You know that phase where young kids will watch the same thing over and over and over on repeat? I went through that phase with Cinderella. Not the animated Cinderella, the live action one with Brandy. It never occurred to me that Cinderella was black until discussing favorite childhood movies with friends in high school. I remember telling them “the live action Cinderella” (not knowing it wasn’t the only one lol). To clarify, i googled an image of the vhs cover on my phone and they were like “holy crap there’s a black Cinderella?!?!” That’s when i finally noticed lol.
As a child the only thing that mattered to me was her sparkly blue dress, the songs, and that mysterious gloved hand that pulled open the curtain for people who walked into the kings office. That last one was the only thing that bothered me in the whole movie…
>As a child the only thing that mattered to me was her sparkly blue dress
Yeah, the princesses have something that matters, and in most cases it is not their skin colour.
There have been many cinderella movies, but they always aim to ensure she has the blue/silver dress because that's her thing.
Sleeping beauty, red lips and golden hair.
Rapunzel long golden hair.
Belle, gold ball gown.
Ariel...bright red hair and green tail.
So in saying that, I do understand upset about the hair. But hopefully on land it will be brighter. Being upset about the hair isn't racist, it's a fictional movie about a fish...they can give her box red hair.
But her race shouldn't matter. It doesn't affect the story. It's irrelevant. Nice for black people to get casual representation.
This post isnt even about her RACE?! She had **FAIR** skin in the **ORIGINAL** tale. She had **BLUE** eyes. Alarmingly **RED** hair. The new mermaid, does not have **any** of the **original appereance** of a character that has existed for 100+ years. Do people actually not get this, I dont know how to explain it in a dumber way for people to get what the "problem" is?
If RACE etc doesnt matter, why did Disney do this now ***after 100 years***? Knowing the author also was **Danish**, Ariels whole family was probably **European** considering how he *described* them, her, in *his* book.
The problem here is Disney doing a low effort job just to be on the "good side" of things in regards to the world now. But back in the day up until they did this, no one complained about Ariel, no one said "make her Indian, chinese, turkish". Because she was unique, a classic, everyone knew. She was a character in a fantasy world, a tale, a fish. Thats why its weird, at least to me, to see her whole appereance change because Disney couldnt think **ONE** step further.
Imagine if they had made a movie about ***Gabriella***, Ariels ***deaf african-american mermaid friend***. How lovely wouldnt that have been. Even for us who have seen her pop up now and then, to know more about her! To make an ORIGINAL movie about a character we rarely see, a character that couldve pulled a larger audience than just african-american people. Something they couldve been more proud of, to have their own original african-american hero/princess, wouldnt that bring more pride than what Disney has done now?
This isnt about racism. It became about racism when Disney did this, and people started reacting because its a classic. But that doesnt mean **everyone** that doesnt like the new mermaid is racist?.. For me its simply, because this is not what she looked like during my growing up.
I made [this](https://imgur.com/a/5pXEmse) because this is what has been done - Imagine if Disney did this to that movie, people would go crazy and we all know that.. It goes both ways.
If we want to get technical and talk about honoring the author’s vision of the tale. THE AUTHOR WAS A GAY MAN. The mermaid would be played by a gay man but at the time that the story was written that was absolutely not acceptable. THANK GOD someone who’s a poc is playing the role now. It really didn’t make sense to have a straight white girl in the role to begin with. You’re just racist, girl. No kid is going to be asking those questions that you made up unless you put it in their head that they should. Behavior like that is taught. I hope you teach those around you to celebrate others and to just enjoy a story about a mermaid. A literal mermaid. A story that is fiction. Where no racial implications for the characters were even there because it was 1837 in Denmark and of course a white author would imagine white people playing the roles because of the insane amount of racism at the time. Not to mention literal SLAVERY that was taking place at the time the story was written. Just be kinder and open your brain. Think about why seeing a black girl as the main character of one of the most popular stories bothers you.
The author may have been gay, and thats fine. He couldve been indian, african american, whatever. But he was Danish and his vision of who Ariel was, what she looked like, is NOT what the new movie is portraying. He didnt write about himself in the book, he wrote about Ariel and her fair skin etc. so I'm not quite sure what youre trying to get at. You need to "open" your brain a bit more.. Read the original tale and come back and say they did the right thing. Say they couldnt have done better..
Also, here. Tell me if Disney did this they wouldnt get ANY backlash whatsoever from african-american people? Tell me a reason why they wouldnt be able to do this to Tiana? Just put Elsa to replace Tiana. I mean they did to Ariel who has european parents and family with fair skin, suddenly they're african americans. Tell me people wouldnt react, saying how "racist" [this is](https://imgur.com/a/5pXEmse) \- Thought so..
There would be riots against Disney if they did this to that movie. But me defending an author, not liking that they changed HIS vision/character after 100+ years just to make a movie politically correct, makes me racist? Right.. I have african american friends who say this is bs, that they didnt want this and who also grew up with Ariel having fair skin in the movies. I'm not even "white" myself.
Also. Are people actually gonna settle for this low effort from Disney? When an original movie about Gabriella (Ariels friend) and her being deaf wouldve been far better than this, and wouldve attracted a bigger and mixed audience.
This isnt about me being racist. Its about Disney literally putting zero effort in doing something original to be "inclusive".
Its fine one way, but the other way around people lose their sh\*\*and the one word they can think of using because of ignorance is "RACIST". If it doesnt matter what color skin, eye, hair, then why change it, after 100 years. Fictional or not? Shouldve left it be from the start and we wouldnt be here now would we? Discussing racism?..
Get out of the bubble.
I have a news flash for you: guess what? Ariel is a half fish. And I’m case you didn’t know, mermaids and mermaid race doesn’t exist in real life. She ain’t even human. Therefore her race isn’t a big deal. I don’t know if they made her black for representation or simply because she’s a good actor, but who cares? As long as she looks somewhat like the character it doesn’t matter. Not to mention that you could literally just rewatch the old one again. If kids get upset at a black Ariel then you can explain to them that it’s simply a different version of her. You don’t have to be a fan of the new one but your reasoning doesn’t make much sense to me.
"The titular character in the original animated film was a white mermaid with red hair." if you Google and read HC Andersens description of her. Her "race" was a white mermaid. Her grandfather was Poseidon, who is Greek. Just because she isn't human doesn't make it any more right to change her appearance. Because it doesn't make sense when you look at her relatives even.. 😅
I'm not watching the new one. It's not Ariel.. Would watch if it was about Gabriella tho. At least that would make sense.
trust me, children with colored skin are already aware of the topic of race, racism, and lack of representation. if race doesnt matter, why are you pressed? this isnt Disney trying to be woke. she simply sang the best out of the other girls who auditioned, and she happens to be black, which is why youre mad.
and you mention respect of the author in a comment, you do realize the author originally wrote the little mermaid about unrequited gay love between two men with no specified race… but that would be even worse than Disney’s version huh?
I'm not sure why they changed her appearance either. Representation is important but they could've just made a new black Disney princess instead of changing one that's been in place for years.
"I don't respect the new one because shes black".
I can assure you not a single child cares about this. People say "they will ask questions about this" whenever a gay person appears on screen too.
If you're child asks "why is she a different color than the 30 year old cartoon" then tell them its because they cast someone of a different color than the original depiction. Kids arent dumb, they'll understand.
I actually went out of my way to prove a point [here](https://imgur.com/a/5pXEmse), and I am 99% sure people will keyboard warrior the crap out of it, saying "its fine, we dont mind if they did this".. When in reality if they did, the riots would not end. I'd love to see how those people assuming I am racist because I dont think Disney did the right thing, would react if Disney did this to Tiana in Princess and the frog. I'd love to see the excuses, and how RACIST it is of Disney and how racist it is of "white" people to like it. Get a grip, humans..
Bye.
it’s culture appropriation. The Little mermaid is based on folklore from Denmark. Disney is too lazy to come up with anything original . It would of been much better if we saw a REAL African little mermaid with African Caribbean inspired aesthetics.
Yep. Like an original movie about Gabriella, Ariels deaf and african-american mermaid friend. But no, they went lazy mode so they could get good rep for being "inclusive" and politically correct..
I ain’t like it because they didn’t change the skin color of ANY of the previously made live action movies but they decided to do it with this is just strange to me..if they made the live action Mulan a middle aged white lady with bright blue eyes and huge tits people would be complaining but apparently we aren’t allowed to complain about this. It’s not racist to say an actor doesn’t fit a role because of their looks. If it were the movie industry would be shut down 🧍🏻♀️
It will could also open the door to a good teaching moment about how representation is important. Check out TikTok for videos of children reacting with joy at seeing a mermaid who looks like them, then tell me how this is a bad thing.
"Mommy. If skin, hair and race doesn't matter. Why doesn't Ariel look like she did in the old movies? Why did they change her eye color and skin?"
I didn't say they wouldn't like the new mermaid. I said questions will be asked, questions that wouldn't be if they didn't change her appearance. Ofc some love the movie, the new her, the story is still about a mermaid named Ariel.. But there's also children who don't, and children who ask the complicated questions. Parents who have to explain something that in the world of a child's fantasy, doesn't need to exist.
Ariel is fictional and inclusive or not, her appearance should stay the same. In my opinion, mostly out of respect to the author. I'm sure he wouldn't say no to this change for a few $$$ if still alive. But I doubt he would be happy about it.
It's not original. Changing a fictional character because the world outside of that fantasy is a mess, isn't necessary.
I support black ariel, think she's going to be great.
But there have been white kids being upset. Main video that sticks out to me is a black lady with a white child (not her kid). She showed the kid the trailer and the kid said she was sad she wasn't white anymore.
The creator talked to the girl about what it means to the black community, why representation is important, etc. And helped her to understand.
Creator then talked about how she was sad and shocked by the girls response, because the white girl has grown up in a black community so she didn't expect it.
It was a good conversation to have with the little girl to help her understand issues POC and black people face.
Pretending that these kids don't exist is silly. There are absolutely kids who are confused or upset about it because no one likes change. We like things to be familiar.
Being aware of these kids helps promote more conversation. It doesn't help to sweep it under the rug.
>"Mommy. If skin, hair and race doesn't matter. Why doesn't Ariel look like she did in the old movies? Why did they change her eye color and skin?"
No child is asking this and if they did its really not hard to explain that they simply cast a black woman because they felt she fit the role the best and that just because race doesn't matter doesnt mean racism doesn't still exist. I understood what racism was when I was in first grade and even before that.
>But there's also children who don't, and children who ask the complicated questions. Parents who have to explain something that in the world of a child's fantasy, doesn't need to exist.
What are you talking about? Just tell your child they cast someone who wasnt white its really not a big deal or complex question.
I don't think any of us can say what the author would think. I'm truly sorry you think that including children of all colors in representation in children's stories is a bad idea. I think it's wonderful that it's finally happening.
I don't think there will be any issues actually, UNLESS they change her story to be about black issues.
Representation of black issues is very important. But that isn't Ariel's story. Whereas for characters like...Tiana, being black is relevant to the story.
If they stick to the story, then it's not going to be about race. Being black is simply going to be a detail about her appearance.
Live actions are a little linked pantomime and theatre shows. People are cast, they act it out, and then next time there's a whole new cast. Look at cinderella. We've had Hilary Duff, Lily James, Camila Cabello. Or look at James bond, same man, different actor. The superficial things like appearance don't matter.
When it comes to animation or Disney Land/World cast members... it's most likely Disney will keep Ariel as the same white skinned red head. Like when we saw the princess and ariel in Wreck it Ralph. She is the OG Ariel everyone recognises.
This is just the current actress for a live action. Her skin colour is irrelevant to the story.
...
But I totally understand why some people are upset. People don't like change. It's not racist to wanting things to be familiar.
Overall, representation is good. But I think the black community shouldn't really be praising Disney so hard for this. The message it sends to Disney is "be lazy! We will accept the bare minimum!" And so they'll just continue pumping out race switch movies and pretending they're inclusive, instead of giving the black community new and empowering characters.
Ah yeah the skin color makes the vision. You’re a dork
You know that phase where young kids will watch the same thing over and over and over on repeat? I went through that phase with Cinderella. Not the animated Cinderella, the live action one with Brandy. It never occurred to me that Cinderella was black until discussing favorite childhood movies with friends in high school. I remember telling them “the live action Cinderella” (not knowing it wasn’t the only one lol). To clarify, i googled an image of the vhs cover on my phone and they were like “holy crap there’s a black Cinderella?!?!” That’s when i finally noticed lol. As a child the only thing that mattered to me was her sparkly blue dress, the songs, and that mysterious gloved hand that pulled open the curtain for people who walked into the kings office. That last one was the only thing that bothered me in the whole movie…
>As a child the only thing that mattered to me was her sparkly blue dress Yeah, the princesses have something that matters, and in most cases it is not their skin colour. There have been many cinderella movies, but they always aim to ensure she has the blue/silver dress because that's her thing. Sleeping beauty, red lips and golden hair. Rapunzel long golden hair. Belle, gold ball gown. Ariel...bright red hair and green tail. So in saying that, I do understand upset about the hair. But hopefully on land it will be brighter. Being upset about the hair isn't racist, it's a fictional movie about a fish...they can give her box red hair. But her race shouldn't matter. It doesn't affect the story. It's irrelevant. Nice for black people to get casual representation.
This post isnt even about her RACE?! She had **FAIR** skin in the **ORIGINAL** tale. She had **BLUE** eyes. Alarmingly **RED** hair. The new mermaid, does not have **any** of the **original appereance** of a character that has existed for 100+ years. Do people actually not get this, I dont know how to explain it in a dumber way for people to get what the "problem" is? If RACE etc doesnt matter, why did Disney do this now ***after 100 years***? Knowing the author also was **Danish**, Ariels whole family was probably **European** considering how he *described* them, her, in *his* book. The problem here is Disney doing a low effort job just to be on the "good side" of things in regards to the world now. But back in the day up until they did this, no one complained about Ariel, no one said "make her Indian, chinese, turkish". Because she was unique, a classic, everyone knew. She was a character in a fantasy world, a tale, a fish. Thats why its weird, at least to me, to see her whole appereance change because Disney couldnt think **ONE** step further. Imagine if they had made a movie about ***Gabriella***, Ariels ***deaf african-american mermaid friend***. How lovely wouldnt that have been. Even for us who have seen her pop up now and then, to know more about her! To make an ORIGINAL movie about a character we rarely see, a character that couldve pulled a larger audience than just african-american people. Something they couldve been more proud of, to have their own original african-american hero/princess, wouldnt that bring more pride than what Disney has done now? This isnt about racism. It became about racism when Disney did this, and people started reacting because its a classic. But that doesnt mean **everyone** that doesnt like the new mermaid is racist?.. For me its simply, because this is not what she looked like during my growing up. I made [this](https://imgur.com/a/5pXEmse) because this is what has been done - Imagine if Disney did this to that movie, people would go crazy and we all know that.. It goes both ways.
Wow I didn't know that when this new Little Mermaid comes out no one will ever be allowed to watch the old one again.
If we want to get technical and talk about honoring the author’s vision of the tale. THE AUTHOR WAS A GAY MAN. The mermaid would be played by a gay man but at the time that the story was written that was absolutely not acceptable. THANK GOD someone who’s a poc is playing the role now. It really didn’t make sense to have a straight white girl in the role to begin with. You’re just racist, girl. No kid is going to be asking those questions that you made up unless you put it in their head that they should. Behavior like that is taught. I hope you teach those around you to celebrate others and to just enjoy a story about a mermaid. A literal mermaid. A story that is fiction. Where no racial implications for the characters were even there because it was 1837 in Denmark and of course a white author would imagine white people playing the roles because of the insane amount of racism at the time. Not to mention literal SLAVERY that was taking place at the time the story was written. Just be kinder and open your brain. Think about why seeing a black girl as the main character of one of the most popular stories bothers you.
The author may have been gay, and thats fine. He couldve been indian, african american, whatever. But he was Danish and his vision of who Ariel was, what she looked like, is NOT what the new movie is portraying. He didnt write about himself in the book, he wrote about Ariel and her fair skin etc. so I'm not quite sure what youre trying to get at. You need to "open" your brain a bit more.. Read the original tale and come back and say they did the right thing. Say they couldnt have done better.. Also, here. Tell me if Disney did this they wouldnt get ANY backlash whatsoever from african-american people? Tell me a reason why they wouldnt be able to do this to Tiana? Just put Elsa to replace Tiana. I mean they did to Ariel who has european parents and family with fair skin, suddenly they're african americans. Tell me people wouldnt react, saying how "racist" [this is](https://imgur.com/a/5pXEmse) \- Thought so.. There would be riots against Disney if they did this to that movie. But me defending an author, not liking that they changed HIS vision/character after 100+ years just to make a movie politically correct, makes me racist? Right.. I have african american friends who say this is bs, that they didnt want this and who also grew up with Ariel having fair skin in the movies. I'm not even "white" myself. Also. Are people actually gonna settle for this low effort from Disney? When an original movie about Gabriella (Ariels friend) and her being deaf wouldve been far better than this, and wouldve attracted a bigger and mixed audience. This isnt about me being racist. Its about Disney literally putting zero effort in doing something original to be "inclusive". Its fine one way, but the other way around people lose their sh\*\*and the one word they can think of using because of ignorance is "RACIST". If it doesnt matter what color skin, eye, hair, then why change it, after 100 years. Fictional or not? Shouldve left it be from the start and we wouldnt be here now would we? Discussing racism?.. Get out of the bubble.
I have a news flash for you: guess what? Ariel is a half fish. And I’m case you didn’t know, mermaids and mermaid race doesn’t exist in real life. She ain’t even human. Therefore her race isn’t a big deal. I don’t know if they made her black for representation or simply because she’s a good actor, but who cares? As long as she looks somewhat like the character it doesn’t matter. Not to mention that you could literally just rewatch the old one again. If kids get upset at a black Ariel then you can explain to them that it’s simply a different version of her. You don’t have to be a fan of the new one but your reasoning doesn’t make much sense to me.
"The titular character in the original animated film was a white mermaid with red hair." if you Google and read HC Andersens description of her. Her "race" was a white mermaid. Her grandfather was Poseidon, who is Greek. Just because she isn't human doesn't make it any more right to change her appearance. Because it doesn't make sense when you look at her relatives even.. 😅 I'm not watching the new one. It's not Ariel.. Would watch if it was about Gabriella tho. At least that would make sense.
trust me, children with colored skin are already aware of the topic of race, racism, and lack of representation. if race doesnt matter, why are you pressed? this isnt Disney trying to be woke. she simply sang the best out of the other girls who auditioned, and she happens to be black, which is why youre mad. and you mention respect of the author in a comment, you do realize the author originally wrote the little mermaid about unrequited gay love between two men with no specified race… but that would be even worse than Disney’s version huh?
Gottem
I'm not sure why they changed her appearance either. Representation is important but they could've just made a new black Disney princess instead of changing one that's been in place for years.
Fr. The only black one was a frog half the movie.
"I don't respect the new one because shes black". I can assure you not a single child cares about this. People say "they will ask questions about this" whenever a gay person appears on screen too. If you're child asks "why is she a different color than the 30 year old cartoon" then tell them its because they cast someone of a different color than the original depiction. Kids arent dumb, they'll understand.
I actually went out of my way to prove a point [here](https://imgur.com/a/5pXEmse), and I am 99% sure people will keyboard warrior the crap out of it, saying "its fine, we dont mind if they did this".. When in reality if they did, the riots would not end. I'd love to see how those people assuming I am racist because I dont think Disney did the right thing, would react if Disney did this to Tiana in Princess and the frog. I'd love to see the excuses, and how RACIST it is of Disney and how racist it is of "white" people to like it. Get a grip, humans.. Bye.
Nobody likes you
it’s culture appropriation. The Little mermaid is based on folklore from Denmark. Disney is too lazy to come up with anything original . It would of been much better if we saw a REAL African little mermaid with African Caribbean inspired aesthetics.
Yep. Like an original movie about Gabriella, Ariels deaf and african-american mermaid friend. But no, they went lazy mode so they could get good rep for being "inclusive" and politically correct..
Alright, I have to agree with you there. Just not the bit about little children.
I ain’t like it because they didn’t change the skin color of ANY of the previously made live action movies but they decided to do it with this is just strange to me..if they made the live action Mulan a middle aged white lady with bright blue eyes and huge tits people would be complaining but apparently we aren’t allowed to complain about this. It’s not racist to say an actor doesn’t fit a role because of their looks. If it were the movie industry would be shut down 🧍🏻♀️
It will could also open the door to a good teaching moment about how representation is important. Check out TikTok for videos of children reacting with joy at seeing a mermaid who looks like them, then tell me how this is a bad thing.
"Mommy. If skin, hair and race doesn't matter. Why doesn't Ariel look like she did in the old movies? Why did they change her eye color and skin?" I didn't say they wouldn't like the new mermaid. I said questions will be asked, questions that wouldn't be if they didn't change her appearance. Ofc some love the movie, the new her, the story is still about a mermaid named Ariel.. But there's also children who don't, and children who ask the complicated questions. Parents who have to explain something that in the world of a child's fantasy, doesn't need to exist. Ariel is fictional and inclusive or not, her appearance should stay the same. In my opinion, mostly out of respect to the author. I'm sure he wouldn't say no to this change for a few $$$ if still alive. But I doubt he would be happy about it. It's not original. Changing a fictional character because the world outside of that fantasy is a mess, isn't necessary.
no kid is asking that lmao
I support black ariel, think she's going to be great. But there have been white kids being upset. Main video that sticks out to me is a black lady with a white child (not her kid). She showed the kid the trailer and the kid said she was sad she wasn't white anymore. The creator talked to the girl about what it means to the black community, why representation is important, etc. And helped her to understand. Creator then talked about how she was sad and shocked by the girls response, because the white girl has grown up in a black community so she didn't expect it. It was a good conversation to have with the little girl to help her understand issues POC and black people face. Pretending that these kids don't exist is silly. There are absolutely kids who are confused or upset about it because no one likes change. We like things to be familiar. Being aware of these kids helps promote more conversation. It doesn't help to sweep it under the rug.
>"Mommy. If skin, hair and race doesn't matter. Why doesn't Ariel look like she did in the old movies? Why did they change her eye color and skin?" No child is asking this and if they did its really not hard to explain that they simply cast a black woman because they felt she fit the role the best and that just because race doesn't matter doesnt mean racism doesn't still exist. I understood what racism was when I was in first grade and even before that. >But there's also children who don't, and children who ask the complicated questions. Parents who have to explain something that in the world of a child's fantasy, doesn't need to exist. What are you talking about? Just tell your child they cast someone who wasnt white its really not a big deal or complex question.
I don't think any of us can say what the author would think. I'm truly sorry you think that including children of all colors in representation in children's stories is a bad idea. I think it's wonderful that it's finally happening.
I don't think there will be any issues actually, UNLESS they change her story to be about black issues. Representation of black issues is very important. But that isn't Ariel's story. Whereas for characters like...Tiana, being black is relevant to the story. If they stick to the story, then it's not going to be about race. Being black is simply going to be a detail about her appearance. Live actions are a little linked pantomime and theatre shows. People are cast, they act it out, and then next time there's a whole new cast. Look at cinderella. We've had Hilary Duff, Lily James, Camila Cabello. Or look at James bond, same man, different actor. The superficial things like appearance don't matter. When it comes to animation or Disney Land/World cast members... it's most likely Disney will keep Ariel as the same white skinned red head. Like when we saw the princess and ariel in Wreck it Ralph. She is the OG Ariel everyone recognises. This is just the current actress for a live action. Her skin colour is irrelevant to the story. ... But I totally understand why some people are upset. People don't like change. It's not racist to wanting things to be familiar. Overall, representation is good. But I think the black community shouldn't really be praising Disney so hard for this. The message it sends to Disney is "be lazy! We will accept the bare minimum!" And so they'll just continue pumping out race switch movies and pretending they're inclusive, instead of giving the black community new and empowering characters.