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Pat Houston has slammed Lifetime’s Whitney Houston biopic before it premieres tonight on Lifetime.

As Whitney’s sister-in-law and former manager, Pat is not looking forward to the made-for-tv-film. It has a strong focus on Whitney’s time with Bobby Brown, and everybody knows that those were some of the most tumultuous years of her life. While the family probably would have preferred a glowing portrait of the diva’s life that strictly looked at the positive aspects of it, that’s certainly not what they’ll be getting when “Whitney” airs at 8 p.m. tonight.

Despite their best efforts to hinder the project, it’s still coming out. Since the family couldn’t stop it, all that’s left is to preemptively share their thoughts about it. “Whitney” is going to be pretty dramatic (this is Lifetime after all), so Pat doesn’t see how it will accurately uphold the singer’s legacy.

In a statement released to Whitney’s official Website earlier this week, Pat pointed out that her daughter has questioned how Angela Bassett could direct such a project as “a woman who claimed to be her aunt’s friend.” In her estimation everyone attached to the project pushed it forward for their own selfish gains.

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“There is often a fine line that separates elevation and degradation in the industry,” Pat wrote. “What lifts up one person in the headlines may in fact destroy another. I don’t think it ever entered their minds that they were assaulting the legacy of another individual; they just want the job or the opportunity to shine.”

She added, “misrepresenting the term friendship to advance an agenda is not only disrespectful and dishonest but a slap in the face to her true and loyal friends.”

With the anniversary of Whitney’s death quickly approaching, the timing of “Whitney” has not been lost on the Houstons or their loved ones. “This is a disappointment that any of us who loved her could do without,” Pat stated.

Whitney might not be around to speak on what the film will depict, but Pat believes that she and the rest of Whitney’s loved ones were certainly entitled to an opportunity to give (or deny) the project their blessing.

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“The needs of Whitney’s family matter. We have dealt with her every emotion from the day she was born until the day she died, which gives us absolute position and absolute authority as a family to feel the way we do about her legacy,” Pat stated before accusing producers of withholding the film from them. “We matter. We’re still here. Why wasn’t there a call to myself, Gary, Cissy or even her daughter? Why deny selected members of the family an advanced copy of the film?”

And it doesn’t matter to Pat that she hasn’t seen the actual movie, either. For anyone still tuning in tonight, Pat had one message: “brace yourself for the worst.”

Read the full statement below:

My daughter came home from high school yesterday and shared with me inquiries she had endured from her peers and teachers about the upcoming TV movie about her aunt Whitney. She was somewhat exasperated and said she did not get it – that a woman who claimed to be her aunt’s friend would direct a movie that seems so unloving towards her Aunt, and how it could affect her cousin Krissi. I share with you the thoughts I shared with my daughter yesterday – that there is often a fine line that separates elevation and degradation in the industry. What lifts up one person in the headlines may in fact destroy another. I don’t think it ever entered their minds that they were assaulting the legacy of another individual; they just want the job or the opportunity to shine. But to do so in such an incredible way, to go after someone who cannot correct what you get wrong, someone who – like so many people, and especially women – struggled to hold up their humanity and live with dignity despite their personal challenges, is wrong.

It is easy to turn a blind eye to other people if you’re not careful. But the needs of Whitney’s family matter. We have dealt with her every emotion from the day she was born until the day she died, which gives us absolute position and absolute authority as a family to feel the way we do about her legacy. We matter. We’re still here. Why wasn’t there a call to myself, Gary, Cissy or even her daughter? Why deny selected members of the family an advanced copy of the film? As we once again enter a season of bereavement and the strategic timing so close to the anniversary of Whitney’s death, this is a disappointment that any of us who loved her could do without. This creative pursuit at the expense of the integrity of such an iconic woman, who is voiceless today, reeks of condemnation and deceit. It reeks of enslavement to an industry that will likely do the same to you one day. As my grandmother used to say, “Keep living.”

I say this to all Whitney’s family, friends and fan base: If you watch this movie, watch it knowing that Lifetime is notorious for making bad biopics of deceased celebrities and brace yourself for the worst. You should not be surprised that someone decided to do a made for TV biopic. And, I might add, without the family’s blessing and despite her mother’s request to not do this movie. It happens every day. But misrepresenting the term friendship to advance an agenda is not only disrespectful and dishonest but a slap in the face to her true and loyal friends. You should expect people will always rise to the occasion for prominence and profit – not love, respect or honor. I question the morality of the making of this because of the lack of experience knowing Whitney’s life. Never would Whitney allow her story to be told by an inexperienced team and how naive of anyone to think otherwise, unless you’re caught up in illusions of grandeur that you can just do anything and people will accept it. This made for TV movie is certainly not a trailer to Whitney’s life story.

God gave us a gift in Whitney and she gave us her best, despite what stories are told. We will wear a breastplate of armor for Whitney and that’s what friends are for. In the spirit of Whitney’s “I Go To The Rock”: “On Christ the solid rock I stand…all other ground is sinking sand.” Let’s just be peaceful in all of this.

Truth is violated by silence just as much as by a lie.

READ MORE:

Lifetime Releases Trailer For Upcoming Whitney Houston Biopic

Pat Houston Talks Bobbi Kristina & ‘Whitney Houston Live’ Album On OWN

Deborah Cox Sings ‘I Will Always Love You’ For Whitney Houston Biopic [POLL]

Prepare For The Worst: Pat Houston Slams ‘Whitney’ Ahead Of Lifetime Premiere  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com