Halle Bailey Insults Kate Middleton in Disney’s Controversial Movie ‘The Little Mermaid’?
Halle Bailey is Disney’s new Little Mermaid. Directed by Rob Marshall, Disney’s musical fantasy film, The Little Mermaid, is slated to release on May 26, 2023. The 2023 film is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1989 animated film of the same name. Film star Halle Bailey plays the titular role of mermaid princess Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, the ruler of Atlantica.
On May 8, 2023, The Little Mermaid premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and many cinemagoers and critics attended the early screening. The Little Mermaid received positive feedback and much praise on social media.
Criticisms Around Halle Bailey’s New Role in The Little Mermaid
Even before the movie premiere, The Little Mermaid faced many criticisms. Disney’s much anticipated live-action movie of the year is surrounded by controversies due to the casting a black actress for the lead role. Being the first time that a black lead has portrayed the Disney princess, American actress Halle Bailey plays the role of Ariel. Soon after the announcement, people expressed their disappointment that Ariel should not be black by using hashtags like #notmyariel.
According to many people’s perceptions and as depicted in the 1989 animated film, The Little Mermaid, the mermaid princess, Ariel, was a fair one with red hair. Three decades later, when the movie that won many hearts is set to release again, the fans are already critical of many things about the film.
While many people praised the film’s diverse casting, especially Halle Bailey as Princess Ariel, as a positive attempt at more excellent representation by Hollywood, some fans are upset about it. The announcement about the removal of some of the iconic tracks of the original film also did not go well with the fans.
Also, read- “I Face Planted”: Halle Berry Breaks Silence After Embarrassing Experience.
Halle Bailey’s The Little Mermaid attempts to diss Kate Middleton.
But the controversies do not subside for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Soon after the screening of the live-action movie, the reviewers thought that the film may have attempted to shade the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. Ariel saves Prince Eric from a shipwreck, falls in love with him, and is determined to be with him. Still, since mermaids are forbidden from exploring the human world, Ariel deals with the treacherous sea with Ursula and sacrifices her voice in exchange for human legs to reunite with Prince Eric.
Since Ariel has lost her voice and cannot speak, Eric tries to guess her name and says Diana first. Then his next guess is Catherine, to which Ariel reacts disgustingly, and Eric concludes that it is not Catherine. The scene is related to the British royal family members as Diana was the name of Prince Harry’s mother, and Catherine is the name of his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.
The Little Mermaid’s subtle dig at the Royals
Earlier in 2021, on the Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special on Sunday, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, shared how her experience as a royal princess resonates with Ariel and the film The Little Mermaid.
Kate Middleton and Prince William share a troubled relationship with the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry after they stepped down from their royal duties.
Also, read- “All These Girls The Same”: Did The Little Mermaid Star Halle Bailey Break DDG’s Heart? Breakup Rumors, Explained.
Source: US Weekly
