Halle Bailey has drawn a great deal of appreciation from filmgoers and critics with her efficiency as Ariel in Disney’s brand-new variation of The Little Mermaid, however her casting has not gone without some criticism from a little however singing group of individuals online. Even long in the past the very first teaser trailer had actually been launched, exposing our very first peek at Bailey in the function, the social networks backlash existed. Some have actually blasted the casting as “woke,” recommending that Bailey was just cast due to her skin color and some type of program from the filmmakers. These social networks critics have actually been boycotting the movie also by attempting to promote the hashtag #NotMyAriel.

Someone who comprehends precisely what Bailey has gone through with this scenario is Stephanie Mills. A Black starlet, Mills was cast as Dorothy almost 5 years ago for The Wiz, a Broadway reveal adjustment of The Wizard of Oz. Because she keeps in mind the vicious remarks and other methods she had actually been bothered since of the casting, Mills composed a letter to Bailey which she has likewise launched on Twitter for everybody else to checked out also.

“I know what this baby Halle Bailey has been dealing with,” Mill’s letter says in part. “I got so much hate mail, I was told Judy Garland ‘is turning over in her grave.’ All because a little Black girl was playing a role, that was once played by a white girl. It’s sad to see the same thing is happening to this beautiful, talented, smart, and intelligent actress. Halle, God put you in this place and time… So let your light shine. Hold your head up high, walk in your peace, and celebrate the greatness that you are.”

Reflecting on how people todl her she would “never make it” on Broadway since she was too dark, only for her to prove everyone wrong, Mills likewise noted, “I am so proud of how you handled all the naysayers. We have never met, however I have been in your shoes. Baby girl, let them know that this Little Mermaid is made of teflon.”

The letter in full can be viewed below.


The Little Mermaid Swims to Success

Halle Bailey as Ariel

The naysayers had been suggesting that The Little Mermaid would be a complete failure, feeling that confident that changing the skin color of Ariel would have a disastrous effect on the film’s success. The opposite is ringing true, however, as The Little Mermaid has made a big splash at the box office upon release. It’s looking to bank around $118 million for the Memorial Day weekend, numbers that will make Disney very happy. It likewise has been pulling in high audience scores, which would suggest that the critics are far outnumbered by those who’ve been loving Ariel in the movie.

The Little Mermaid is now playing in movie theaters. Along with Halle Bailey as Ariel, the movie stars Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, Awkwafina, Daveed Diggs, and Jacob Tremblay.