Halle Bailey Sends Message To Young Ariel Fans: 'You Are Worthy'

Halle Bailey is getting ready for her newest film, Disney's live-action "The Little Mermaid," to hit theaters.

The 23-year-old is set to star as the lead, Princess Ariel, and she just made her red-carpet appearance at the world premiere of the live-action film.

The Ariel actress had a message to all her younger fans who have never seen themselves as their favorite princesses.

"I hope that they just know that they are worthy, and we deserve to be in these spaces, "Bailey told "Good Morning America" when on the red carpet for the world premiere of the live-action "The Little Mermaid." "And I hope they see themselves and me on the screen."

"I'm just grateful to be here," she continued before naming other African-American actresses who took on the role of a Disney Princess. "There were women before me like Brandy and Anika Rose who were the blueprint for me even to be here today, so I'm just taking this moment all in," Bailey told the ABC show.

Shortly after The Walt Disney Company announced Halle Bailey would portray Ariel in the live-action film, fans immediately took to social media to bash the company for casting a Black actress as the Princess. The hashtag #NotMyAriel even began trending.

Bailey opened up about the backlash, admitting that she expected it. "As a Black person, you just expect it, and it's not a shock anymore," Bailey told The Face in a recent interview." When [Chlöe and I] first signed to Parkwood, [Beyoncé] always said,' 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 here…People don't understand that there's this whole other community when you're Black. It's so essential for us to see ourselves."

Bailey is not the first Black actress to portray a White princess, as Brandy took on the role of Cinderella for the 1997 musical movie, "Cinderella."

Many actors and actresses have stood up for Bailey, including Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the 1989 original animated film.

"Her pure spirit, her joy, her love, her unbelievable vulnerability, her authenticity, her bravery, her courage... it's just beautiful," Benson said regarding Bailey. "It's just a beautiful telling of the Ariel story. I'm so proud of her!"

The two shared an extraordinary moment on the red carpet: Benson gave Bailey a long hug and then encouraged her.

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Disney's live-action "The Little Mermaid" hits theaters on May 26, 2023. The 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, and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder.