Disney casts Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Twitter freaks out

It seems Disney is not done remaking every single 90s animated movie from its past. A report by Variety on Wednesday revealed that the company has cast singer Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid.

Director Rob Marshall described the star as a “rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance”.

After the reveal, an argument over Bailey’s race began to trend on Twitter.

Are people really getting mad over the race of Ariel, she’s a fucking fish 🤣 pic.twitter.com/lJlqzQrT5H

— 🌸HonestyorHungry🌸 (@ziacoolgirl) July 4, 2019

everything was going so well.. but seriously?? Ariel? Disney wtf? @Disney pic.twitter.com/QhJ5V75q8i

— Shaaneia Zara (@_shengkit) July 4, 2019

everyone is so mad about halle bailey playing ariel in the new little mermaid movie but WHY? do YOU SEE THE RESEMBLANCE???? THEIR FACIAL FEATURES R SO SIMILAR!! i’m fuckin stoked!! stop making excuses as to why u don’t want her to play the role, you’re racist, we get it, fuck off pic.twitter.com/LOJzd1q7TM

— bec (@foggyvisions) July 4, 2019

Y’all more upset and outspoken about a black Ariel than children in cages or a corrupt government… gtfoh with your racist shit!

— Trinity The Tuck (@TrinityTheTuck) July 4, 2019

People when they heard the casting for Ariel: pic.twitter.com/BsEcoThxB8

— D.A. (@alfaro26_) July 4, 2019

“tHatS nOt My ARieL” pic.twitter.com/pb70VEAsdc

— All$In No$Out (@bekazau) July 4, 2019

It’s funny seeing all these people about Ariel being black, just wait until they find out that mermaids aren’t real

— Callum 🤙 (@CJAGranger) July 4, 2019

Disney did not comment on the discussion.

white people trying to
explain why Ariel should
be white disney pic.twitter.com/n830yiutqf

— 𝖘𝖑𝖚𝖙 𝖚𝖑𝖙𝖗𝖆 (@leicfur) July 4, 2019

Racists: Ariel is supposed to be white…i can’t believe Disney 😡

Disney: pic.twitter.com/2HwdEkNuyf

— Cy’esha (@cy_bby) July 4, 2019

Feature image: screenshot, Chloe X Halle via YouTube