AUSTIN, Texas — It's been almost a week since teen actress Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
- Two actresses speak about experience playing Ariel
- Halle Bailey was cast in the live-action remake of Little Mermaid
- Casting sparked backlash on social media
It didn't take long after the announcement for the backlash to hit Twitter. It's not the first time an actress playing Ariel has faced criticism.
Diana Huey, who is Japanese-American, played Ariel in a 2017 touring musical production. She is the first woman of color to take on the role and said she dealt with internet trolls in the past.
"No one was never not kind to my face. It was all on the internet. It was just, you know, easy to hide behind your screen, your computer and say whatever you want like ‘Oh these aren't real people. I'm not actually saying this to someone,’ and it's like 'No you are and your words matter,'" she said.
Huey isn't the only mermaid coming to Bailey's defense. Alyssa Rutledge plays Ariel for Princess Party Club. Rutledge said her very first performance came with concerns about race.
"I was nervous about not being taken seriously, you know I spent years and years singing, dancing and acting. I played the role well, but there was that in the back of my mind."
The multi-racial performer says she's never had any problems with kids calling her out for not being a white Ariel.
"They ran right up to me you know just full open arms, acceptance, just so much love," Rutledge said.
The kids we spoke to say they are excited at the prospect of another African-American Disney Princess.
“Her race isn't crucial at all, and you know mermaids are fictional. I think representation is what matters,” 15-year-old Zoe Walgren said.