by Jada GomezBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffAs the Managing Editor of Streaming at BuzzFeed, I cover all things entertainment, and especially love to nerd out on all things Disney.

As Halle Bailey gears up for the release of the whimsical romantic comedy,You, Me & Tuscany, the actor and singer reflected on starring as Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid in 2023.

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Just three years ago, her casting caused a firestorm of backlash when Disney selected Halle as the newest bubbly red-haired Ariel.

The racist backlash was — needless to say — unwarranted, and incredibly ridiculous considering Ariel is a fictional, animated character. And we don't know what a mermaid actually looks like (or if they even exist).

As a result, Halle became the target for online harassment from vicious trolls on social media.

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But instead of thinking of that time in her life as a dark period, Halle revealed that the attacks resulted in her feeling freer in the end.

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Halle told the Independent that The Little Mermaid was “a beautiful experience for me — and I feel like it taught me to listen to myself and the good voices inside. I learned how to block out the noise.”

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“It was actually freeing to be in the middle of this conversation where so many different opinions were coming in," she said. "And they were so opposite from one another… I felt like I was watching myself inside a cup, seeing how people react to it… Growing up in the industry can really develop your sense of self, and for me, it keeps me grounded in a way. I know for some people it’s the opposite but I just always think to myself, ‘None of this is real.’”

That said, Halle also revealed that she does need a physical escape to retreat when the outside noise is overwhelming. And for her, that escape is nature.

“I love feeling small, realizing that the world is so big and beautiful and I’m just a tiny, tiny part of it," she said in the same interview. "The fact I’m here is a blessing, and I’m grateful, but at the same time, this is not what matters in life. What matters is keeping our feet on the ground, and holding the people we love.”

Disney continued to support Halle through the unkind, choppy waters of the #NotMyAriel backlash. But she wasn't the only actor of color to suffer racist attacks for earning franchise roles in projects some consider to be historically white.

Another Disney live-action princess, Rachel Zegler, also received backlash for being cast as Snow White in the 2025 remake.

In an Actors on Actors conversation with Variety, the two discussed the way they navigated these unfair storms.

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“You just say, ‘Thank you so much for this. I have a lot of love in my life, and I’m very thankful,'" Rachel said in that 2023 interview. "We get to do our work and have that speak for itself instead.”

In her interview for the Independent, Halle explained just how valuable their conversation was to her, and the way she now moves through inevitable criticism.

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“As women, I think we form a little protective bubble around each other, especially when we see a peer going through lots of opinions," Halle said. "Rachel was definitely one of those people. I love her. We all understand what a vulnerable place it is to be, and at the end of the day, we are young women... we’re self-conscious... we’re insecure. I’m insecure at times, and sometimes the opinions of people can muddy your own thoughts. So it’s special to have a community who’s there to say, ‘You’re amazing. We’re here for you.’”

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Currently, Halle's focused on the way she'll be received in You, Me & Tuscany. She sees it as her first role where audiences will view her in her womanhood.

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“This is the first time where I am playing a grown version of myself,” the 26-year-old actor said. “This feels like the first time where I’m stepping into my womanhood. It felt cool because it reflected me now. You know, I have a baby. I do feel like I’m an official adult woman.”

And with the release of the Black-led rom-com, Halle finds herself in the middle of another discussion surrounding race.

There's been discourse around the need for

Halle Bailey Opens Up About &#x27;Little Mermaid&#x27; Backlash

Halle Bailey Opens Up About 'Little Mermaid' Backlash