The new adaptation of The little Mermaid Disney has been in theaters around the world for a few days now. In addition to the mixed reviews that the film has generated, the reaction from the public and a box office has been somewhat strange and complex. But overall the movie has already sparked several controversies, many of which are, frankly, ridiculous and show that there is still a long way to go to achieve a real acceptance of diversity in Hollywood.
The last of the controversies arises from a different issue. The well-known singer Paloma Faith has criticized The little Mermaid for a harmful message for girls and adolescents. She has posted it on her Instagram account.
“I just saw the new adaptation of The little Mermaid with my children and although Halle [Berry] gives a great performance, and it’s a great cast, as a mother of girls I don’t want any of my children to think it’s okay to give up everything, including your voice, skills and powers to love a man.”
“What the fuck is this?” he continues. “It’s not what we should teach the women of the new generations,” she concludes. In terms of the story, The little Mermaid does not differ much from the original animated film. In it you can see Ariel falling in love with Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) and makes a pact with Ursula. Where she, by means of a spell, obtains legs in exchange for losing her voice and thus being able to get out of the sea and be with her beloved.
The problem of history The little Mermaid
Paloma Faith emphasizes how this story, already quite old-fashioned, differs practically nothing from the original. All the effort that Disney has put into modernizing its films, confronting racial prejudices, falls into the background when the moral of the story continues to be old. Above all, maintaining a message that is not suitable for new generations.
It is one of the few frank reviews the film has received. After stirring up deeply racist sentiments from people who felt that “Ariel shouldn’t look like this”, it is important that Disney maintain a positive message towards girls and adolescents, where they should put their values, desires and ambitions before simply giving it all up, without further explanation, putting themselves in the background, for a boy.
The little Mermaid It was released in theaters on May 26, 2023.