“Racists are made a black woman made Ariel more iconic”: The Little Mermaid Review-Bombings Unites Internet Against Pointless Hatred for a Children’s Movie
Disney’s latest film, The Little Mermaid, is having a blast at the box office. However, the success of the movie has not been digested by some critics. Where there are viewers who slammed the movie for casting a black woman as a Disney princess, there are social media users who were united to educate these racists and criticize such a regressive mentality.
No matter how hard the entertainers try to serve their audience the best, there will always be a fraction of the audience that will never be convinced. Regardless of the trolls, the movie received great praise from critics and fans.
The Little Mermaid is shielded by its fans
The Little Mermaid live-action film marked its release on May 26, 2023. The remake of the original Disney fairy tale prompted deep outrage among the audience. Fans argued that the new version of the film has interfered with the looks of their beloved characters, as it does not meet their expectations.
What concerned the fans the most was the actress chosen to portray the role of the Disney princess. They were not content with the Little Mermaid’s look, as for some, the lead protagonist must have a fair complexion. The dark complexion of Halle Bailey bothered many fans, who highly condemned the maker’s choice.
Social media is a platform that connects people, and this time it united the users for a cause. The social media users rightly shut down all the trolls for their regressive mentality and supported Halle Bailey. Check out the tweets below:
the racists are mad because a blk woman made ariel even more iconic ✨https://t.co/nYNGJEr342
— Ashton (@ayywalker) May 28, 2023
they’re mad because the so called “flop of a movie” they were talking about is succeeding in every way possible pic.twitter.com/J1eMacGDjc
— ~ (@hopfiIms) May 28, 2023
Them white folks and republicans are mad! They mad Halle is literal perfection!
— steven ☀️ (@arianaunext) May 28, 2023
We all knew the racists would do this. Funny thing is you know all these 40+ conservative men were never going to watch a mermaid movie anyway, even if she was white. They just want to cry because it didn't flop like they hoped.
— Lana (@Lanalbb) May 28, 2023
Halle PROSPERING in the midst of a hate train for simply playing a fictional mermaid will always be music to my ears! Make sure to see #TheLittleMermaid in theatres to make a racist cry!
— Japril’s Press Secretary 🥠 (@ibeezdressing) May 28, 2023
Halle Bailey’s Reaction to The Little Mermaid Controversy
Getting to portray a Disney princess is indeed a dream come true for any girl. Halle Bailey also claimed that she feels a strong connection to the character of Airel as she has spent her childhood watching Ariel’s story. When her casting in The Little Mermaid was criticized by people, she did feel disheartened, yet any trolls couldn’t shun her light.
The 23-year-old actress talked about racial discrimination in society and how the rigidity of people’s mentalities can affect others. She said,
“This is such a blessing, and the movie is bigger than me. I initially expected everyone to be as excited as I was, but the reality of it all hit me later as I realized the world that we live in. I just hope that people who aren’t sure about it go and watch the film and realize we did the original justice.”
The Little Mermaid, with its release, has proven to be a successful live-action remake from Disney as it continues to make a profit.
Also Read: 10 Disney Animated Movies Sequels We All Loved But Have Now Forgotten
Source: Twitter
