Nina Simone's Daughter Thinks Fans Need to Lay Off of Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana is caught lots of heat after the trailer release of her new film Nina. Fans, followers, and even Nina Simone's camp is throwing shade at Zoe due to her casting, but Nina Simone’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, thinks fans should direct your anger elsewhere.

Lisa sat down with Time and expressed her opinions on the film and why Zoe isn't to blame.

“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.”

She didn't care much for the recent trailer of the film, but did feel sorry for Saldana. “I really didn’t feel much of anything except for poor Zoe,” she said.

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.”

What do you think? Should Zoe Saldana be the first to blame about the controversy surrounding this film, or the studio who hired her and wrote the script? Let us know what your opinion in the comments below.