Disney’s Freeform Issues Statement to ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ Regarding Halle Bailey

Disney announced on Thursday that they’d chosen Halle Bailey to portray Ariel in their upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.

Since the announcement, there has been a huge outcry online with upset folks claiming that an African American actress was not a good choice. The backlash was so intense that the hashtag #NotMyAriel was trending on Twitter.

Others are expressing their approval of Bailey and feel that she is the perfect choice for the part by using the hashtag #MyAriel.

Disney has broken their silence on the matter through an “Open letter to the Poor, Unfortunate Souls” sent out by @FreeformTV on Twitter:

Jackie Gailey

Senior Editor for The DIS and DCL Fan | Disney Vacation Club Member | Thrilled to have been a '13/'14 planDisney Panelist | Lover of all things Disney; the Magic of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and especially Disney Cruise Line | ºoº

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