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Why Did Black Ariel Receive Global Backlash? 18 Responses by Fans
Disney’s highly anticipated film, The Little Mermaid, generated mixed responses from fans. At the heart of the controversy was a young woman taking on the role of a Black Ariel. This news received some racist backlash, with the hashtag #NotMyAriel trending.
So, what was the controversy about the Black Little Mermaid? Let’s dig a little deeper into the Little Mermaid controversy.
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Someone was instantly triggered by the Black mermaid and started leaving nasty comments that went viral.
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After being called out, they tried to defend themselves by saying they had a ‘half black’ friend, so they couldn’t be racist.
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It later turned out to be a distasteful joke.
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But other people weren’t just ‘joking’ with their comments and were seriously mad with Disney’s casting choice.
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Who exactly is the Black Ariel?
American singer and actress Halle Bailey was cast as the Black Disney princess in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. When her casting was announced back in July 2019, it created a lot of uproar on social media.
People were upset with Disney for turning the Little Mermaid black. Many of them pointed out that the original writer, Hans Christian Andersen, had described the Little Mermaid as a white character in his book.
People took to Twitter with mostly positive reactions to the animated movie remake casting, with many highlighting the significance of Halle, a black woman, taking on the role of Ariel. However, although we should really just ignore them, there were some trolls, too.
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Others believed it was all done as a publicity stunt.
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Why did Disney Cast a Black Ariel?
So, why is the Little Mermaid Black? Turns out Halle’s casting has nothing to do with her skin color.
After an extensive cast search for the movie remake, director Rob Marshall said that it was “abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance – plus a glorious singing voice – all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic Disney princess.”
Bailey, who said on Twitter that it was a “dream come true,” already had a small fan following at that time. She is a part of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, who became famous for covering pop songs on YouTube. Their debut EP, Sugar Symphony, was released in 2016 and contained the hits Drop and Fall.
The pair also made cameo appearances in Beyoncé’s Lemonade visual album and were her opening act for the European leg of The Formation World Tour. The Little Mermaid was Bailey’s feature-film debut.
Was Ariel Originally Black?
Originally, Ariel was depicted as a white, red-haired mermaid in the Disney movie. In the book, the skin color of the mermaid is not mentioned. However, some people point out that the author mentions that the princess has “eyes as blue as the deep sea,” which points to a White European descent.
We believe the casting of Halle Bailey as the Black Ariel signifies a reimagining of the character for the live-action adaptation, embracing a more inclusive approach.
How Many Original Ariel Movies Are There?
The Little Mermaid franchise has three original animated movies:
- The Little Mermaid (1989)
- The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000)
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008)
Apart from these, there’s a musical special, The Little Mermaid Live! (2019), and the live-action remake, The Little Mermaid (2023)
Several people came to defend the actress and pointed out the absurd logic of the trolls.
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And let’s not forget Ariel’s sisters are of different races, too.
Image source: thelittlemermaidmovie
Why are Ariel’s Sisters of Different Races?
According to a popular theory, each of Ariel’s sisters is supposed to represent an ocean. Since they are home to different cultures and ethnicities, it would make sense for the sisters to look different. They represent an expansive underwater world, and the Black Little Mermaid fits perfectly with that narrative.
Who was the First Black Disney Princess?
Princess Tiana is the OG Black Disney princess. The animated film The Princess and the Frog was released in 2009. It marked a significant milestone as the first Black princess in the Disney franchise.
Image source: disneyanimation
So, that was the lowdown of the Little Mermaid controversy. Fully grown adults getting all riled up by the mermaid being played by a black woman! Beyond ridiculous, isn’t it? Halle was cast for her talent, not as a publicity stunt. So just ignore the trolls and enjoy the movie.
Let us know what you think about the movie and Halle’s acting in the comments below.
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What do you think ?
Bumble 5 years ago
I also heard that she can't breath underwater. It is disgusting! They should cast a REAL MERMAID! What are they thinking??
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Mama Panda 5 years ago
I am going to take a stab at what I think part of the problem is with it all. If a white actor/actress plays a black character and completely dresses the part, it is automatically called blackface and they are called racist. However, when a black person plays a white character in a similar fashion, nothing is said. It's a double edged sword that I wished didn't exist on any level. But back in the day, like way back in the 50s and before, it was done as racist and that was hateful. Nowadays, I think it is done more out of respect or at least that is how I see it. I just wish we could all exist without labels and hatred in our hearts.
Malcom Gross 5 years ago
But a black person playing a role of a fictional character which was once portrayed as a white person is NOT THE SAME as a white people painting their skin to appear black. Not even remotely close. But what people lose sight of in this situation is perspective...you’re so bent on the issue of the skin color change to realize that EVERY DISNEY PRINCESS until Aladdin was white...the the first black in was Tiana. The fact that people feel so attacked and insulted by this is the exact reason black people feel out of place...the be black is to be stained and to white people anything white must remain white or it’s a travesty. Black people would be angry if they switched the ONE black Disney princess to a white one because there’s only ONE BLACK PRINCESS. The fact that it matters so much to white people that one Disney character is casted as a black person shows how racist this country really is..it’s so deeply engraved in the society that people think this type of mindset isn’t racist. Smh
Load More Replies...
Laugh Fan 5 years ago
Oh good grief! So Disney gave her red hair and that's the colour it must forever be? I don't think her hair colour is even mentioned in the original story. Yes, she was described as very white with blue eyes and dark lashes. I've seen a foreign drama where she was blonde. It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that the actor can do a really good job with the role and make us believe in her. Talent, not appearance.
WillemPenn 5 years ago
My big issues was "Hell, she's too old to play the role." Then I was like "Wait, they aren't talking about Halle Berry ... Who is Halle Bailey? Damn *I'm* old!" 🤣
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Bumble 5 years ago
I also heard that she can't breath underwater. It is disgusting! They should cast a REAL MERMAID! What are they thinking??
Load More Replies... Mama Panda 5 years ago
I am going to take a stab at what I think part of the problem is with it all. If a white actor/actress plays a black character and completely dresses the part, it is automatically called blackface and they are called racist. However, when a black person plays a white character in a similar fashion, nothing is said. It's a double edged sword that I wished didn't exist on any level. But back in the day, like way back in the 50s and before, it was done as racist and that was hateful. Nowadays, I think it is done more out of respect or at least that is how I see it. I just wish we could all exist without labels and hatred in our hearts.
Malcom Gross 5 years ago
But a black person playing a role of a fictional character which was once portrayed as a white person is NOT THE SAME as a white people painting their skin to appear black. Not even remotely close. But what people lose sight of in this situation is perspective...you’re so bent on the issue of the skin color change to realize that EVERY DISNEY PRINCESS until Aladdin was white...the the first black in was Tiana. The fact that people feel so attacked and insulted by this is the exact reason black people feel out of place...the be black is to be stained and to white people anything white must remain white or it’s a travesty. Black people would be angry if they switched the ONE black Disney princess to a white one because there’s only ONE BLACK PRINCESS. The fact that it matters so much to white people that one Disney character is casted as a black person shows how racist this country really is..it’s so deeply engraved in the society that people think this type of mindset isn’t racist. Smh
Load More Replies... Laugh Fan 5 years ago
Oh good grief! So Disney gave her red hair and that's the colour it must forever be? I don't think her hair colour is even mentioned in the original story. Yes, she was described as very white with blue eyes and dark lashes. I've seen a foreign drama where she was blonde. It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that the actor can do a really good job with the role and make us believe in her. Talent, not appearance.
WillemPenn 5 years ago
My big issues was "Hell, she's too old to play the role." Then I was like "Wait, they aren't talking about Halle Berry ... Who is Halle Bailey? Damn *I'm* old!" 🤣
Load More Replies...
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