'Little Mermaid' Star Halle Bailey Reveals How She Faced Racism Over Disney Role

Actor Halle Bailey is revealing how she responded to racist criticism after news broke that shed star in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid next year.

Bailey, known for her music with sister Chle , known as the R&B due Chloe x Halle, and for her role in ABCs Grown-ish, reflected on the significance of her Ariel role in an interview published by Variety on Wednesday .

Bailey is one of just two Black actors who have been cast to play a Disney princess (the other being Anika Noni Roses voice role as Tiana in the animated film The Princess and the Frog) .

The actor, however, faced backlash, including social media hashtags, such as #NotMyAriel, which called into question the casting decision.

The backlash occurred despite a history of Black mermaids , such as the West African legend of Mami Wata , someone Baileys mentor Beyonc paid tribute to during her 2017 Grammy performance, The Washington Post noted .

Bailey told Variety that she reflected on what her grandparents told her, given the discrimination they faced in their own lives.

It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear their words of encouragement, telling me, You dont understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you, Bailey said.

Halle Bailey on her new #LittleMermaid role: \"I don't pay attention to the negativity; I just feel like this role is something bigger than me\" https://t.co/pidgYYQ0lw pic.twitter.com/rmUxbFSuYY

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Halle Bailey on her new #LittleMermaid role: "I don't pay attention to the negativity; I just feel like this role is something bigger than me" https://t.co/pidgYYQ0lw pic.twitter.com/rmUxbFSuYY
Variety (@Variety) August 7, 2019

Baileys sister Chle told the news site that the actors family rallied behind her despite the hate.

Its important to have a strong support system around you. Its hard to carry the weight of the world on your own, Chle said.

Bailey, who revealed she was obsessed with her familys copy of the 1989 animated Disney classic, described how she felt about Ariel.

The actor said shes since thought about what seeing a Black person play Ariel would have meant to her as a kid.

What that would have done for me, how that would have changed my confidence, my belief in myself, everything, Bailey said.

Things that seem so small to everyone else, its so big to us.