Back in 2009, Naturi Naughton gained rave reviews for her portayal of Lil Kim in rapper Biggie’s biopic Notorious. The film got mixed reviews, but Naturi’s portrayal of a troubled, love-sick but undeniably talented young Lil Kim cemented her as a serious actress to watch.
But there was one person not at all pleased with Naturi’s portrayal — Lil Kim herself. Although never speaking the words on record, insiders say Lil Kim blasted Naturi for being “too dark” to portray her.
Naturi Naughton in Notorious
Lil Kim in the 90s
The criticism prompted Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, to respond;
“She felt the character we chose for her was too dark… Do you know why the character was too dark for her? Because she’s a white woman trapped in a black woman’s body, and you can tell the world I said it, because those are Lil Kim’s words. She should be ashamed of herself.”
Lil Kim isn’t on record saying those words, so who knows. And to be fair, she wasn’t just mad at Naturi’s color, but that she felt her life was inaccurately portrayed (although invited to, Kim didn’t consult on the film.) But part of the reason Naturi was chosen is because she is very petite, like Kim. And regardless, this was 6 years ago and Kim had presumably moved on.
Lil Kim with daughter Royal Reign on the red carpet of the VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Apparently not because, according to Naturi, Kim shaded her at Monday’s VH1 Hip Hop Honors, which celebrated legendary female emcees. While promoting the third season of her show Power on The Wendy Williams Show, Naturi alluded to the incident while the cameras were off, but remained tight-lipped once they started rolling again.
[Wendy] “Naturi played Kim in the movie and Kim didn’t like her playing her and then tried to keep her away from her last night at the VH1 thing.”
Later Wendy (being messy as usual…) brought it up again during a game of Sour Power, where guests could either answer a ‘juicy’ question, or ‘pucker up’ and eat lemons.
[Wendy] “As I just said you played Lil Kim in the movie Notorious and she wasn’t a fan of your portrayal. Have you run into her since the movie came out. If you don’t want to answer pucker up. Come on Naturi answer…”
[Naturi] “You know what it’s not even worth my energy so let’s just go ahead… No words, no words.”
You can catch the dialogue starting at 9:43.
If this is true, it’s disheartening that Lil Kim holds such hostility towards Naturi. Lil Kim’s beef should be with the casting directors, or her longtime friend and collaborator Diddy, who produced the film (and, ironically, gave her a heartfelt tribute at the VH1 Honors.) That she is *still* angry at Naturi — who has never spoken ill of her — after all these years is baffling.
Naturi is such a beautiful woman, she should be honoured to be potrayed by such a talented and beautiful woman
remember when this was a site about hair care?
Yes.
How many articles can you truly write..EVERYDAY, without repeating yourself after a year?
Just skip there articles that speak to a larger audience if your brain can’t keep up.
Simple.
Oh? This is a hair care site? Hmmm…can’t tell
Self hating racist, how sad
It’s sad that Kim hates her self so much she was beautiful before and now she looks like a albino mole rat. She let society and bad relationships ruin her to the point she felt she was the ugliest thing on earth and that dark skin was ugly and she bleached her skin. Smh what is she going to tell her daughter and future grandchildren ? Naturi did a great job and portrayed her well. Kim is a self hating miserable soul and she needs mental help.
Sad sad sad…Kim needs therapy and fast. I’d hate to see her gorgeous brown baby follow in her footsteps after listening to mama for years.
I’m happy Mrs. Wallace called Kim on her BS. Nature was just doing her job. She made Kim look better than she ever did in any era dark to light. Kim shouldn’t tear her down because of her own low self esteem
Smh really? OK I’m done with this body dismorphia chick so you can forgive Faith for taking your man but not Naturi because she is too dark to play you?!?!? Really lol wowwww smh #colorism rears it’s ugly head
She never said that the article stated more than once that it never came out of her mouth but if you want to believe sources (we know how unreliable and made up they can be) then go ahead.
Is That you Kim?
‘Cause you sure are goin’ hard for something that seems painfully obvious.
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Not surprised. Lil’ Kim has some serious issues.
What I get from this story is that she wasn’t asked for her input and I’m on Kim’s side with that because she should have been a part of it and coach her to portray her accurately. I don’t believe sources and insiders. Despite her own self love issues, I don’t think it had anything to do with Naturi being dark skinned like she said this was about her not liking how she was portrayed. I think Naturi did a good job personally. Shame on BGLH for publishing trash with no credible sources, Naturi didn’t even speak on it the… Read more »
Pretty sure they said she was invited to consult but didn’t go
According to this article she was invited to, but chose not to consult on the film. Which, if true, means that she can’t be upset about how she was portrayed. Also if it’s true, it could be that she was upset about who they picked for her and that was the reason she didn’t want to consult on the film.
No In The Article It Says “Although Invited To, Kim Didn’t Consult On The Film” Meaning They Did Ask Her And She Didn’t Participate It’s Nobody Fault But Her Own
Lil Kim is a waste of a black woman and a disgrace to all black women everywhere. The level of self hate she has all because some ex bfs cheated on her/ left her for women with European features. Really! Lil Kim you’re a weak woman and keep bleaching your skin like the psycho you are because as much as you want to be white, the same white people you’re trying to be will never accept you as white. I guess you wanted a white woman to portray you in the film. Pathetic woman you are. I feel sorry for… Read more »
Kim was so beautiful in the nineties, and now she’s just so dull. It seems like after she bleached, she lost her glow
She’s a self hating clown
Lil’ Kim may have targeted Naturi and not the actual people in charge due to Naturi getting praise for her portrayal of Kim while Kim(back in the day) was told she’s not good enough. The constant put downs and clowning she experienced for her skin tone affected her a great deal. It may be hard to see someone get lauded for playing you when YOU couldn’t even be you.
I love Kim but she is color struck and has a sick self-hating mind set. naturi really did capture the essence of the Lil Kim persona at that time. She has transformed her self into an Asian woman now, which is sad to watch. But she was bemrown originally. And not that much lighter than Naturi, who is absolutely gorgeous. The problem is with Kim. Naturi did a great job.