In his The daily show segment, Trevor Noah once again had to put on the lawyer’s hat as he ranted about the trolling accompanying Disney’s recent project, The little Mermaid. Since the movie’s announcement, some of the internet demographics have been split and skewed by the inclusion of black people in the cast of the main protagonist, Ariel. Halle Bailey’s portrayal, while a pleasant surprise to some, seemed too drastic a move to others.
To read also: “I was only sobbing”: The little Mermaid Star Halle Bailey, target of relentless racist attacks, says playing Ariel changed her life
Internet splits over inclusion of black people in fairy tales
The character of Ariel, the Little Mermaid, is an intrinsic part of our childhood and that of the many generations that have preceded us. Created by the father of fairy tales, Han Christian Anderson in 1837, The little Mermaid tells the all-too-familiar story of a girl who wanted to trade her life in the sea as a mermaid to win a human soul and be with the man she loves. The tale carries an intergenerational theme of love and sacrifice and has persisted for nearly two centuries for its strong and resounding message.
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However, in all this time, the world has come a long way. There have been revolutions that have seen the dismantling of a societal hierarchy. With so many advances and progressive ideologies now being practiced among the masses, casting a black woman as Ariel always seems offensive to a faction of the Disney audience. Since the announcement of the casting of American singer Halle Bailey, trolls have unleashed a storm criticizing Disney’s decision to hire the singer-actor.
Trevor Noah defends Halle Bailey’s casting in Disney movie
Comedian and talk show host Trevor Noah has opened up about the racist slamming of Halle Bailey and her Disney musical fantasy film, The little Mermaid. During his segment on The daily showsaid Trevor Noah,
“Really, people? Do we do this again? Once again, a bunch of internet racists are upset that a fictional character is being played by a black person. Honestly, I don’t know what the problem is. You do realize that Nemo was black too, right? This whole movie was about a fish that can’t find its father. I can say that because my dad is gone, and he’s white, so who’s racist now?
It’s so ridiculous. I mean of course that “The Little Mermaid” is black. Everyone whose name begins with “Little” is black. If you’ve heard there’s a woman named Little Mermaid, you’d assume she’s on a trail with Cardi B.
I hope this scandal will not overshadow the rest of the film. “The Little Mermaid” is a beautiful story about a young woman who changes her main identity to please a man. »
Also read: ‘Cried the other day’: Halle Bailey says she’s playing Ariel in The little Mermaid Was ‘overwhelming’, praises fans who support her amid racist backlash
In response to Disney’s announcement The little Mermaid and her R&B singer cast, several other celebrities have shown their incredible support for Bailey, including Zendaya, Willow Smith, Chrissy Teigen and Halle Berry. Halle Bailey finally tweeted her response to the support shown for her, saying: “People have been sending me these reactions all weekend and I’m really impressed. It means the world to me.
The little Mermaid premieres on May 26, 2023.
Source: The Daily Show
