Disney star Josh Gad evokes ‘pathetic’ racist reaction to Hal Bailey’s Little Mermaid trailer
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty for Disney; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
Josh Gad We support the Disney family.
later first trailer Toward Disney’s live-action adaptation little mermaid debuted during 95th Academy AwardsGad, 42, called out the ongoing racist response. Hal Bailey‘s casting for the role of Ariel has seen YouTube videos flooded with 1.2 million “dislikes” as of Saturday.
“Imagine being so broken and pathetic in your life Your main concern is… the skin color of a pretend-singing mermaid,” Gad wrote on Twitter Thursday.
of first teaser The long-awaited 1989 animated film update has garnered an additional 3.5 million dislikes since its release in September.
little mermaid Director Rob Marshall has previously responded to the racist backlash that has plagued the film since Bailey’s film. Cast announced In 2019, he explained that “there was no agenda” in choosing a black actress.
“We just looking for the best actor for the role, period.It’s over,’ said entertainment weekly in December. “We saw all people, all peoples.”
Related: little mermaid Trailer released by stars Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy at Oscars 2023
He said their criteria was someone “incredibly strong, passionate, beautiful, smart and clever” who exudes “great heat and joy” playing iconic Disney princesses. I explained that it was
Bailey told PEOPLE that landing the role “changed my perspective on everything,” in September, explaining how it “has impacted my life in so many ways.”
RELATED VIDEO: Why Halle Bailey ‘sobbed’ little mermaid: “I emerged from this cocoon with Ariel.”
“The fact that now there’s a woman of color like me being played, I’m just like, wow, I’m so grateful for what it does to all the other black and brown boys.” And girls will see themselves in me,” Bailey said. is.”
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little mermaid Theatrical release on May 26th.