You cannot simply squeeze a 20 year legacy into a two hour made for television movie. Somehow Toni Braxton made it work. Unbreak My Heart, the 2014 memoir detailing the singer’s humble beginnings to a shot at stardom followed by ugly headlines, illness and divorce premiered Saturday on LIfetime. Instead of giving you an exact play-by-play of the biopic, Twitter can take it from here.
Here is a dramatic retelling of the story in tweets.
The Replay is on now for those who missed it! Make sure you see it before! #ToniBraxtonMovie #ToniBraxton #TamarBra… pic.twitter.com/64HkDHcLvT
— Charles A. Paris (@OverTimeGrind) January 24, 2016
Toni served as narrator, also lending her vocals for the movie’s soundtrack with Lex Scott-Davis as main character, providing a striking resemblance.
@tonibraxton I Love It I Watched ❤️❤️👏🏼👏🏼😀❤️ 👍🏽👍🏽A Must See Everyone #ToniBraxton #UnbreakMyHeart #Movie #LifeTime pic.twitter.com/JmnIgBUNha
— Lyn (@lyndawatersnewk) January 24, 2016
Actress & model Lex Scott Davis (@scottyeye_ ) as @tonibraxton in #UnbreakMyHeart pic.twitter.com/m6uBSHq1Js
— JONES Magazine (@Jonesmag) January 24, 2016
But the lip sync was a bit off.
#ToniBraxtonMovie My “only issue” I have is the horrible “Lip Syncing” The girl playing Toni Braxton lips move like a old Kung-fu movie 😂
— Mark (@TweetGODRight) January 24, 2016
As for the rest of the casting…
They casted @KennyEdmonds right on point through….. #ToniBraxtonMovie pic.twitter.com/GvjEiqCBP1
— Shawn™ (@ShawnMinaj) January 24, 2016
My guy @Klarity is killing it as LA Reid. Clap for em 👏🏾 #ToniBraxtonMovie pic.twitter.com/ZX6VTkIhMm
— Nick Simmons (@NorthwestNick) January 24, 2016
The actors casted in the #ToniBraxtonMovie were done so well. Especially the actress who plays Evelyn Braxton 👏🏽
— Jordana (@Jordi_xx) January 24, 2016
Oh they tried it w/ Towanda’s casting @tonibraxton @TamarBraxtonHer #ToniBraxtonMovie @TraciBraxton @towandabraxton pic.twitter.com/HHRsecUDAR
— Sheila Taylor Clark (@staylorclark) January 24, 2016
Holding true to the real story, Toni is offered a deal from LaFace records leaving her four singing sisters behind.
How you look when yo’ big sister get signed to a record deal but U don’t #ToniBraxtonMovie @lifetimetv pic.twitter.com/1vA5GgipKi
— Sheila Taylor Clark (@staylorclark) January 24, 2016
I KNEW THESE MEMES WERE GONNA BE SHADY BUT LAWD HAVE MERCY😂😂😂😂🐸👀 #ToniBraxtonMovie pic.twitter.com/Zv0twipnIR
— FAITH (@faithvcameron) January 24, 2016
And the casting for Pebbles…
I liked the Pebbles from the TLC movie betta #ToniBraxtonMovie pic.twitter.com/N0lrYkAJ28
— Sheila Taylor Clark (@staylorclark) January 24, 2016
Why #Pebbles looking like #FaithEvans circa 1995 low key #UnbreakMyHeart #ToniBraxton 😂😩 pic.twitter.com/77W7keH6tS
— Tha Celebritea (@thacelebritea) January 24, 2016
Whenever Pebbles was in somebody’s presence…#ToniBraxtonMovie #UnbreakmyHeart pic.twitter.com/ZSaCoDTWt0
— Aramide Esubi (@thesassypeach) January 24, 2016
Moving out to Atlanta on her own for the first time, we see the early turmoil of Toni’s financial issues. Despite the media’s inaccuracies of how she went bankrupt the first time, the flimsy new artist deal is to blame. We even found out, Toni paid for much of her first tour out of pocket.
this damn artist budget chile.. #UnbreakmyHeart pic.twitter.com/a2ajCRA9ok
— S. Petty Pablo (@Mofochronicles) January 24, 2016
Toni Braxton looking at her bank account like #unbreakmyheart #tonibraxtonmovie pic.twitter.com/bTtzNE9ZGw
— Mark S. Luckie (@marksluckie) January 24, 2016
she sold 8 million records and was on tour for a year and they only gave her $1,992…GURL….#ToniBraxtonMovie
— DIOMI (@DiomiCordero) January 24, 2016
What Toni should’ve been saying all along. #UnBreakMyHeart #ToniBraxtonMovie pic.twitter.com/YfzYaXTjks
— GirlTyler (@sheistyler) January 24, 2016
The public embarrassment of her credit card being declined.
😂😂😂 #tonibraxtonmovie #UnbreakMyHeart pic.twitter.com/ulztlO0m7C
— Beee C.W. (@LouieBeeee) January 24, 2016
And her style evolution, still unmatched. Boob job and all.
@tonibraxton is responsible for 90% of all short haircuts in the 90s. That’s power #ToniBraxtonMovie pic.twitter.com/AleeyMDwng
— Sheila Taylor Clark (@staylorclark) January 24, 2016
I remember thinking Toni’s #UnbreakmyHeart dress was SO scandalous when I was a kid. Now folks wear this to church. pic.twitter.com/1eR6p3SbYP
— Angel Elliott (@AngelElliott) January 24, 2016
We learned Babyface’s testimony in court is what helped her win the suit against LaFace. A gag order prevented her from speaking about it for an extended period of time, namely the $20+ million she received.
Despite the lawsuit, Toni maintained her musical relationship with Babyface and L.A. Reid.
LA Reid and Diddy couldn’t sign me up for bible study
— Moni Mone (@SHANTE_YOU_STAY) January 24, 2016
Love @tonibraxton and @KennyEdmonds friendship. It’s awesome! Men & women can be friends. @lifetimetv #UnbreakMyHeart
— Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) January 24, 2016
In the midst of reclaiming her career, Toni found love. She married Keri from Mint Condition.
Who is this actor playing Keri? He wasn’t EVER this fine in real life! #UnbreakmyHeart
— Nneka M. Okona (@afrosypaella) January 24, 2016
Who is this specimen they have playing Keri Lewis? Gotdamn. #UnbreakMyHeart
— ᴋᴀʀsʜ (@karsh) January 24, 2016
Toni never publicly spoke of her abortion, and the film explained what led to the decision; her acne medication.
If an acne medicine causes birth defects, what else is it doing to yr body #toxic #UnbreakmyHeart
— Nikki Strong (@IAMNikkiStrong) January 24, 2016
As her health begins to decline, Toni is open about her son’s autism diagnosis.
Now this is the part I wasn’t ready for. Mad respect to. @tonibraxton for talking about Diesel’s autism. That’s deep #UnbreakMyHeart
— Valentine (@NothinNiceToSay) January 24, 2016
Even with her personal drama, Toni endured great pain watching her mother deal with her father’s infidelity.
How did you not sniff an affair for 9 years, ma’am? #UnbreakMyHeart pic.twitter.com/f0dF1Kzpdb
— GirlTyler (@sheistyler) January 24, 2016
Debbi Morgan just let y’all know who the veteran actor is in this movie. She is playing no games. “Cut it off!” #UnbreakmyHeart
— sydmosley (@sydmosley) January 24, 2016
Which prompted perhaps the most popular line of the film.
Mama E said all men cheat except Obama #UnbreakmyHeart pic.twitter.com/H3QTkzOK0X
— S. Petty Pablo (@Mofochronicles) January 24, 2016
“All men cheat, except Obama” #ToniBraxtonMovie #UnbreakMyHeart pic.twitter.com/1BC9IAzs2Z
— Ms. Smith (@ThE_DiVa24) January 24, 2016
As her health began to decline, so did her marriage. Being the breadwinner took a toll on her relationship and soon came resentment. After being diagnosed with lupus and dealing with a lawsuit, bankruptcy number two hit.
Keri got on his…I’mma go see my side piece turtleneck. #UnbreakMyHeart
— Big Sista Gorgeous 1 (@11Zette17) January 24, 2016
Keri out laying it low & spreading it wide! #UnbreakMyHeart
— Juiice ☺️ (@iamNiish) January 24, 2016
Through it all, she came back for her sisters.
The Braxton’s reality show premiered in 2011. Why is their TV so old? Who did this? #ToniBraxtonMovie pic.twitter.com/ASoKttaldn
— Makho Ndlovu (@makhondlovu) January 24, 2016
Moral of the story: you can’t keep a good woman down.
Lupus, bankruptcy, an autistic child, failed marriage, family issues..this woman is a fighter!!!! I salute you @tonibraxton #UnbreakMyHeart
— *KanyeShrug* (@JusRio) January 24, 2016
“Even the most blessed life is not without pain.” #UnbreakMyHeart
— Morgth West. (@cosmorgpolitan) January 24, 2016
What did you think of the Toni Braxton story?
YASSSSSS @tonibraxton. #tonibraxtonmovie#UnbreakMyHeartpic.twitter.com/kH2g0kaUtu
— Alexis Tirado (@AlexisTT) January 24, 2016