<p>Who would have thought that singer and actor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/disney-live-action-little-mermaid-to-star-a-black-ariel-232894">Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel</a> in the upcoming live action remake of their hugely successful film ‘The Little Mermaid’ would erupt into a controversy? Well, it has and people are now taking to Twitter to trend the hashtag #notmymermaid as they think that Halle does not look like the Ariel they visualise of -- a light-skinned and red-haired nymph.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some online petitions even call it a “betrayal of Ariel’s original creator”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, releasing a statement, the actress has responded saying, “I am beginning to understand this film is something so much bigger than me.”</p>

<p>The remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ was to go into production next month but because of a coronavirus outbreak all over the world, all shoots and production stands postponed as of now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Read some of the tweets here:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To all the people saying <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyMermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyMermaid</a>, I might be wrong here, but I don’t think Disney really wants you to come see their movies, much less be inside of their parks. Just a guess! 🤷🏻‍♂️Disney is a company of acceptance, celebration, and inclusion. And you don’t seem like you are..</p>
— host of TMZ’s “Sammy on the Street” (@sammyjengle) <a href="https://twitter.com/sammyjengle/status/1150126601755123712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyAriel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyAriel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/notmylittlemermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#notmylittlemermaid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyMermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyMermaid</a> wtf? <a href="https://twitter.com/Disney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Disney</a> shes not ariel!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyAriel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyAriel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/notmylittlemermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#notmylittlemermaid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyMermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyMermaid</a> <a href="https://t.co/ouUaZKk8c7">pic.twitter.com/ouUaZKk8c7</a></p>
— Josss Garcia Ramirez (@J0seMontero) <a href="https://twitter.com/J0seMontero/status/1146923962242220032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sorry but this is SO WRONG is SO MANY ways!!! Ariel's my favorite take and Disney princess she's Danish she's got redhair Don't change the classics!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyAriel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyAriel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/notmylittlemermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#notmylittlemermaid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyMermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyMermaid</a></p>
— Mich Xmucane (@MichkatKat) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichkatKat/status/1146874913455656960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HalleBailey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HalleBailey</a> doesn't look like Ariel! She can be her friend! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheLittleMermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheLittleMermaid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thelittlemermaidmovie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thelittlemermaidmovie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyAriel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyAriel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/notmylittlemermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#notmylittlemermaid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotMyMermaid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotMyMermaid</a> <a href="https://t.co/eVpU4mhn4W">pic.twitter.com/eVpU4mhn4W</a></p>
— LOLA🤟👑 (@InsurgentNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/InsurgentNow/status/1146854723108126720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier too, when critics had opposed Halle's casting as Ariel,&nbsp;Disney's cable network Freeform <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/disneys-freeform-calls-out-critics-opposing-halle-baileys-casting-as-ariel-233894">issued an open letter</a> writing to those&nbsp;who feel a black woman should not play princess Ariel in the live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid'. It read,&nbsp;"Yes. The original author of The Little Mermaid was Danish. Ariel...is a mermaid. She lives in an underwater kingdom in international waters and can legit swim wherever she wants (even though that often upsets King Triton, absolute zaddy). But for the sake of argument, let's say that Ariel, too, is Danish."</p>

<p>"Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black. Ariel can sneak up to the surface at any time with her pals Scuttle and the *ahem* Jamaican crab Sebastian (sorry, Flounder!) and keep that bronze base tight. Black Danish people, and this mer-folk, can also *genetically* (!!!) have red hair," the letter continued.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-news-ryan-reynolds-blake-lively-donate-1-million-to-hunger-relief-organisations-in-response-to-covid-19-fight-286937">Also read:&nbsp;Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively donate $1 million to hunger relief organisations in response to COVID-19 fight</a></p>


Who would have thought that singer and actor Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in the upcoming live action remake of their hugely successful film ‘The Little Mermaid’ would erupt into a controversy?

Who would have thought that singer and actor Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in the upcoming live action remake of their hugely successful film ‘The Little Mermaid’ would erupt into a controversy? Well, it has and people are now taking to Twitter to trend the hashtag #notmymermaid as they think that Halle does not look like the Ariel they visualise of -- a light-skinned and red-haired nymph. Some online petitions even call it a “betrayal of Ariel’s original creator”. Now, releasing a statement, the actress has responded saying, “I am beginning to understand this film is something so much bigger than me.” The remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ was to go into production next month but because of a coronavirus outbreak all over the world, all shoots and production stands postponed as of now. Read some of the tweets here: To all the people saying #NotMyMermaid, I might be wrong here, but I don’t think Disney really wants you to come see their movies, much less be inside of their parks. Just a guess! 🤷🏻‍♂️Disney is a company of acceptance, celebration, and inclusion. And you don’t seem like you are.. — host of TMZ’s “Sammy on the Street” (@sammyjengle) July 13, 2019 × #NotMyAriel #notmylittlemermaid #NotMyMermaid wtf? @Disney shes not ariel!!! #NotMyAriel #notmylittlemermaid #NotMyMermaid pic.twitter.com/ouUaZKk8c7 — Josss Garcia Ramirez (@J0seMontero) July 4, 2019 × Sorry but this is SO WRONG is SO MANY ways!!! Ariel's my favorite take and Disney princess she's Danish she's got redhair Don't change the classics!!! #NotMyAriel #notmylittlemermaid #NotMyMermaid — Mich Xmucane (@MichkatKat) July 4, 2019 × #HalleBailey doesn't look like Ariel! She can be her friend! #TheLittleMermaid #thelittlemermaidmovie #NotMyAriel #notmylittlemermaid #NotMyMermaid pic.twitter.com/eVpU4mhn4W — LOLA🤟👑 (@InsurgentNow) July 4, 2019 × Earlier too, when critics had opposed Halle's casting as Ariel, Disney's cable network Freeform issued an open letter writing to those who feel a black woman should not play princess Ariel in the live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid'. It read, "Yes. The original author of The Little Mermaid was Danish. Ariel...is a mermaid. She lives in an underwater kingdom in international waters and can legit swim wherever she wants (even though that often upsets King Triton, absolute zaddy). But for the sake of argument, let's say that Ariel, too, is Danish." "Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black. Ariel can sneak up to the surface at any time with her pals Scuttle and the *ahem* Jamaican crab Sebastian (sorry, Flounder!) and keep that bronze base tight. Black Danish people, and this mer-folk, can also *genetically* (!!!) have red hair," the letter continued. Also read: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively donate $1 million to hunger relief organisations in response to COVID-19 fight

'The Little Mermaid' remake: #NoMyMermaid trends as online petitions againt Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel gain momentum

<p>Disney's cable network Freeform issued an open letter to the critics who feel a black woman should not play princess Ariel in the live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid'.<br />
<br />
This came after Disney's&nbsp;announcement of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/disney-live-action-little-mermaid-to-star-a-black-ariel-232894">casting child actor Halle Bailey as princess Ariel</a>, following which fans and followers called out the company against the idea.<br />
<br />
Few fans went far enough to start a petition titled #NotMyAriel in order to have Disney recast the character with preferably a white actress with red hair resembling the 1989 animated film.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
After receiving criticism, Freeform posted "An open letter to the Poor, Unfortunate Souls."<br />
<br />
"Yes. The original author of The Little Mermaid was Danish. Ariel...is a mermaid. She lives in an underwater kingdom in international waters and can legit swim wherever she wants (even though that often upsets King Triton, absolute zaddy). But for the sake of argument, let's say that Ariel, too, is Danish," the post read.<br />
<br />
"Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black. Ariel can sneak up to the surface at any time with her pals Scuttle and the *ahem* Jamaican crab Sebastian (sorry, Flounder!) and keep that bronze base tight. Black Danish people, and this mer-folk, can also *genetically* (!!!) have red hair," the letter continued.<br />
<br />
Defending the 'Grown-ish'&nbsp;actor, Freeform further reminded people that the story and the character of Ariel were fictional.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzmMah4gw-g/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">An open letter to the Poor, Unfortunate Souls: ______ #TheLittleMermaid #Ariel #MyAriel</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/freeform/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Freeform</a> (@freeform) on <time datetime="2019-07-07T01:16:58+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jul 6, 2019 at 6:16pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>The role marks the film debut for Bailey following the formation of her music group Chloe x Halle with her sister Chloe in 2015.<br />
<br />
Earlier, child actor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/awkwafina-jacob-tremblay-in-talks-for-disneys-live-action-little-mermaid-232306">Jacob Tremblay and American rapper Awkwafina</a> joined the cast of the film.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Tremblay will play Flounder and Awkwafina will portray Scuttle while actor Melissa McCarthy will be seen playing Ursula.<br />
<br />
The movie scripted by David Magee will include the original songs from the 1989 animated hit as well as new tunes from original composer Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.<br />
<br />
The film is produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marshall, Marc Platt, and John DeLuca.<br />
<br />
The original version revolves around a mermaid princess who sought to meet a human prince on land.</p>


Disney's cable network Freeform issued an open letter to the critics who feel a black woman should not play princess Ariel in the live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid'.

Disney's cable network Freeform issued an open letter to the critics who feel a black woman should not play princess Ariel in the live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid'. This came after Disney's announcement of casting child actor Halle Bailey as princess Ariel, following which fans and followers called out the company against the idea. Few fans went far enough to start a petition titled #NotMyAriel in order to have Disney recast the character with preferably a white actress with red hair resembling the 1989 animated film. After receiving criticism, Freeform posted "An open letter to the Poor, Unfortunate Souls." "Yes. The original author of The Little Mermaid was Danish. Ariel...is a mermaid. She lives in an underwater kingdom in international waters and can legit swim wherever she wants (even though that often upsets King Triton, absolute zaddy). But for the sake of argument, let's say that Ariel, too, is Danish," the post read. "Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black. Ariel can sneak up to the surface at any time with her pals Scuttle and the *ahem* Jamaican crab Sebastian (sorry, Flounder!) and keep that bronze base tight. Black Danish people, and this mer-folk, can also *genetically* (!!!) have red hair," the letter continued. Defending the 'Grown-ish' actor, Freeform further reminded people that the story and the character of Ariel were fictional. View this post on Instagram An open letter to the Poor, Unfortunate Souls: ______ #TheLittleMermaid #Ariel #MyAriel A post shared by Freeform (@freeform) on Jul 6, 2019 at 6:16pm PDT × The role marks the film debut for Bailey following the formation of her music group Chloe x Halle with her sister Chloe in 2015. Earlier, child actor Jacob Tremblay and American rapper Awkwafina joined the cast of the film. Tremblay will play Flounder and Awkwafina will portray Scuttle while actor Melissa McCarthy will be seen playing Ursula. The movie scripted by David Magee will include the original songs from the 1989 animated hit as well as new tunes from original composer Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film is produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marshall, Marc Platt, and John DeLuca. The original version revolves around a mermaid princess who sought to meet a human prince on land.

Disney's Freeform calls out critics opposing Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel

<p>R&amp;B singer Halle Bailey is to play Ariel in a live-action version of 'The Little Mermaid,'&nbsp;she said Wednesday, in a rare casting of a black actress as a Disney princess.</p>

<p>Bailey, 19, who rose to fame under the wing of pop queen Beyonce, said it was a "dream come true" to play the lead role.</p>

<p>She tweeted a cartoon image of the princess in which the traditionally red-headed Ariel has dark skin, brown eyes and black hair.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Director Rob Marshall said Bailey had been cast after an extensive search, and praised her "rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance -- plus a glorious singing voice."</p>

<p>News of the casting was trending on Twitter late Wednesday, with many fans overjoyed by the decision.</p>

<p>"If your Egyptian adaptations (actually historical) can be white people, Ariel (a fictional character) can be black," wrote one Twitter user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Like most Disney princesses, Ariel has been portrayed as pale-skinned in previous cartoon films, in which she was voiced by white actress Jodi Benson.</p>

<p>Disney came under criticism last year for "whitewashing" Princess Tiana in the cartoon movie 'Ralph Breaks the Internet,'&nbsp;hastily redrawing the character with darker features just months before the film's release.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bailey's casting comes more than two decades after Disney cast singer Brandy, who is also black, as Cinderella in a live-action 1997 film.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bailey is part of Atlanta-based sister duo Chloe x Halle, who received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist last year.</p>

<p>Beyonce became a mentor of sorts to them after seeing the pair cover her song 'Pretty Hurts'&nbsp;in 2013.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They were signed to her label soon after, and Beyonce took them on her tour in 2016.</p>

<p>Former first lady Michelle Obama is a fan of the duo, turned on to their music by daughters Sasha and Malia.</p>

<p>'The Little Mermaid'&nbsp;will be the latest in a crop of live-action remakes of classic Disney movies, including the recent 'Aladdin.'</p>

<p>Filming is slated to begin next year.&nbsp;</p>


R&B singer Halle Bailey is to play Ariel in a live-action version of 'The Little Mermaid,' she said Wednesday, in a rare casting of a black actress as a Disney princess.

R&B singer Halle Bailey is to play Ariel in a live-action version of 'The Little Mermaid,' she said Wednesday, in a rare casting of a black actress as a Disney princess. Bailey, 19, who rose to fame under the wing of pop queen Beyonce, said it was a "dream come true" to play the lead role. She tweeted a cartoon image of the princess in which the traditionally red-headed Ariel has dark skin, brown eyes and black hair. Director Rob Marshall said Bailey had been cast after an extensive search, and praised her "rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance -- plus a glorious singing voice." News of the casting was trending on Twitter late Wednesday, with many fans overjoyed by the decision. "If your Egyptian adaptations (actually historical) can be white people, Ariel (a fictional character) can be black," wrote one Twitter user. Like most Disney princesses, Ariel has been portrayed as pale-skinned in previous cartoon films, in which she was voiced by white actress Jodi Benson. Disney came under criticism last year for "whitewashing" Princess Tiana in the cartoon movie 'Ralph Breaks the Internet,' hastily redrawing the character with darker features just months before the film's release. Bailey's casting comes more than two decades after Disney cast singer Brandy, who is also black, as Cinderella in a live-action 1997 film. Bailey is part of Atlanta-based sister duo Chloe x Halle, who received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist last year. Beyonce became a mentor of sorts to them after seeing the pair cover her song 'Pretty Hurts' in 2013. They were signed to her label soon after, and Beyonce took them on her tour in 2016. Former first lady Michelle Obama is a fan of the duo, turned on to their music by daughters Sasha and Malia. 'The Little Mermaid' will be the latest in a crop of live-action remakes of classic Disney movies, including the recent 'Aladdin.' Filming is slated to begin next year.

Disney live-action 'Little Mermaid' to star a black Ariel