Part 5/9:
The mainstream media appears to have focused predominantly on accusations of racism, painting any critique of the film as inherently racist or bigoted. Articles repeatedly quote Bailey’s sentiments about the importance of representation, but critics see this as part of a broader narrative to dismiss any negative feedback as unjust prejudice. For example, Bailey expressed how her own childhood would have been different if she had seen an animated Black Ariel, but skeptics argue her prior statements suggest she already identified with the character strongly—a point they consider contradictory.