The Internet Rages When “Little Mermaid” Trailer Reveals a Black Ariel

By Isaiah Joseph | Published November 1, 2022

During our early childhood, we built relationships with fictional characters that we watched on television.

These characters are special to us because as we see them on television, we also see ourselves being represented on screen. As a child sees a character that looks like them, it gives them a sense of importance to be proud of who they are.

Throughout the years we have seen more diversity in television as original characters are being depicted as other races such as Black, Hispanic, Asian, etc., and audiences have had their different perspectives on it. 

One instance of this is the rising controversy over the new live-action depiction of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”, where the main protagonist Ariel is portrayed by a Black actress and singer, Halle Bailey. 

Chelsea Gray, Kean graduate, and Nu Theta Chi (NOX) alumnus believed that the actresses who auditioned for the role all had a fair chance to express their talent and their version of Ariel.

“I like it, it’s not forced,” Gray said. “And being forced is like they are just throwing Black people on the screen to appeal to a Black audience, she worked for the role and earned it.”

Ariel, is a fictional character, with no defined skin color in her original material. She was originally written by a Danish author in the 1800s. 

She has been portrayed in ballet and movies by Asian, Russian, and mixed-race individuals, her cartoon depictions are typically pale.

Controversy arose when Disney showcased the trailer on different social media platforms where they give you a glimpse of a mysterious immersive undersea world, and at the end of the trailer, viewers see Bailey with her luscious red braids flowing under the water beautifully singing before the trailer comes to a close.

Social media was outraged. People cracked their fingers and readied their opinions to unleash onto posts that involved the black actress and her new role.

As many were frenzied, many also rejoiced in shock and happiness, and many young Black girls and older women were excited to see themselves being portrayed on screen. 

Bailey applied and auditioned for the role when Rob Marshall, the director of the film, suggested that she should go for it.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Marshall was interviewed during Disney’s 25th-anniversary expo stating that he went through every actress who auditioned for the role giving everyone a chance.

Marshall knew the ideal choice for the position and he chose Bailey.

“They weren’t aiming to cast a Black woman,” said Gray “They were aiming to find the best fit and she was the best fit.”

People seem to be overreacting about a children’s movie when there are way more important things to worry about. 

The audience of fictional films tends not to accept diversity within new depictions or remakes of the source material.

For example, fictional races (elves and dwarves) within the original “Lord of the rings” are seen with lighter or white skin whereas the new amazon original rings of power introduce us to a more diverse world where the audience encounters Black elves and dwarves and/or other races with a more diverse cast.

If you are used to seeing something for years it is hard to accept new changes.

“People don’t like change, but on top of that some are just racist,” Gray said.

Kean senior and global business major Sarah Clamp opposed the casting of Bailey being selected as the leading role for the film.

Clamp stands her ground to express that Disney’s decision to cast a Black woman as Ariel is absurd and shouldn’t happen.

“I was enjoying the trailer, and was on the edge of my seat filled with excitement until I saw the character,” Clamp said. 

Clamp was disappointed when she found that one of her favorite Disney princesses was being depicted as a Black woman.

According to the daily campus, the report explains that people of color remained only 25.4 percent and 25.9 percent of film directors and film writers in 2020, respectively.

Similarly, in 2020 women only accounted for 20.5 percent of film directors and 26 percent of film writers.

“This version is not to my liking, since I was little Ariel was white with bright red hair,” Clamp said. “I prefer that they don’t mess with the originals and keep it as they are,”

Gray interjected to educate Clamp on the understanding of representation Disney portrays in their film and why it is important.

“Being represented in media means a lot, especially to children seeing themselves on the big screen,” Gray said. “It’s not the story that’s changing, it’s the character.”

Clamp retaliates to tell Gray that representation is good but they don’t need to change the classics to do it.

“I’m sure Halle will do an amazing job but it all seems forced,” Clamp said. 

With the two going back and forth about their takes on the controversy it displays that the two sides may never come to a common ground. 

Their interaction shows the perfect example of how social media also won’t come to a common ground as the battle between the two parties continues to wage until the release of the film.

“Ariel should’ve been left as it is but I guess Halle will do an ok job,” Clamp said.

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