Black Ariel backlash: Jodi Benson – The original voice of The Little Mermaid for Ariel – Freeform, and other actors defend the cast of black actress Halle Bailey in an action movie



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Disney creates a new live version of his animated classic movie "The Little Mermaid", and Halle Bailey was chosen to play Ariel. Some fans have criticized Disney for entrusting the lead role to a black actress. The rebuttal of Disney? Sirens are not one race or another, they are not even real.

Freeform, Disney's teen-centered cable channel, defended the casting decision of its parent company. "Yes, the original author of" The Little Mermaid "was Danish, Ariel … is a mermaid," said Freeform on Instagram. "She lives in an underwater kingdom in international waters and can swim as she pleases (even if it often annoys King Triton, an absolute zaddy)."

Although the long post has some indiscreet elements, Freeform made a statement to the critics. "But for the sake of argument, let's say Ariel is also Danish, Danish sirens can be black because Danish people can be black," says Freeform's message. "Ariel can go back to the surface with his Scuttle buddies and the Jamaican crab * ahem *, Sebastian (sorry, Flounder!), Keeping this base in tight bronze, the black Danes, and this people, can also * genetically * (!!!) have red hair. "

Freeform then declared the evidence – the appellant sarcastically a "release alert". "The character of Ariel is a work of fiction," continues the post. "So, after all this is said and done, and you still can not go beyond the idea that choosing the incredible, sensational, extremely talented and beautiful Halle Bailey is something other than the INSPIRED casting that c & # 39; is because she does not look like a cartoon, "oh my boy, do I have news for you … about you?"

Bailey, 19, and half of the Chloe x Halle singing duet, received support from several celebrities, including Jodi Benson, who played Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" in 1989.

During his speech at the Florida Supercon convention, Benson defended Disney's cast selection. "The most important thing is to tell the story," she said, according to Comicbook.com. "As a family, we raised our children and, for ourselves, we do not see anything different on the outside."

"I think it's really the spirit of the character that matters," continued Benson. "What really matters, what you bring to the table of a character as big as his heart and his mind"

The singer and actress then said that she could also have been judged. "Let's face it, I'm really, really old – and so when I sing" Part of Your World ", if you judged me on the way I look from the outside, that could change the way you interpret the song, "she said. "But if you close your eyes, you can still hear Ariel's spirit."

Another woman used to playing a princess came to Bailey's defense. Keke Palmer, who played Broadway's first black Cinderella, criticized critics, saying that they were "scared because Hollywood is striving to be more diverse among the people that they are. show on the screen ".

"But let me ask you this: why can not a siren be black?" Palmer said at an appearance on Strahan and Sara on Monday. "Why is it too unrealistic for you because you know she's friend with a talking crab, and I know you're not the smartest, but crabs can not speak." Actually, everything is fiction! "

Several other stars were excited about Bailey's casting. Zendaya congratulated the singer on Twitter and Terry Crews suggested he play King Triton by his side.

And of course, Halle Berry reacted when some people mistook her for the young actress Bailey. "In case you need a reminder … Halls, do it DONE," tweeted Berry.

In response to the news that she would play Ariel, Bailey posted a photo of herself with red hair on Instagram, as well as a drawing of herself depicting a mermaid next to her. the original animation Ariel. "Proud", she simply subtitled the message on the account of ChloƩ x Halle.

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