Ever since Halley Bailey was cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action adaptation The little Mermaid was announced, a particular range of audiences expressed their disdain relentlessly. The unnecessary bandwagon of hate started in 2019 and has sadly continued ever since. Things came to a deplorable height when the effort’s first official trailer was unveiled at Expo D23.
Also Read: ‘Grateful…To Take the Essence of Me and Blend the Two’: Little Mermaid Star Halle Bailey Made Ariel ‘Better’ by Switching Up Ariel’s Fiery Red Hair With Her Locs
Now, after the release of an official poster for the film, the internet has decided to take a supportive stance for Bailey, banding together in her defense, after months of rhetoric that focused on the topic of ‘forced inclusion’. and “enlightened culture”. .” Needless to say, the prodigious appreciation overpowered the rather unwarranted and murky backlash.
Why is the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid getting backlash?
As mentioned, it all mostly started in 2019 when Halle Bailey was announced as the new Ariel. The problem some people had with the casting choice stemmed from a rather preconceived conception where they couldn’t accept a black woman playing the role of a white-skinned character. Many felt that he was making a “injustice” to the source material, to what has always been the norm.
When Danish author Hans Christian Andersen wrote the original story, the goal was to present a layered and thought-provoking story.
Ariel, in the 1837 premise, represented a paradoxical, tragic, and bittersweet fate. In Disney’s retelling, we were rewarded with an ending that deviated from the source material and gave us a much happier conclusion. In both iterations, which had several drastic differences, we were given a variety of food for thought. In the grand scheme of things, what moves audiences is the story, the narrative, and what needs to be expressed through an art form.
Also read: ‘Lady is a fish, best friend is a talking crab… and people are mad that she’s black?’
With that in mind, the question of who should represent the mermaid remains irrelevant. Fairy tales have existed and cemented themselves in widespread popular culture due to their constant telling. Each generation has a different version to present, a new story to tell, with a bigger message each time.
Therefore, having Halle Bailey represent Ariel in 2023 The little Mermaiddoesn’t remove the overtones of earlier versions, but it does leave room for telling new stories, representing more faces, and creative freedom to move beyond what’s seen as the norm.
Seeing the hatred persist, as art and fiction continually evolves after years of creating archetypes and deconstructing them, is rather disheartening. While some of the criticism was justifiable, having turned to a dark, dreary, and gloomy atmosphere in the official trailer, the dislike from others transcended the constructive comments and seemed seemingly endless. This is where the talk started to get concerning.
However, that has changed. The Internet has united in expressing its support for The little Mermaid star Halle Bailey against the public who, in addition to not wanting to claim her iteration of Ariel as authentic, also sometimes stooped to disturbing levels with their expressions unworthy of prejudice.
Fans support Halle Bailey despite recurring debates
The film’s official Twitter account unveiled the Halle Bailey star’s poster with an appropriate caption, “Halle Bailey is Ariel.” While others were quick to rejoice, some can’t let go of old habits. It has been more than a month since the debate began. It went on endlessly despite several celebrities and prominent figures, including Ariel’s voice actress in the 1989 Disney animated film, expressing their appreciation.
While disapproval has found its way into the hearts of many, love remains thankfully stronger than ever. Fans were quick to elevate the effort and talent involved. Despite several nasty comments under the original tweet, the admiration continues to mark a slow but steady end to the recurring discourse.
Looked:
HALLE IT’S MY ARIEL! pic.twitter.com/Onp4hfLogW
— Mandy (@BattinsonMarvel) October 13, 2022
give halle all the oscars
— alien superstar (@yoooooitsfil) October 13, 2022
Halle Bailey is Ariel and no one can change that!
— Hunt (@huntys_pov) October 13, 2022
Also read: The Little Mermaid: People were so insulted by a black actor playing Ariel that they used AI to make Halle Bailey white
hall best ariel pic.twitter.com/iv33U0qxEf
— @ (@MANIMONEYU) October 13, 2022
@HALLEBAILEY IS WONDERFUL. PERIOD. 🧜🏾♀️
— jacob rivera-sanchez (@jacobrivsan) October 13, 2022
WE WILL BE SEATED pic.twitter.com/76hhpEqMeH
— larry 🧜🏽♀️ (@itslarr7) October 13, 2022
By hailing Halle Bailey as the definitive Ariel of the current generation, the masses of support are putting a nail in the coffin of unrelenting hatred. As some continue to parade the internet with age-old speeches and statements like, “Not my Ariel,” the talented singer and actress is getting ready to present her incarnation of the mermaid princess. There’s no stopping now – love or hate his portrayal.
Halle Bailey’s Ariel is here to stay.
The little Mermaid will be released on May 26, 2023.
Source: Twitter
