Cast of 'Bobbi Kristina' says film comes from 'place of love and respect'

"Give it a chance," Vivica A. Fox said.

ByABC News
October 6, 2017, 10:17 AM

— -- It's only been two short years since the untimely death of Whitney Houston's and Bobby Brown's daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.

On Sunday, TV One will attempt to bring her tumultuous story to life with the original movie, "Bobbi Kristina."

Brown died at the age of 22, months after being found unresponsive in her Roswell, Georgia, home.

While the film's purpose is to honor Bobbi Kristina's legacy, it's come under intense criticism from Bobby Brown. Vivica A. Fox, who plays Pat Houston in the biopic, says she spoke to Brown.

"I did see Bobby and he let me know he wasn't happy with us doing the film," Fox told ABC News. "And my reaction to him was, 'Bobby, give it a chance. Trust me. Knowing that the majority of the cast knows you -- has respect and love for you and Whitney -- we're not going to do nothing to make you look bad.'"

Fox said Brown's reaction was "him being a natural protective father."

She said TV One also "reached out and communicated with him to look at the film."

Hassan Johnson, who plays Brown in the film, agrees with Fox, adding that Brown should understand that the film comes from "a place of love ... and ... respect."

"I came with all the sincerity and consideration in the world, for what Bobbi has been through, with the loss of his wife and his daughter," Johnson explained. "So I just felt like it was a duty to do him some justice and to represent."

For the youngest star of the film, Joy Rovaris, who plays Bobbi Kristina, the biopic was a "personal" project.

"I've always been such a Whitney fan that ... it felt personal to me," she said. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything exploitative or that would shed a bad light."

"Bobbi Kristina" airs Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on TV One.

A request for comment from Bobby Brown's team was not immediately returned to ABC News.