Part 5/10:
Supporters of the casting celebrate diversity, expressing excitement that young girls of different racial backgrounds can see themselves represented. Tweets have openly celebrated the move, emphasizing that a Black Ariel offers representation that was previously absent. Conversely, detractors, often deriding the change as unnecessary, argue that race is irrelevant because The Little Mermaid is a fictional character—mermaids aren’t real, after all.
This divide reveals underlying cultural tensions about the nature of storytelling and the importance of race in fictional characters. While some dismiss objections as racist or outdated, others see the controversy as emblematic of broader societal disagreements over inclusivity and cultural authenticity.