A controversy sparked by Disney's decision to choose Halley Bailey to portray the role of mermaid Ariel in the live version that the company plans to make from the famous Little Mermaid, which was released in 1989. A large number of users of social networking sites ("Not My Ariel"), or (not the Ariel I know), expressing their alarm at the selection of an African-American artist to play the role of the red-haired, white-skinned and blue-eyed maiden who appeared in the animated version of the film, Which viewers have been associated with since their childhood. But some of them considered it a deception practiced by Disney against its fans and Ariel fans and admirers of red hair, which has been distinguished among the rest of the Disney princesses over the past decades. They demand that the company respect this image they were associated with, The cartoon character, and some of the Hachtag participants have nominated female artists, such as Emma Stone, Bella Thorne, Elizabeth Giles and others. They also refuse to accuse them of racism, explaining that they do not reject the presence of a person of African or Asian origin or of any race, but they refuse to tamper with the image that has established in their minds about the film and Ariel for many years and that all they ask is to watch (Ariel) Original in the new film and not replaced by another.
"Hallebailey is my Ariel" defended the selection of Halle Bailey for the role, based on her outstanding voice and talent, considering it was time to make some renovation on the original film. The character and the story are all derived from imagination, and therefore can be easily changed, as a number of Hollywood artists and stars to defend Billy, praising the angelic voice and talent that can give the cartoon character a new spirit, She sings a song from the film. Disney said on the Freeform platform that Little Mermaid was from Denmark, and that the nymph was living in the sea world, so she could move from place to place, and could be brown-skinned. The podium invited the audience to give the opportunity to the artist Halle Bailey, considering that sacrificing the artist's talent of high talent and presence and a sense of distinct simply because it does not resemble cartoon character is illogical.
The director of the new film, Rob Marshall, said in a statement when he announced the film team that he chose Halley Bailey after extensive research, citing the unique blend of spirit, heart, youth and innocence, as well as a wonderful lyrical voice, Essential qualities are strongly nominated to embody this iconic personality.
While Billie expressed her happiness with this choice, and posted through her account on Twitter, a cartoon image of Ariel, but turned red hair to black, and white skin shining to the dark, noting that «the dream has become a reality».