Disney's Halle Bailey was shocked over Little Mermaid casting racism from trolls

20 May 2023 , 21:39

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Halle Bailey attends the World Premiere of Disney's The Little Mermaid (Image: FilmMagic)

Halle Bailey says the online trolling she received when she landed the role of Ariel pales in comparison to her grandparents’ experiences of racism in America’s Deep South.

The Little Mermaid star says she was shocked by the outpouring of online hate after it was announced she would play the fictional Disney character.

But she says she was able to put the vile trolling into perspective by considering the racism her grandparents had to put up with.

The singer was blindsided by the backlash against her casting when trolls accused Disney of going “woke” and spread hate on social media via hashtag #notmyariel.

The star received abuse when she was cast as Ariel (Disney)

But Halle said: “When the negative comments started, I was shocked, because it wasn’t some - thing I really anticipated – at least not on that scale. Then I started to think, ‘I’m from the Deep South, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve experienced racism’.”

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Halle, soon to also star in a remake of Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple, said remembering stories her grandparents told her helped her to cope.

The 23-year-old said: “My Nana used to see her family cotton picking and my grandpa remembers ‘whites only’ water fountains.

“When I think of the horrendous experiences they had, it makes a hashtag and some online hate seem totally inconsequential.”

Halle – who has been backed by Beyonce and Zendaya since finding fame singing as a teen – said watching how young girls related to her character encouraged her to focus on the positives.

Segregated drinking fountain in use in the American South (Bettmann Archive)

She said: “Seeing the reaction of little Black and Brown girls seeing a different Ariel for the first time was so emotional.

“There was this one TikTok where this adorable little girl said, ‘Mom, she is brown like me’. I can’t put into words the encouragement that gave me.”

Halle, who will make her cinema debut as Ariel when the film is released on Friday, added: “Being able to bring Ariel to life was incredible.

“She is one of those Disney princesses who stepped outside of her comfort zone and really went after what she wanted in life. She has so much courage. I am still young myself and I’ve been trying to step outside my own comfort zone.”

Laura Armstrong