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  • Controversy Disney's new Black Mermaid divides fans
  • Interview Javier Bardem: "Criticizing the Little Black Mermaid is sowing hatred in children"

The five-year-old Halle Bailey, who listened to Billie Holiday's songs in the dark in her room, couldn't imagine that a decade separated her from her dream of being a Disney girl. First on the small screen, because the big one would wait a little longer. But the intermission was going to be the most entertaining: stepping on the same stage as Beyoncé is not a hobby available to anyone. And to be his protégé in the music industry, a luxury that almost no mortal can aspire to.

Let's go back to the beginning of this story. To the year 2000, because Bailey is centennial. To Atlanta, because the new Little Mermaid is from Georgia, although she has spent half her life in Los Angeles. That is why she is surprised that her status as an American citizen is questioned, but you know: things of racism.

The African-American actress, singer and songwriter was always clear that she wanted to dedicate herself to acting. His older sister, Chloe Bailey, too. Like the Williams sisters—with a method less close to tyranny, we hope—their father began teaching them to write songs at age 10 and eight, respectively. In 2011, the duo Chloe x Halle – originality to power – uploaded their first covers of Rihanna and Taylor Swift to YouTube. But the one chosen to inaugurate the channel was a beautiful version of Best Thing I Never Had by Beyoncé.

Fate then wrote its first page. That issue caught the attention of the artist, who ended up sponsoring them under her label Parkwood Entertainment. Everything rushed from then on. In 2016 they appeared in the video clip of All Night and participated in the feature film Lemonade about the homonymous tour of the Texan. Two years later they toured half the world as the opening act for Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the On The Run II Tour.

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Although Bailey had already landed some minor roles in television series and Disney Channel movies, such as Let It Shine or Austin and Ally, her real debut as an artist was with her sister Chloe on the set of the popular Ellen DeGeneres show on NBC, back in the spring of 2012. Halle wore her hair short, and wore jeans and a faded red sweater. He spoke little, nodded a lot. He didn't look too much like a pop star, the kind who walks the red carpet. And yet, it glowed.

In the American television show they presented a preview of their first EP, Uncovered, full of R&B rhythms and pop soul. It was followed by Sugar Symphony (2016), The Kids Are Alright (2018) and Ungodly Hour (2020), whose singles were among the most listened to on the Billboard list. Two EPs and two studio albums with which the sisters have achieved five Grammy nominations since 2018. No prize, though.

Halle has not only shared sets and stages with her sister; also film sets. The last and most relevant, that of the comedy series Grown-ish, a derivation of Black-ish that follows the journey to adulthood of a group of university students. The Baileys embodied for four seasons two twin athletes – again the shadow of Venus and Serena Williams – who get a scholarship at the fictional California University thanks to their extraordinary records in athletics. They were also in charge of the soundtrack of the series because of course, being a mocatriz (or almost) has those advantages.

None of these milestones in the Baileys' professional career made as many headlines as the announcement that she would star in the live-action version of the Andersenian tale The Little Mermaid, directed by Rob Marshall. Because of course, Ariel is not black. How could Ariel be black? How could I be African-American? How could she not be white and red-haired?

Facebook and Instagram pages dedicated to "defending Ariel" began to multiply, censoring racist arguments against Halle's casting and stereotypical images of fictional characters, especially when it comes to cartoons. Poor children, what a trauma! Being black at Disney amounts to little more than being a mythological animal for the most conservative audience. Laugh at the fish tail with iridescent scales. A black mermaid was totally unacceptable.

But Halle took it on, because she already knew what was coming her way when she accepted the role. "Being a woman and black implies certain comments. It's better to turn a deaf ear," he said in numerous interviews. Zero percent surprises, one hundred percent self-esteem, captivated the audience at Disneyland performing Part of Your World, the main theme of the film. And the discussion is over. With that magical, prodigious voice, who is going to look at skin color.

His next challenge? Shine as co-star of another musical remake, this time of the Spielbergian classic The Color Purple, which will be released at the end of 2023. She won't get as many detractors this time, because the role of Nettie seems made for her for the same reason it was made for Akosua Busia almost 40 years ago: being African-American. It's where it needs to be. Halle Bailey is everywhere, where they think she should be and also where she shouldn't. On TV, in jeans and wearing a faded sweater. On stage, in front of a fervent audience, minutes before Beyoncé appears. And on the red carpet, in a brilli brilli dress with mermaid tail.

  • cinema
  • Disney
  • Actresses
  • Singers
  • music

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