By: Taren Vaughan
The TLC biopic controversy continues. When it was first reported that a TLC biopic was on its way, the group’s loyal fan base was more than ready for it to premiere on VH1. With all the excitement surrounding the upcoming biopic came a boat load of criticism after it was revealed that Lil Mama, Drew Sidora and Keke Palmer would be taking on the roles of Left Eye, T-Boz and Chilli. Lil Mama didn’t seem to let the negative talk bother her too much while Keke Palmer had no problem clapping back at their critics on Twitter. Despite all the doubts that people have about the film, former group member T-Boz let it be known that she had the utmost confidence in the girl’s acting skills. And even though the girls nailed their looks in the promo photo for the movie and put concerned fans’ minds at ease for now, Left Eye’s sister Reigndrop Lopes and former personal assistant Stephanie Dayton are now speaking out about the biopic and the casting choices that were made. Chatting with The Hip-Hop Socialite, Reigndrop Lopes reveals that she and her mother were not consulted for the biopic and that they were very hurt about it:
“Nothing at all. We didn’t even know when they were shooting. The only way I found out was because a friend of mine was cast as an extra and flew down here, and I happened to go up there with her. We didn’t know anything at all.”
“She [her and Left Eye’s mom] was hurt, she was pissed off, and hurt more than anything, but it’s like what can we do? Legally, I don’t think we can do anything, but it’s just more morally, why wouldn’t you involve the family? We’re right here in Atlanta, and we’re open to being involved. And when you don’t reach out, it makes you wonder why, question why. We don’t know why.”
And Reigndrop also expresses her feelings about Lil Mama taking on the role of her sister in the biopic:
“Well number one, I would have liked to be told before the whole world knew. We found out online from the fans. My initial reaction was I was kind of in the middle. I didn’t know her to be an actor, and I didn’t know how well she would do portraying Lisa, so I really didn’t know how to feel. I actually got the chance to go up to the set one time, and I did see her doing some of her scenes, and it looked pretty good to me, and I was actually surprised. I told her that she was doing a good job. So hopefully, all the scenes are like that. She’s a really big fan, so I think it’s important to her to portray Lisa the right way even if some of the stuff in the script isn’t really accurate. I know it’s important for her to really bring out who Lisa was as a fan.”
Left Eye’s former personal assistant Stephanie Dayton reflects on the car accident that took Left Eye’s life. And she speaks on the last minute decision that was made that resulted in Left Eye getting behind the wheel:
“I was in the driver’s seat getting ready to leave, and then she came and caught me as we were pulling off and told me she wanted me to take another vehicle and to run some errands and meet her later at a photo shoot. And that’s when she got behind the wheel, and drove that vehicle, and within moments, had passed.”
As far as the relationship that Left Eye had with T-Boz and Chilli at the time of her death, Stephanie says:
“I think as with any relationship between females, there’s going to be some tension in some areas because you’re dealing with conflicting personalities. So I think it’s like with any friendship or sisterhood, there were good things that happened, there were not-so-good things that happened. At that particular time, she was in the process of renegotiating the contract with TLC. So a lot of their communication was based on business, trying to hash out the contract. They had some things that they thought differently as far as the contract was concerned, but they were working through it. So I mean, I’m not really sure how to answer that. I think it’s expected that you go through those when you’re dealing with one contract and multiple people having to approve that contract. So I think it was pretty standard what they were going through.”
Reigndrop says that she knew things were good between her sister and T-Boz, but admits that she wasn’t sure about where she stood with Chilli:
“I know for a fact she was in a good place with Tionne ’cause she went to see her before she left, but Chilli, I’m not sure. I just know that she never got a chance to see Chilli, or Chilli never got a chance to see Lisa before she left. I really don’t know what their last interaction was.”
Wow. They really should have included Lisa’s family. That’s really messed up.
Why didn’t they include her mom and her sis? That’s just trifling as hell.
I’m disappointed in VH1, T-Boz and Chilli for this. But either way, I hope the movie is going to be good.
Crazy.
I’m glad they are giving Lil Mama a chance but it’s pretty despicable no one wanted to include them in on the movie. If Left Eye was like a sister, why not include her fam?
So disrespectful.
I hate to hear this. it’s a shame they didn’t do the honorable thing but hopefully Left Eye’s sis and mom will be happy with the product.
R.I.P left eye…
This movie is about TLC the group, Left Eye was apart of the group. Her mother and/or sister would not know as much as Chillie & T-boz about who is Left Eye when she was apart of that group, touring, practice, etc. Even though it would have been a nice thing to include the mother & sister. It’s isn’t necessary they can give their input on Left Eye as a sister and daughter, but Chillie & T-boz has a better view on Left Eye as a group member ..Sometimes think out of the box….
I’m sorry, I feel like you missed a lot of information in the post. Chilli and T-Boz didn’t even tell Left Eye’s mom and sister they were DOING THE BIOPIC. That is disrespectful because they are still mourning her. It’s common decency to let people know you’re doing a film on their deceased loved ones. In fact, that’s typical in Hollywood. Rather they consult you (ask for your input) or not, they do notify you a movie is being made out of respect. So I’m not sure what you’re talking about. No one needs to think outside of the box here. All it takes is a simple phone call to say, hey we’re doing this movie. They had to find out on the internet. Not cool.
I agree they should have included the family because you never know what Lisa told her mom or her sister about how should felt about them. Chilli and T-box can only assume. Not to add that Lisa’s mom and sister were apart of her upbringing those or things both Chilli and T-box don’t know anything about and with help from her mom and sister they could have a more truthful story line for Lisa instead of assumptions and what they believe her childhood was about.
AND…….
AND…what is your problem? You’re getting snarky for what exactly? Are you T-Boz, Chilli? Calm down and learn how to contribute to the conversation like an adult.
i totally agree!!!!
Leslie,
You are correct, our of respect telling the mother & sister would be the right thing to do.. If you read the story above that are more upset that they weren’t (their choice of words) included, consulted, lol they wanted to pick cast members.
So I will say and agree that they are wrong for not NOTIFYING the sister & mother about the movie…
I do agree they should have at least been told about it, but then again if they really were mad why did they continue to share links and praise the film? I think they are just mad that they cant make more money off is the left eye name. ehhhh Because honestly where were they when everything was going down? like on tours and all that, because I doubt they were right next to her and knew what all went down.
Left eye’s family didn’t share links nor praise it! N yes, there’s actual footage LOTS of footage of her sister reigndrop at awards with, TLC (including a video of left eyes sister performing with, TLC) um Really??? Money?? Get the F*** out of here. Let me make a movie about your sibling real quick……….
they had no obligation to include Lisa’s family. they both knew Lisa well and the movie is about the group dynamic not her family life. so they should just keep quiet and move on,
Tboz being a cousin to Lisas makes this a very sticky situation. It makes Tionne look bad more so than anybody else thats involved with this film. This movie covers Lisas childhood so yes her family definitely should have been involved. Tionne nor Chilli can tell that story better than Lisas mom. Instead producers of the film relied on old interviews of Lisa talking about her childhood to tell this part of the movie. I thonk its very bold of Raina to go to the set. I applaud her for that because thats what Lisa would have done.. Im not mad at Chilli much in this matter because tho Im sure they were like sisters and they loved eachother for the sake of TLC, Lisa and Chilli were not so close anymore personally before they even began recording Fanmail. So at that point they are like business partners with history. So Chilli is just simply fulfilling her position in TLC. But Tionne should have at least got Lisas family involved regardless of what the film producers had to say…