Disney remakes have always been a touchy subject for the people who grew up watching the classics, but the latest wave of online hate has taken an ugly turn. When Halle Bailey, the star of Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid publicly supported Rachel Zegler’s Snow White, the internet unleashed a storm of negativity.
Critics and fans alike have been quite vocal about their disapproval of Disney’s recent live-action adaptations. However, the backlash against Bailey’s supportive gesture has reached a new low.
Halle Bailey’s support for Rachel Zegler’s Snow White sparks a firestorm
Halle Bailey, who felt like a dream while portraying Ariel in The Little Mermaid took to social media to praise Rachel Zegler’s performance in Snow White. She expressed her love for the actress, and while the gesture was meant to uplift Zegler, it’s being met with a barrage of hateful comments.
Users mocked the actresses and called them “flop,” while hurling other insults. However, Bailey’s The Little Mermaid was far from a flop as it grossed $569 million worldwide, but it did receive its fair share of criticism (via The Numbers). Despite mixed reviews, the actress’ performance was praised.
It was a huge cultural moment, as videos of little girls being excited over an African-American woman being featured as the little mermaid circulated over the internet. Moreover, this was also Bailey’s big break, after she rose to prominence as a musician in a duo with her sister.
The polarizing reception of Disney’s Snow White
So far, Snow White hasn’t received the best reviews from critics, so perhaps Halle Bailey’s message to Rachel Zegler was a sign of camaraderie in an industry that pits women against each other. But the online response underscores a troubling trend that highlights how disproportionate public scrutiny is towards women of color.
Most critics and netizens have torn apart the movie and disapproved of everything it entails. But the younger audience has responded more favorably to the film. The film’s financial performance has yet to reach the heights of The Little Mermaid, but it has certainly sparked many conversations.
As Disney continues to reimagine its classic tales the discussions around these films should move past blind hatred towards the actors to constructive and fair criticism. After all, at the heart of these stories is the message of hope, resilience, and kindness, things that seem to be more than necessary in the face of such relentless negativity.
Snow White is currently playing in theaters, and you can watch The Little Mermaid on Disney+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
