The 25-year-old star of 'The Little Mermaid' Halle Bailey opens up about navigating backlash and finding her voice.
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Halle Bailey is reflecting on the backlash she faced after being cast as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”, describing the experience as unexpectedly “freeing”.
In an interview with “The Independent”, the actress and singer looked back on the criticism that followed the announcement of her role. At the time, her casting sparked racist reactions online, with some questioning Disney’s decision to cast a black actress as the iconic character.
Despite the noise, Bailey said the experience ultimately helped her grow.
“I feel like it taught me to listen to myself and the good voices inside,” she said. “I learned how to block out the noise.”
Instead of letting the backlash define the moment, she found a different perspective while navigating the overwhelming mix of opinions.
“It was actually freeing to be in the middle of this conversation where so many different opinions were coming in, and they were so opposite from one another.”
Bailey explained that the experience felt almost surreal at times, as she watched the public reaction unfold in real time.
“I felt like I was watching myself inside a cup, seeing how people react to it.”
While the criticism was loud, it was matched by moments of support that also stood out. Many fans shared videos of young black children reacting to seeing her as Ariel for the first time, something that added a deeper layer of meaning to the role.
The 26-year-old star credits her ability to stay grounded to growing up in the industry, first gaining attention as part of the duo Chloe x Halle. That early exposure helped shape her sense of self and how she handles public scrutiny.
Outside of the spotlight, she says she leans on perspective to stay centred.
“I love feeling small, realising that the world is so big and beautiful and I’m just a tiny, tiny part of it,” she said. “The fact I'm here is a blessing, and I'm grateful to be doing music and acting, 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.”
Looking back, Bailey describes her time as Ariel as a “beautiful experience,” choosing to focus on the personal growth that came with it rather than the negativity that surrounded it.
The actress also spoke about the support she received from other women in the industry during that time. She shared that Zendaya and Rachel Zegler were among those who showed up for her, especially as they had faced similar backlash in their own careers.
“As women, I think we form a little protective bubble around each other, especially when we see a peer going through lots of opinions,” she said, adding that the support helped her navigate the moment with more confidence.