The Little Mermaid Controversy: Ariel Got a Tan, and the Internet Lost Its Mind!
The Little Mermaid Controversy: Ariel Got a Tan, and the Internet Lost Its Mind!
Well folks, grab your popcorn, pull up a seashell, and sit back as we dive into the ocean of controversy that’s as deep as the Mariana Trench, and about as dark. Ever since Disney gave us a sneak peek of its 2023 live-action "The Little Mermaid," the Internet has been awash with critics who apparently never learned to swim in the sea of diversity. The casting of the phenomenal Halle Bailey as Ariel, a completely fictional, presumably amphibious, undersea human-fish hybrid. Yes, you read that right; some folks are furious that a fictional fish woman is going to be portrayed by a Black actress.
The twittersphere has been churning with hashtags like #notmyariel, some people have been sharing digitally altered versions of the teaser featuring a white Ariel, and YouTube had to hide the dislike counter after it surpassed 1.5 million dislikes. It's enough to make one wonder if we're missing some grand "scientific" discovery that conclusively proves all mermaids should be porcelain-skinned.
Now, it seems the tide of protest swells anytime a traditionally white character is portrayed by a person of color. The arguments usually claim historical, cultural, or, funnily enough, scientific accuracy. As the Comedy Central monologue so aptly points out, it's hilarious that these critics are arguing about the "realism" and "accuracy" of a story about a teenage mermaid who strikes a deal with a sea witch. “This is so ridiculous,”
Noah added, further joking that “Of course, The Little Mermaid is Black. Everyone whose name starts with ‘Little’ is Black”. To prove his point, he listed Lil Wayne, Lil Nas X, and Lil Kim as examples. “If you heard there’s a woman named Little Mermaid, you’d just assume she’s on a track with Cardi B,” “With my wet a** flippers,” he sang, riffing on the latter’s hit song “WAP”.
“I hope this scandal doesn’t overshadow the rest of the movie. The Little Mermaid is a beautiful story about a young woman changing her core identity to please a man,” Noah jested.
Let's dive into these "realistic" arguments, shall we? Some say that because the original tale is Danish, Ariel should be white. Yet, the original Hans Christian Andersen story has our mermaid and her kin far from Denmark, at the "bottom of the sea. Others make the "scientific" argument that mermaids, being under the sea, wouldn't have dark skin. But, applying actual science to this fantastical concept, many abyssal creatures are not pale, and mermaids would theoretically need pigmentation suitable for both deep sea and shallow water existence.
Then, there's the argument that Ariel should be white because mermaids are a European mythological figure. However, water-dwelling humanoid creatures are common across numerous cultures. Lastly, critics argue that a Black Ariel is ruining childhoods and changing the character. News flash: the 1989 movie is still available to watch, own, and share. The remake of one film doesn't erase the existence of the previous ones.
So, to all the #notmyariel folks, first, a reminder: mermaids aren't real. Second, diversity in storytelling is not about realism; it's about representation. It's about every kid being able to see themselves as a prince, a princess, or even a fish-woman hybrid who makes questionable deals with cephalopod sorceresses. It's about the best person getting the job, and boy, have you heard Halle Bailey sing?