Halle Bailey Explains How Backlash Around Her Casting in ‘The Little Mermaid’ Was "Actually Freeing"

Halle Bailey said in a new interview that, despite the racist backlash surrounding her casting as Ariel in the 2023 live-action version of 'The Little Mermaid,' it was still a "beautiful experience." The controversy surrounding the film taught the actress and singer how to "block out the noise," she said.