Social Media Reacts to ‘Whitney’ Biopic + Watch the Movie!

Over the weekend, the highly anticipated Lifetime movie, Whitney, premiered creating a heightened social media buzz. As previously reported, the made-for-TV movie was based on the life of the late Whitney Houston and marked the directorial debut of actress Angela Bassett. While the film didn’t tell the story of her entire life and career, it chronicled Whitney’s rise to fame and turbulent relationship with husband, singer Bobby Brown.

The movie starred former America’s Next Top Model contestant YaYa DaCosta as Whitney Houston, Suzanne Douglass as Cissy Houston, and Arlen Escapeta as Bobby Brown.

While some fans were thrilled when ‘Whitney’ was first announced, others not so much. In particular, Houston’s family didn’t approve of it. Back in July 2014, Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina exchanged words on social media with Bassett. She later apologized.

In an interview with People, Whitney’s mother Cissy explained:

I’m glad the Lifetime project is finished. I hope from now on her fans will keep her child, [Bobbi Kristina Brown], in their prayers, and I hope people will let my child rest.

During and after Whitney aired, the public hopped on social media both praising and criticizing. Celebs, who were either close with Whitney or fans of her, also weighed in on the movie. Check out a few reactions, along with the movie on the next page.