that was all very unnecessary. They could have gotten someone like Viola Davis, or even better, some unknown talented person. @ original comment, Resemblance aside, they try to sell biopics by having other famous people play them.

[@lisah3460]

You are aware that Ted Bundy had fangirls. I know you are in denial about that but..

[@sowhatphie]

I think Zac Efron was a decent choice for Ted Bundy. Obviously they aren't remotely identical, but casting someone who is considered a heartthrob as someone who people (especially women) insisted had to be innocent because they thought he was too nice looking and charming. Ted Bundy had fangirls who wanted to date him! Ted Bundy isn't as obviously attractive to people today the way he was back then, but he was considered hot back then and that was represented in Zac Efron's casting. Sebastian Stan also being considered good looking would have made him good for the part too.

[@AJ-cq5pw]

Why were they asking biracial actresses to play Aaliyah anyway?

[@loveislouderrrrr]

I can't talk I can't enunciate But was Aaliyah even light skin? To me she’s darker than say Beyoncé. She’s a medium brown tone. I think a light skin girl was just not needed at all.

[@carolsimpson4422]

I think that white people conflate slimness with "whiteness". Aaliyah had a body type that is not associated with caricatured "blackness ", therefore she must be "mixed", "exotic", etc. Anything but just "black " .

[@loveislouderrrrr]

Carol Simpson Even apart from that, Black women roles are usually cast as light skin. The woman that played Toni Braxton was also very light skinned (not sure if biracial). Hollywood is colorist.

[@electricpurple4112]

Aaliyah likely had some “Caucasian blood” in her family line. Just because one parent doesn’t immediately present as white doesn’t mean anything Lol

[@loveislouderrrrr]

E R Sir what are you talking about? Because of the legacy of slavery, most Black folks will have traces of European blood in their lineage. We are still Black. I’m not going to claim “biracial” bc my great great great great great grandmother was raped. Aaliyah was a Black woman.

[@anditsunsweet]

I can't even begin to thank God for this coming up in my suggestions. You're an icon, a legend and you ARE the moment. Now, c'mon now! *subscribes and hits that dangly bell that sits in the back of my throat*

[@JacobyIsMyName]

That shout out to "Amadeus" gave me so much life. You don't even know.

[@bellacoffe615]

This was so well done. I had no clue about these biopics, and the terrible ways they depicted these women. It reminded how loss and fast many biopics are with reality. Which has a strong parallel to me of how documentaries also often manipulate real life stories in very miss leading ways. Also as always I love your editing style, it’s really beautiful.

[@Dustbowler49]

I just can't get over that last bit of interview where she's trying to frame Aaliyah as "bringing home a 28 year old man". As if she were the problematic person in that situation. As if she was the one in control.

[@asinfulvirtue]

This channel's reviews are soooo on point. Just wanna say that, and comment for the algorithm so more people see it.

[@sweetnlo13]

Yhara came through with the long videos!! I honestly can listen to her analysis (of anything, if we honest) for hours. Also my friends and I have noticed that full length movies that hover around 90 minutes (including ending credits) are generally trash films. That's actually one of our criteria when we do our virtual bad movie nights

[@rachelburns9640]

cool thing about watching youtube for so long is that film videos used to be "let me rip into this low hanging fruit for 28 minutes" or whatever and now its "lets take these low hanging fruit and look at as an example of the greater issues in film" and i love it

[@anscerram9816]

I love ur aesthetic. You have great style but also your videos are so well edited, thought out and topics I had no idea about you make me care about. Its clear you actually put effort in these video essays that KZbin needs. Can't wait to see you break the 500k sub mark

[@Valentine-pm3kb]

the fact that you mentioned The Temptations made this an excellent video amazing job

[@rampion1228]

The parallels between Britney and Aaliyah seem to diverge the most in how different their parents were, Aaliyah's parents went up against an incredibly wealthy and powerful man in the industry during a time when no one was on their side to protect her, whereas Britney's parents have consistently exploited her and caused her emotional pain.

[@avocato8156]

the only valid biopic about a successful woman is Selena (1997) but idk who plays her like i don't know her :) absolutely loved your video btw but it took me 2 hrs to watch it lmao all the bullshit these two women had to go through got me so heated. thank you for the care and attention to detail that you put into it idk how you found the patience for all this foolishness

[@miendle]

Bwhahahhaha lol this comment

[@aristothearies]

Tina Turner's Bio also top tier

[@KitKatLMFAO]

coalminer's daughter is ok

[@soulpick2568]

@@backuppage5608 also Selma as Frida :)

[@rg0229]

You don't know Jenifer Lopez omg

[@missdiction4455]

I binged all your videos. Your voice, dry wit, personal style, editing style, your topics, all the things?? Omg muah chef’s kiss 💋

[@KatMcCollum]

i could listen to Yhara talk for hours.

[@TheRoachkiller]

Very off topic but I love your voice. It's so soothing and pleasant to listen to 🥺❤️

[@spo0ky_katja726]

When KZbin notified me this was up I gasped. GASPED. I was so excited to see you post I didn't care what you talked about I was just excited. I love your content! How you don't have more subs I will never understand. I used to watch Lifetime more when I was a teenager. The movies were so cheesy, I just loved it for that. I've never been into biopics, period, let alone a Lifetime one. I don't know how you did it lmao but we appreciate it!

[@ThemedNumber02]

Not enough love for The Temptations... the more y’all keep denying the talent the worse the music machine gets.

[@leslierae6416]

She was my favorite thing about Queen of the Damned, her voice was so beautiful, so much talent

[@librasoxxx]

It's a skill to make 36 minutes feel like nothing at all. Best video essays on KZbin

[@imolakim3179]

The fact that I never heard of Aaliyah to this day saddens me. Her music is awesome and I'm so happy to learn about her

[@shikonaori]

I love the early 2000s internet aesthetic you use for your vids man. You ever get into Cyber Stockholm Syndrome by Rina Sawayama? the vibe seems right up your alley imo

[@K_i_t_t_y84]

You're criminally underrated and I can TOTALLY see your channel blowing up SO FAST. Look for it, it's COMING girl. I'm always sharing your videos, you're brilliant! ♥

[@mstankard1430]

did I just hear the intro to man to man ? ! 😭💖we LOVE the church of electra !

[@niraea]

instantly got the song stuck in my head but i forgot what it was called and who made it! my brain has let king dorian down

[@mstankard1430]

niraea here king , you dropped this ! 🤲 👑 dorian loves you !

[@Aster_Risk]

I'm a recent Electralyte myself, so that makes me all kinds of happy!

[@mstankard1430]

Alicia ELECTRALYTEJSBS ! 🤣💖 that’s so funny !

[@CaraRowen]

Alexandra Shipp who loves to spout antiblackness. Shocked she'd take this role, wow icb. Whaaat? Seriously grateful for this video's existence.

[@aberrantcow]

I look forward so much to every new video you post! Thank you for the quality work!

[@LadyJenevia]

Queeeeeeeeeeeen!!!!!! I’m so excited for a new video from you! (I haven’t watched it yet but I’m commenting anyway because I know it’s going to be excellent!) 😍👑🎬

[@paoladiazvales2865]

10/10 your voice, your pacing, your emotion, your narration, your opinions. New subscriber here.

[@iiNaoki]

Thank you for this. I was really young when these artists were at their peaks and didn't really get to appreciate them fully back then but definitely still felt their influence on the entertainment world, especially from Aaliyah, growing up in the Black community. Like you, it amazes me how young Aaliyah was throughout her career cuz it felt like she wasn't really considered a child by those in the industry and around me. I wish her legacy could be preserved better tho. I admire them both for coming out of such dark places, still motivated to be their best selves. I'm glad to see Britney determined and speaking out when she can and hope she is able to come out of this latest hardship well.

[@atleastthreeecharacters]

I absolutely love your format and your speaking voice. The breather right before you started talking about the Britney biopic was a very nice touch. And it felt nice.

[@musicalnerds101]

The best biopic I’ve ever seen was Rocketman about Elton John. It took some creative liberties but he was a producer the whole way through. Also it had some fantastic elements and was an actual musical, not just a laundry list of his biggest hits in order. It focused on hard parts of his life, but it also showed him overcoming it and becoming a kinder person (at least that’s how they frame it in the movie). It was just so creative and really unlike any biopic I’ve seen.

[@dizkidliz]

Also, I think he personally chose Taron Egerton after having a cameo in the Kingsman sequel and hearing him sing “I’m Still Standing” in the movie Sing.

[@sky-eh4wy]

okay, i just have to said that the part where u did the breathing exercise was REALLY calming to me and I have anxiety so i’m really glad

[@welwitschia]

Oh man, these videos are so good. They're so fascinating because growing up in the 90s this was all over the place, but I was one of the edgy kids who _hated_ 90s pop. It's eye opening to hear such a human take on what I always saw as little more than predatory capitalism. You fucking rule!

[@TheLusia222]

my y2k freak ass is so happy when finding channels like this, love u already

[@jjfarmer16]

“Other cigarettes...” I knew I liked you :)

[@patriece2215]

Zendaya backing out of that movie was the best thing she ever could’ve done for her career.

[@kaydenevideo]

I just want you to know I did the full breathing exercise with you during that intermission. (It was very necessary*.) Well done & Thank you 🙏🏽

[@MojoSojoJojo]

You are sooooooooo right about an actor not having to look exactly like the person they're portraying to nail it. I immediately thought of Denzel Washington in Malcolm X; they couldn't look more different, kind of the opposite of Zoe Saldana in that Denzel is darker than Malcolm was, but he captured the ESSENCE of him so well in everyway that you forget they don't even look alike and don't care. I watched the Aaliyah movie along with Black Twitter and chile was it worth it for the commentary alone. That movie was A B Y S M A L! Lifetime really is out here trying people's legacy! The Donatella Versace story, WHITNEY'S story omg the disrespect to our legend smh

[@benharris9866]

Yikes, reminds me of when Don Shirley’s family accused the team behind Green Book of misrepresenting his life and then it won best picture

[@maffieduran]

Did some research on that, turns out some interviews with Shirley himself debunked the family's claims and the whole "white saviour" controversy. Dude, it was a wild ride!

[@selwatchesyt]

That man was his driver for a few weeks then he fired him for being disrespectful towards him. What research did you do?

[@brthlmw]

The breathing exercise in the middle was ESSENTIAL!

[@renl9893]

so i'm from southern louisiana as well (though the region britney grew up is practically mississippi) and that poor actress' accent was truly so bad. half the time she almost sounded british to me and the clips of actual britney talking u edited in make it even more apparent. if the actor cannot do an accent well don't make them do an accent at all! or pick a better actor! love ur videos :)

[@omgwtflauren]

It’s one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.

[@sowhatphie]

I was thinking the same thing 😭 why did she sound british??

[@priscilaassis5704]

It sounded Australian to me. Plus I think Brittanys speaking voice is so soft and distinct and I’m so glad she didn’t try to emulate it because she would have butchered that too

[@TheCherri306]

I love how much passion comes through your videos. Your critical eye, the carefully constructed intermission, and the subtle comedic interjections. Well done ✌️