“It wasn’t something I really anticipated”: ‘The Little Mermaid’ Star Halle Bailey’s Heartbreaking Comments About Racist Fans’ Criticism
Halle Bailey is a rising star in Hollywood. The 23-year-old actor has made headlines with her Disney movie The Little Mermaid. The American beauty rose to fame with her YouTube channel Chloe And Halle in 2016. The multi-talented musician duo became the talk of the town when they were noticed for Queen Bey’s cover of The Best Thing I Never Had.
The talented sibling duo even made it to the guest list of the widely-watched talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2012. Halle Berry was just 3 years old when she got her first role in the movie Last Holiday. The actor was praised by the critics after the premiere of the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. According to the rumors of the tinsel town, Halle Bailey was paid around US $500k for the role.
Halle Bailey Breaks Her Silence On Being Racially Discriminated
The Little Mermaid actor Halle Bailey was racially abused on social media after being cast as Ariel in the Disney movie. The singer-turned-actor became a victim of racist trolls on social media. After the teaser of the movie was released, Halle Bailey was trolled for her complexion and for being cast as a Disney movie protagonist.
During an interview with the media outlet The Face, Halle Bailey opened up about being racially discriminated by racist trolls online. She said-
“As a black person, you just expect it and it’s not really a shock anymore. When the negative comments started, I was shocked, because it wasn’t something I really anticipated – at least not on that scale.”
Halle Bailey even went on to reveal about the racial discrimination her grandparents faced, she said-
“Then I started to think, ‘I’m from the deep south, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve experienced racism. When I think of the horrendous experiences they had, it makes a hashtag and some online hate seem totally inconsequential.”
The Little Mermaid director even spoke about the casting of actor Halle Bailey over others during an interview with the People. Director Rob Marshall mentioned what led them to go ahead with the American actor-
“She was the first person we saw for this role and she set the bar so high. When she sang, you got a deep understanding of what it is that Ariel wants, you believe that the stakes are high, and you just root for her to succeed.”
Back in 2019, Halle Bailey made headlines with the announcement of playing the protagonist in the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. The racist fans even shared the cartoon clips from 1989 The Little Mermaid showing their strong disapproval of the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel.
Halle Bailey’s Performance Lauded By The Critics
After the premiere of the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, the internet could not stop buzzing. Critics and movie experts praised Halle Bailey for her performance. The Disney movie reviews are already out after the first premiere that took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on May 8, 2023. Reputed entertainment critics and writers have taken to their social media to give their feedback on the movie and Halle Bailey’s performance.
The arts and culture critic Lovia Gyarkye, from the famous media outlet, The Hollywood Reporter, mentioned-
“Halle Bailey doesn’t disappoint as Ariel” and added that “her performance, adds edge to what is ultimately a serviceable film” and “her charisma radiates off the screen.”
The entertainment critic for the media outlet Entertainment Weekly, Maureen Lee Lenker, even said–
“Bailey is “breathtaking as Ariel, her rendition of ‘Part of Your World’ transmogrifies the already classic tune into something as otherworldly as undiscovered sea life. But it’s her altogether human performance that makes it impossible not to fall in love with her.”
According to the current buzz in Hollywood, it is quite evident that the new face of Disney is a promising one. The critics are impressed with the acting prowess and the on-screen presence of actor Halle Bailey.
The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is set to release on May 26th, 2023 in the theatres.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
