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Even though the new live-action Little Mermaid movie has officially come to theaters, some people are still complaining about the casting of singer Halle Bailey in the role of Ariel.
The Haters Continue to Hate
One complaint coming from Disney fans involves Halle’s locs, which do differ from the bright red hair of the original 1989 Disney princess in the first animated Little Mermaid movie — but Halle Bailey made it clear in a recent Ebony interview that she very deliberately chose to sport her “natural hair” in all its glory while playing the mermaid.
The most unrealistic thing about the new Little Mermaid is Ariel’s hair not being bright red
— nicole (@colees_b) March 13, 2023
“The most unrealistic thing about the new Little Mermaid is Ariel’s hair not being bright red,” one person declared. “The OG Little Mermaid came out years ago and Ariel had red hair. Can’t change that. Won’t change that,” another Disney fan complained.
The OG Little Mermaid came out years ago and Ariel had red hair. Can’t change that. Won’t change that.
— LOWERCASE GUY (@LOWERCASEGUY88) March 13, 2023
“The shade of red that they decided to make her hair is gorgeous and a little more realistic in my opinion,” another Disney fan wrote in defense of Halle Bailey’s natural hair. “i think if anyone (even if not halle) had played ariel and had the bright red cartoon accurate hair it would’ve been so unserious and tacky.”
off topic but the shade of red that they decided to make her hair is gorgeous and a little more realistic in my opinion i think if anyone (even if not halle) had played ariel and had the bright red cartoon accurate hair it would’ve been so unserious and tacky https://t.co/CkW4C6wGJA
— l (@dyodayas) March 13, 2023
“Beautiful and More Than Acceptable” Hair
Halle herself had a lot to say on the topic!
“There’s so much Black diversity on-screen now,” the actress and singer (who enthralled audiences with her recent Disneyland performance of the signature Ariel song, “Part of Your World”) said in response to the debate. “There was a time when we’d barely see locs — and now we have a Disney princess with them, which has never happened before.”
According to Halle Bailey, the film’s director Rob Marshall was just as confident as she was when it came to avoiding any wigs or alternate hairstyles for Ariel.
“It was super important for me to have my natural hair in this film,” the young performer, who got her start alongside her sister Chlöe as two of BeyoncĂ© protĂ©gĂ©es, explained. “I was really grateful to Rob Marshall, because he wanted to keep my locs. It’s always important to have somebody to cosign.”
Do You See Yourself In the New Ariel?
“I’ve had my locs since I was 5, so they’re a huge part of who I am,” the Disney princess added.
“We need to be able to see ourselves. We need to be able to see our hair on big screens like this, so that we know that it’s beautiful and more than acceptable,” Bailey finished.
As one person succinctly declared online amidst the ‘Ariel hair color’ debate, “get over it.”
People still complaining about Ariel’s hair. Like get over it🙄
— Hooch (@hoochianaaa) March 13, 2023
Were you happy to see Halle Bailey sporting her locs while playing Ariel the little mermaid?
Have you seen the new film yet in theaters — and if you have, what are your thoughts on this infamous new song?
