Part 2/11:
Leading up to the film's release, a wave of criticism emerged from various audiences, critics, and commentators. Disney's response was to dismiss these concerns as rooted purely in racism, claiming that the backlash was only about a few racists who hated Halle Bailey for her skin color. Disney and the mainstream media insisted that the negativity had nothing to do with the movie's overall quality or creative choices, but rather with racial bias.