The formula of changing skin color, classic cartoon characters and original story creativity are being actively applied by Disney in live-action works. Not only the mermaid Ariel, many other characters such as Princess Snow White, Belle of Beauty and the Beast… were also “changed from white to black”. This made fans of the original indignant and strongly protested. They condemned the “Rat House” for destroying the childhoods of generations, using the name of supporting racial equality in Hollywood to PR, creating public opinion for the purpose of making money.
Here are 5 real-life Disney characters that have caused huge controversy on social media:
Ariel the mermaid
![The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 1. The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 1.](https://gamek.mediacdn.vn/133514250583805952/2023/6/16/photo-5-1686894093955943412404-1686912700344-16869127004631403309712.jpg)
Halle’s Ariel and the original character have nothing in common.
Live-action version of The Little Mermaid (Vietnamese title: Mermaid) released on May 26 and is currently available in cinemas worldwide.
Since the time of casting, filming and premiere, the film has continuously caused controversy and backlash for choosing black female singer Halle Bailey to play the female lead, the mermaid Ariel. Compared to the 1989 cartoon version, Ariel’s new look is not only different in skin color, but also changes from red hair to a typical African-American braided hairstyle.
Netizens are not happy about this change. On social media, the hashtag #NotMyAriel (Not My Ariel) and many other protest campaigns were created. Original fans said this is not a matter of race, but Halle Bailey’s appearance is not like the Ariel they know.
Lady Belle
![The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 2. The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 2.](https://gamek.mediacdn.vn/133514250583805952/2023/6/16/photo-4-16868940928541744259312-1686912700922-16869127009862036191433.jpg)
Belle also has a skin color change in the real human version.
In 2022, Disney releases a remake of the famous musical Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast). In the live-action version, R&B singer HER plays Belle.
When the African-American beauty shared the news on Instagram, fans left supportive comments, expressing pride that black people are taken seriously. However, many people criticized the decision of the producer: “Disney once again let black people interpret the story that white people are the main characters. This destroys our childhood memories.”
Snow White
![The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 3. The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 3.](https://gamek.mediacdn.vn/133514250583805952/2023/6/16/photo-3-1686894091775823284606-1686912701370-1686912701446758596752.jpg)
The “snow white” princess cannot be related to Rachel Zegler.
In the live-action version Snow White (Snow White) slated to premiere in 2024, Rachel Zegler plays the female lead. The 20-year-old Latin American star has a lot of experience in acting on stage and has a wonderful voice.
However, fans were not satisfied because Zegler’s brown skin color did not match the description of “skin as white as snow” in fairy tales. They mocked the Golden Globe-winning actress as “Black Coal Princess” or “like she just got home from a mud game.”
Fairy Tinker Bell
![The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 4. The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 4.](https://gamek.mediacdn.vn/133514250583805952/2023/6/16/photo-2-1686894090563291000111-1686912701935-16869127019952102777733.jpg)
Basically, the character creation in the animated version and the real person is the same, except for the skin color.
In early April, Disney released the live-action movie trailer Peter Pan & Wendy . In it, the fairy character Tinker Bell is played by American actress Yara Shahidi.
In everyone’s memory, Tinker Bell is a cute little fairy with blonde hair tied with garlic and white skin. However, Yara has black skin, black hair, and her appearance is judged not to be beautiful enough to become a fairy.
This adaptation also met with criticism from the audience.
Green fairy
![The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 5. The Mouse House was criticized for destroying the childhood of many generations - Photo 5.](https://gamek.mediacdn.vn/133514250583805952/2023/6/16/photo-1-1686894089150173092803-1686912702461-168691270252349245307.jpg)
The blonde-haired, white-skinned blue fairy was transformed into black-skinned and hairless.
In 2022, Disney releases the movie Pinocchio (Wooden boy) live-action version. The important supporting character in the film is The Blue Fairy assigned to British actress/singer Cynthia Erivo.
In the animated version, the green fairy has similarities with the fairy character in Cinderella (Cinderella). Both have curly blond hair and fair skin. However, Cynthia Erivo’s Blue Fairy is not only black, but also hairless. Netizens were shocked by this radical image destruction.
According to HK01