Racists Trashing ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘House Of The Dragons’, And ‘Rings Of Power’ Over Actors Of Colour Are Ruining Fan Experience
When it comes to representation, parts of Hollywood have tried to approach it with the power of inclusivity and yet, these trials are met with protests from the community. Recently, right after the fabulous trailer for Disney’s live-action reboots of The Little Mermaid dropped, it brought in a massive reaction from the masses. Those videos of little girls reacting to seeing someone like them play a beloved character? I cried! However, the inclusive casting caught the attention of racists who complained about Halle Bailey, an actor of colour, being cast for the role of Ariel. They even went the extra step, taking this to social media where they made dumb and awful hashtags like #NotMyAriel #BoycottDisney and #GoWokeGobBoke. A few days earlier, a similar sentiment was seen about the characters of colour in fantasy shows like House Of The Dragon and The Lords Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, too, because both the series’ previous iterations didn’t cast actors of colour.
The sheer volume of hate has even led to review-bombing of these shows. Social media forums that are otherwise devoted to fans enjoying the show and having healthy debates about them have been infiltrated by hate and invalid criticism. When called out, most of them don’t want to admit that their opinions are racist. And this is massively ruining the fan experience for those who just want to enjoy their favourite stories and watch people who look like them represented in these stories finally.
Layers Of Racism In Hollywood
We are living in 2022 and yet, the regressive attitude continues. To start with, I don’t get if these racist viewers understand that they are visibly ruining the fan experience that comes with these shows by trying to pluck some very amazing and talented actors as well as characters from them, this really doesn’t make sense to me. Furthermore, these people who are whining about so-called ‘white erasure’ don’t make a whole lot of sense to me either.
I mean, as if white people are now or have ever been historically underrepresented in fantasy films like The Lords Of The Rings: The Rings of Power, huh? It’s a dumb viewpoint to argue about. A lot of these people are also trying to justify their viewpoints by mentioning the fact that they aren’t racists, they are just trying to ‘protect their childhoods’.
What’s worse, is that the hate doesn’t just end at criticism. There are actors being targeted with this hate. In fact, the cast of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy chose to step in and be a part of an acceptance campaign that dispelled hate and asked fans to welcome the actors into the fandom.
And yet, the hate continues.
#Disney likes cultural appropriation. Like erasing a white danish girl mermaid and replacing her to meet its #woke propaganda. Good thing we have editors and the movie will be fixed #LittleMermaid #GowokeGobroke #DemocratsAreTheProblem pic.twitter.com/OEK4d4evpF
— Julia ♀️#protectREALwomen (@Iuliamynameis) September 14, 2022
Of course they had to blackwash Hocus Pocus 2. It is so ridiculous at this point. And not only that, but the main actors are talentless. Hocus Pocus brings me such joy, and I was so excited for 2, but they’ve honestly destroyed it. #GoWokeGoBroke #BoycottDisney
— Fenna Jansen (@JansenFenna) September 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/drwisedogtoo/status/1571592103225970689?s=46&t=Su6npmK6OAdEwXJnjMkwCQ
https://twitter.com/johansen_mg/status/1571197967180201986?s=46&t=Su6npmK6OAdEwXJnjMkwCQ
The Little Merrmaid Woke Version#GoWokeGoBroke #TheLittleMermaid pic.twitter.com/5yX8LOw0OO
— Bner Resende (@bner_bnerius) September 11, 2022
The wonders of technology.
A brave soldier (whose account the twatters swiftly suspended of course), used AI to fix the #blackwashing of #TheLittleMermaid, turning her back into what the character is: a red-haired white girl.Cry harder, woketards.#GoWokeGoBroke#BoycottDisney https://t.co/8EP0nxRvrP
— David ✠ (@DBaptistaSilva) September 13, 2022
Why Is This Inclusivity So Essential?
I don’t think people realise the importance of this inclusivity in such famous shows and movies.
Imagine how young Black girls must have reacted to seeing a non-white Ariel in a beloved children’s story like The Little Mermaid that they have been listening to, for ages. Seeing someone who looks like you on the screen is a very empowering experience. It dares to give you get a sense of belonging, at the centre of such a moving pop culture piece. I mean, how do people not realise how damaging it can be for people when the representation of people who look like you are rarely allowed in that spotlight? Imagine what kind of an awful message it sends to people. How is that even fair?
We need to look at how great representation in The Little Mermaid feels from the viewpoint of the minority. I mean, look at the magic of representation on taking over Twitter with the Hashtag #RepresentationMatters.
This. Just this. #RepresentationMatters https://t.co/c3HC1jGTXX
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 13, 2022
🥲❤️🔥
This is what I do it for. #RepresentationMatters#TheLittleMermaid2023 pic.twitter.com/YNxJdnxESP
— Shaina West (@TheSamurider) September 18, 2022
It is priceless to see these girls' reactions when they realize that Ariel resembles them.❤️#RepresentationMatters pic.twitter.com/8AL75OTTW3
— Lior Steinberg (@LiorSteinberg) September 14, 2022
I spent half an hour watching TikToks of little girls watching the preview and seeing someone who looked like them and sobbed like a baby.
It was so wonderful.#RepresentationMatters
— Magee loves a good parody (@magee) September 15, 2022
Disney cast the beautiful and talented Yara Shahidi as Tinkerbell for their upcoming Tinkerbell movie "Tink," produced by Reese Witherspoon and currently set for release in 2023.
Brilliant casting. I'm so excited! 🥰#representationmatters pic.twitter.com/9wKl3kw1Is
— Latrell Floyd, MS, MPA (@talkswithtrell) September 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/sunshinemind345/status/1568662242333179907?s=46&t=Su6npmK6OAdEwXJnjMkwCQ
Ok. But I would’ve been obsessed with Laenor growing up. #RepresentationMatters pic.twitter.com/mYYGj51lb9
— Critical Race Bannon Theory (@KyleAMathews) September 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/danielwoburn/status/1569397940363608066?s=46&t=Su6npmK6OAdEwXJnjMkwCQ
Also Read: From ‘The Little Mermaid’ To ‘Disenchanted’, Sneak Peeks From Disney’s D23 Expo Gave Us A Lot To Be Excited About!
Every sphere of life that surrounds these ethnically diverse communities still screams white privilege and I really don’t think we need more of that, on screens in Hollywood too. This change is much-needed and I personally believe that we should stand by it and welcome it with open arms. It’s about time, isn’t it?
