Halle Bailey reveals that the racist backlash she faced after being cast as Ariel in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” remake taught her to listen to her own positive inner dialogue.
Promoting her upcoming romantic comedy “You, Me and Tuscany,” Bailey described the experience of being in the middle of that conversation as freeing because it allowed her to observe various reactions as if her life were an experiment conducted within a cup, The Independent reported.
The 26-year-old actress told The Independent that being casted as the iconic mermaid princess was, “a beautiful experience for me, and I feel like it taught me to listen to myself and the good voices inside. I learnt how to block out the noise.”
For her debut film role, Bailey was casted in the 2023 live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” but her casting was met with disapproval by some fans due to Bailey being Black American and the original Ariel being white in the initial 1989 cartoon version, TODAY reported.
Despite the international backlash, Bailey was supported by her family and peers such as Zendaya and Ariana Grande, while her grandparents used their personal history with discrimination to help her understand the broader impact the role would have on fellow Black and brown girls, according to Variety.
Director Rob Marshall emphasized that the production had no specific agenda and selected Bailey after an extensive search involving actors of all ethnicities to find the best person for the role, Variety reported.
The Grammy nominated singer explained that she uses guided meditation and stays grounded through her connection to nature while specifically choosing roles that ensure underrepresented groups see themselves reflected on screen, according to People.
Bailey is currently involved in an upcoming musical comedy with Jesse Eisenberg and Paul Giamatti, though her Pharrell Williams biopic titled “Golden” was unceremoniously canceled last year by the producers, The Independent reported.
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