In 2020, Walt Disney began filming a live-action version of “The Little Mermaid.” The movie was set to come out in 2021, but was postponed due to covid. It was recently confirmed that the movie will now come to theaters on May 26, 2023. The singer/actress Halle Bailey is playing the lead role Ariel. The trailer came out a few weeks ago and many people are upset about it.
The trailer highlighted the fact that Halle Bailey is an African American woman with long red dreadlocks, but, in the animated film, Ariel is a white woman. Many people on all different social media sites are very unhappy about this. They believe that Walt Disney should have kept Ariel as a white character like she is in the animated version of the movie. However, some people think that this act was a great thing for Disney to do. They believe that Disney princesses need more diversity and range between them. As of right now, there is only one black disney princess, compared to the other traditional white ones. In a recent Q&A with Halle Bailey, she stated, “I know what it would have meant to me as a little girl to have been able to see a black Ariel when I was younger. If I would have seen that, it would have changed my whole outlook on life.” After the trailer came out, videos of parents filming their young black daughters’ reaction to it came to the internet. The children were overjoyed that they have a princess that “looks like them!”
I think that it is ridiculous that grown adults are getting upset over a princess movie. It is a good thing that Disney is adding more minority characters and princesses. It gives representation to kids that have had to grow up seeing mostly white characters and none that they can relate to. Some people need to accept the fact that the world is becoming more and more diverse everyday and that they should learn how to not get upset over it.
What are your feelings about the new “The Little Mermaid” movie?
Do you think Disney should have gone with a white actress to match the animated film?
Are you planning on watching the movie when it comes to theaters?
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/trevor-noah-racists-black-ariel-the-little-mermaid-1235374905/
Replies
Great topic choice and well done Annabelle! I do think you could have replied back a few more times.
Personally, I dont have any problem with the how disney made a black Ariel. Although, I think that disney should have stay with the original race of Ariel. I can see how this could really upset some Ariel and disney fans. I still have plans to go see this movie because I love Ariel and even thought the color of her skin is different, It dosent make that much of a difference.
I honestly don't have a problem with the black ariel controversy because it doesn't bother me. Maybe for movie sakes just to match the original they should have used a white actress but other than to match the original movie it doesn't matter. I probably won't go and see the movie in theators but only because I'm not a huge Disney princess fan.
I personally think thats a good idea that they are adding a more diversity in disney princesses. Yes, it would be nice to have sticked to the white version of ariel just because of the fact that it was the original version. This movie is showing a representation to kids, because most have grown up with just white princesses. Other than that I personally don't see any problem or fight that should be put into this topic.
I think that it is probably a good thing that there are more diverse princesses for little kids everywhere, but I also don't know that this was necessary. I think they would be better off just creating a new princess, instead of changing the race of one. I think that if roles were reversed, this act would be considered highly racist and offensive. Again, I think that it doesn't really matter, and it is good that they are being inclusive to everyone, but I can definetly see why people would take this the wrong way.
Exactly, after seeing other peoples opinions and explanations, I see both sides now. One on hand, if the roles were reversed, it would be very offensive, but on the other hand, it is great that they are adding more diversity to the princesses.
I think that its not a big deal and would like to see the movie when it comes out. In my opinion the whole concept of a girl that's a mermaid and talks to fish is unrealistic and that having a black actress shouldn't be an issue as far as realism. It was a great animated movie and I hope that the live action version is just as good when it comes out.
I feel like disney made a good choice adding another black princess. Growing up your used to seeing only white characters it felt like the movies where trargeted towards just white audiences. Its nice to see disney adding more diversity and I hope they continue adding minoritys to the lead roles of disney movies.
I agree, the change in her race will not change anything about the movie, and it does not matter that they changed Ariel's skin color. The actress was chosen because of her beautiful singing voice and great talent. I am planning on watching the movie at some point.
I personally have not seen the movie yet, nor have I heard much about the controversy online. But, I can also see how this may upset people on both sides of the argument. I feel that a lot of this controversy is because of the parent's issues with it. With that, movies like Ariel are targeted for younger audiences, who don't seem to have a huge problem with this change.
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