When news came out about Halle Bailey playing Ariel in the upcoming movie ‘The Little Mermaid,’ people online were furious and took their frustrations to Twitter and other social media.

White people, specifically, were mad that a Black woman would be playing a character that was originally white. They argued that Ariel is supposed to be white.  

However, this news surprised the media and made many people happy! It was so exciting to see yet another person of color represented in the media.  

Recently Disney dropped the new teaser for ‘The Little Mermaid,’ and many people, including me, are very excited. The effects, the singing, and the music are so majestic. 

Unfortunately, there are some people who are still mad that Ariel isn’t going to be white. Some people on twitter were so angry that they used #NotMyAriel to share their opinions.  

Apart from being rude and racist, these people have no consideration to what this means to little Black girls.  

It is very important to remember that representation matters. Ariel being Black should be the least of these people’s worries.  

Bailey said it was “a beautiful experience” getting to bring “the essence of me” to the character of Ariel in Disney’s live-action, CG-animated “The Little Mermaid.” That included her hair locs. (Nick Romano) 

“Incorporating my locs into the red hair was something that was really special to me. The outfit, the fins, everything. It’s just amazing. I’m just grateful that I’ve been able to take the essence of me and mix the two,” Bailey said. (Entertainment Weekly)