Greetings, everyone! Recently, Lil’ Kim sat down for an interview with Hollywood Unlocked, where she took aim at actress Naturi Naughton. It struck me as odd because, honestly, I’m not quite sure why. Lil’ Kim seemed to still harbor resentment towards Naturi for portraying her in the Biggie Smalls biopic. Just to fill you in, Naturi was cast as Lil’ Kim in the film “Notorious,” which chronicled Biggie’s life. This casting choice stirred up quite a bit of controversy because Lil’ Kim wasn’t pleased with how she was depicted in the script and wanted no part in the movie. In an interview with Hip Hop Weekly, she expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “They were disrespecting me terribly in that script. The one scene that really stands out to me is when Miss Wallace supposedly came to see one of Biggie’s shows for the first time and I was supposed to be so mad at him that I pulled my panties off on stage and moved the crowd. Like, what the heck? Do you really think that would have happened?” It’s understandable why Lil’ Kim felt misrepresented and used to sensationalize the story. She felt like she was portrayed as a vulgar side piece, and many viewers, including myself, noticed the less-than-flattering portrayal. Lil’ Kim also took issue with Naturi’s casting, feeling that Naturi didn’t resemble her and failed to capture her essence.
According to Biggie’s mother, there was disappointment over Natori being cast as Kim due to her dark skin tone. Over the years, it’s been evident that Kim has insecurities about her appearance, particularly her brown skin. So, when Natori was chosen to portray her in the film, it likely stirred up those feelings for Kim. Kim claimed Natori never contacted her, but Natori herself stated she made multiple attempts. “I tried to reach out to her several times, but I spoke to her manager at the time, which was the contact they provided. I called, we tried to arrange something else, but it never materialized. I never actually got to meet with Kim. I think I was able to portray Little Kim not because I knew her personally, but because I studied her extensively.” Have you seen the movie yet? “I’ve seen parts of it. It’s difficult for me to watch because it diverges so far from reality. The portrayal of him and Faith, it’s just so far from the truth. It’s almost comically exaggerated. Even the actress who played me, I never heard from her. She never reached out to ask for my blessing. When someone’s making a movie about your life, you’d expect them to seek your approval, right? It bothered me that she never made an effort to acknowledge that.” One thing that bothered me was during interviews, the actress would attribute certain behaviors to me, as if she understood why I did things a certain way. “She should’ve just said she played the role as per the script. I would’ve respected that.” So, despite Kim’s claim that Natori never reached out, Natori maintains she did try to establish contact.
Wow, those narratives clash quite a bit. Perhaps there was some miscommunication along the way. But it seems Kim has harbored this resentment towards Natori for quite some time. There were even whispers that young Kim preferred to keep her distance from Natori. Last week, at Division 100, Kim was there, and naturally, talk ensued. Yes, I heard about it. I wasn’t present myself. I know. The chatter at the after-party hinted at Kim expressing her reluctance to be near Natori, to share her space. The tension is palpable. It’s perplexing, isn’t it? I wish we knew the root cause. All I can say is, I had the honor of portraying little Kim in the film “Notorious.” I hoped to share some sort of connection with her, but it seems she wasn’t pleased with the portrayal. Perhaps so, but it’s worth noting it was my first acting role in a film. It marked the beginning of my career. Coming from Jersey as a young black girl, why not? Regardless, I’ve always admired her work and wish her nothing but success. If I could convey a message to her, it would be, can we bury the hatchet? Personally, I don’t hold any grudges. It’s evident Natori had no qualms with Kim. Yet, Kim seemed to harbor some resentment towards Natori, for reasons unknown, which is quite baffling.
It’s peculiar because Kim’s main complaint centered around the movie. I completely grasp why she felt aggrieved by its portrayal of her, as it didn’t cast her in the most flattering light. However, she seems to be directing her frustration towards Natori, which I find puzzling. Kim recently spoke out against Tori in an interview with Hollywood Unlock, triggered by a clip where Natori discussed Kim and her uncensored special with TV One. Frankly, Natori’s remarks were innocuous, yet Kim took issue with them. Here’s the gist: “I would never undertake a role based on a living person without attempting to communicate with them first. So, for the record, any claims suggesting I didn’t reach out to Lil’ Kim are false. Let’s set the record straight. At the time, there was a manager, I believe his name was on. I called, left numerous voicemails. The film’s director, George Chillin, assured us he’d facilitate a meeting so we could address any questions. I thought, ‘Fantastic.’ I vividly recall being at the production office in Brooklyn, New York. Kim stepped off the elevator while I was there for a rehearsal. She looked stunning, like royalty. Yet, she walked past me with her entourage, into the director’s office, and the door shut. I overheard their heated exchange, hoping it wasn’t about me. Unfortunately, it was due to a misunderstanding about the casting process.”
Once more, I find myself merely an actress, hired to fulfill a role. I poured my hopes and prayers into it, reaching out by phone and even in person. Perhaps my appearance didn’t fit their vision. It dredged up memories of being told I wasn’t good enough, or that my skin tone didn’t match their expectations for the character. I detested being excluded from the process. Eventually, I had to involve my lawyers, resulting in compensation. However, it was disheartening to see the project proceed without my consent, a story already known by many. How does one dare to portray a living person? They have a life, a story, not to be disregarded. It was unsettling, unacceptable. Although some praised her acting prowess, there was no resemblance, no connection. If someone is culturally significant and still with us, you reach out, respecting their decision. She was never my choice; we share no similarities. I’ve voiced these concerns before. It’s frustrating to be met with disrespect, especially considering I never pointed fingers at her. Yet, she went so far as to produce a documentary attacking me.
I was taken aback, thinking, “What on earth is this?” I expressed my feelings, saying, “Okay, fine, do as you please.” If you don’t want to smoke, that’s your choice. But deep down, I could easily have joined you. However, I’ve refrained because her wish was for me to be okay with it. Yet, if I’m not comfortable with the situation, why should I accept being played? It’s not my place to dictate your career decisions and financial choices. But don’t profess love and consideration while disregarding my feelings, insisting on pursuing a movie despite my objections. Essentially, you’re moving forward without my consent, driven solely by financial gain or personal advancement. That’s acceptable, but don’t pretend I’m on board. Regarding her discontent, I believe part of it stems from feeling overshadowed. Tiana’s tribute performance resonated strongly because of her authenticity and dedication, qualities I cherish. Her portrayal captured the essence of my persona, earning praise and recognition. Perhaps this left her feeling neglected. Tiana’s proximity to me, both geographically and culturally, made her tribute resonate more profoundly. It’s disheartening to witness this rift, especially as I hold admiration for both parties involved.
I’m a bit confused by the bitterness here. Natori hasn’t wronged Kim in any way. In fact, in that very uncensored special, she spoke highly of Lil’ Kim. All I wanted was her approval. I genuinely did. Even now, I hold nothing but love and admiration for her. Lil’ Kim, to me, is like the originator who paved the way for artists like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. We should all acknowledge Lil’ Kim’s influence. It’s not to diminish the talents of these other artists, but let’s be real here. Lil’ Kim laid the foundation. So, for me, it’s all about love and respect. I truly hope she realizes that I approached playing her with honor. I hope, one day, she’ll see that and understand that Natori’s admiration for her is genuine. It’s perplexing to me that Lil’ Kim is still holding onto anger. I just don’t understand it.
I don’t really have a strong opinion on this, but it’s evident that Lil Kim had reservations about Naturi portraying her from the start. I believe part of her concern stems from Naturi not fitting Kim’s desired image from the past. In her interview with Rap Radar, Lil Kim mentioned wanting Christina Milian to portray her, but Christina doesn’t quite resemble the original Lil Kim. Similarly, Kim expressed interest in Teyana Taylor for the role, which makes a bit more sense given Teyana’s tribute to Lil Kim. However, neither Teyana nor Christina match Lil Kim’s complexion. While I acknowledge that Naturi bears a closer resemblance to Lil Kim, I think it’s time for Lil Kim to let go of any grudges. After all, Naturi was just doing her job. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this matter. Feel free to like, comment, and share this video if it resonates with you. Thank you for watching, and see you next time. Goodbye!