Disney fans everywhere are anxiously waiting for Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” to hit theaters later this year. The upcoming live-action film will star Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.
As the premiere date inches closer, the Walt Disney Company continues to promote the film, with the most recent being a new trailer, which dropped during the Oscars on Sunday evening.
Fans Are Not Happy With Scuttle In Upcoming Film
Shortly after the new trailer dropped, which gave viewers a first look at some of the characters for the live-action movie, Twitter exploded with Tweets from outraged Disney fans — mostly focusing on how Scuttle looks in the live-action film.
One user did not hold back as they wrote, “Saving my opinions on the Little Mermaid movie, but for the trailer, most of Triton & Ursula’s line delivery were underwhelming imo & it’s safe to say my disdain for talking animals is still alive and well. Scuttle & Sebastian made me want to hurl my phone across the room.”
Saving my opinions on the Little Mermaid movie, but for the trailer, most of Triton & Ursula’s line delivery were underwhelming imo & it’s safe to say my disdain for talking animals is still alive and well. Scuttle & Sebastian made me want to hurl my phone across the room.
— CAE (@CAE_Writer) March 14, 2023
While another did not mind how Scuttle looked but did not like the fact that Awkwafina is visiting the iconic bird. ” looked cool until Scuttle spoke and ypu instantly realized it was Awkwafina. She sucks in everything. Shang-Chi would have been great if she wasn’t in it,” they wrote.
@LittleMermaid looked cool until Scuttle spoke and ypu instantly realized it was Awkwafina. She sucks in everything. Shang-Chi would have been great if she wasn't in it.
— Brandon Fugate (@ShifuBDF59) March 14, 2023
While another expressed, “Remember when a fan-led petition to change Sonic’s look worked?? Ima need y’all to do that again for The Little Mermaid. Cuz why they did that to Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder?? 💀😭😭💔.”
Remember when a fan-led petition to change Sonic's look worked?? Ima need y'all to do that again for The Little Mermaid. Cuz why they did that to Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder?? 💀😭😭💔
— Brandi Bourgeois (@kam3213) March 14, 2023
As another chimed in, “I got so caught up in the Sebastian tweets today, I just noticed that Scuttle the Seagull is depicted as a FREAKIN’ GANNET in the #LittleMermaid ! #NotMyScuttle.”
I got so caught up in the Sebastian tweets today, I just noticed that Scuttle the Seagull is depicted as a FREAKIN’ GANNET in the #LittleMermaid ! #NotMyScuttle pic.twitter.com/lQXNvYjLwG
— Alex Champagne (@ChampagneLabUSI) March 14, 2023
Scuttle is not the only character that fans are not happy with as a few weeks ago, Sebastian began trending on Twitter due to a leak that showed off his appearance in the upcoming film.
Halle Bailey Backlash
The backlash with the upcoming film began back in 2019, when the Walt Disney Company announced that actress Halle Bailey, who is known for her work in ABC’s “Grown-ish” and as one half of the popular R&B singing duo Chloe and Halle, would portray the iconic Disney Princess, Ariel, in the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid.”
Not long after the announcement, Disney fans took to social media to express their frustrations about the casting of the Disney Princess and the hashtag #NotMyAriel immediately began to trend.
Just a few days ago, Halle Bailey addressed the backlash surrounding her portrayal as the Disney Princess.
“As a Black person, you just expect it and it’s not really a shock anymore,” Bailey told The Face. ”When [Chlöe and I] first signed to Parkwood, [Beyoncé] was always like: ’I never read my comments. Don’t ever read the comments.’ Honestly, when the teaser came out, I was at the D23 Expo and I was so happy. I didn’t see any of the negativity.”
She added, “I know people are like: ’It’s not about race.’ But now that I’m her…People don’t understand that when you’re Black there’s this whole other community. It’s so important for us to see ourselves.”
This was not the first time Bailey spoke out about the backlash from fans. In September, the actress said, “And even still today with all of the commentary and people’s opinions going on, it just reminds me to be number one: grounded, and grateful that I have this opportunity. And the fact that it’s sparking such a discussion for all of us … I mean, I know what it would’ve meant to me as a little girl to have been able to see a Black Ariel.”
“When I was younger, if I would’ve seen that, it would have changed my whole outlook on life so the fact that I’m kind of getting to do that is really cool and unbelievable to me and the little girl inside of me is screaming and freaking out,” Bailey concluded.
Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” hits theaters on May 26, 2023.
