Halle Bailey, star of the upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid, is rejecting the backlash accompanying her casting as Ariel in the Disney adaptation. Bailey was officially cast in the role in July, along with Jacob Tremblay, Melissa McCarthy, and Awkwafina. The remake, directed by Rob Marshall, has been delayed due to the pandemic, but will be released sometime in 2021 and will include four new songs as part of The Little Mermaid repertoire.

Halle Bailey is one half of the Grammy-nominated R&B duo Chloe x Halle, along with her sister, Chloe. After being signed to Beyonce's record label, the duo went on to star in the sitcom Grown-ish. When Bailey was announced as the lead of the live-action The Little Mermaid adaptation in July, the response was mostly positive. However, there was some online backlash, including some fans who were upset at the thought of an Ariel actress not having red hair.

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Halle Bailey is continuing to ignore any online backlash to her casting as the Disney princess. In a recent interview with Variety, Bailey said, "I don't pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role is something bigger than me, and greater, and it's going to be beautiful. I'm just so excited to be a part of it." When Bailey's casting was revealed, Variety reported she was described by insiders as the "clear front runner from the beginning."

Original Ariel actress Jodi Benson expressed her support for Bailey at Florida Supercon, stating, "The most important thing is to tell the story." Benson went on to say, "I think that the spirit of the character is what really matters. What you bring to the table in a character as far as their heart, and their spirit, is what really counts." 

Despite the negative backlash, most of the response to Bailey's casting has been very positive. Upon the announcement of her casting, many celebrities, including her Grown-ish co-stars Yara Shadidi and Francia Raisa, reached out on social media to convey their excitement over the news. Jordin Sparks and Sophie Turner (who was rumored to be up for the role herself) also reached out with positivity.

Casting a black actress in the titular role of The Little Mermaid, a character traditionally depicted by white women, is a massive step in the right direction regarding minority representation in Hollywood. Reimagining stories with traditionally white casts, and Bailey's rejection of any race-based backlash to her casting, is particularly relevant amidst the ongoing protests across the country. Though there has been some backlash, Halle Bailey's insistence on focusing on the positive and embracing the role makes her an ideal choice to portray the always positive and hopeful princess in The Little Mermaid.

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Source: Variety