Representation matters in every way, and these little kids are proving this to be true. In a series of viral online videos, parents captured their kid’s reactions when they saw Disney’s recently released trailer. Grab a box of tissues because these videos are beautiful expressions of Black joy.
Disney’s recently-released remake of “The Little Mermaid” made it’s rounds on the internet this weekend featuring Halle Bailey as the leading act. The release generated a lot of online buzz, and recently spurred an outpouring of Black joy online. Many of the videos that parents posted online showed the raw reactions that their kids had to the trailer, which underscored the importance of representation is, especially in media and entertainment. Below are some of the viral videos that have surfaced of the candid tear-jerking moments.
@lani.elyse #duet with @preciousavery this is why representation matters. my goodness 🥺#littlemermaid
— Lai💔 (@normanination4) September 11, 2022
@callmedarii That’s why representation matters! We can’t wait to watch this ❤️ #fyp #littlemermaid #disney
@nickyknackpaddywack Mayas reaction to #thelittlemermaid trailer. #representationmatters #representationinthemediamatters #blackgirls
@melizzablack representation matters. #thelittlemermaid #d23 #d23expo #littlemermaidliveaction
@destinyj1023 We have waited so long for moments like this#ariel #blackarielseries🧜🏾♀️
When news broke in 2019 that the 22-year-old Bailey sister would be starring as Ariel, there was a stir of controversy and racist comments online. The praise and admiration for the body of work has overshadowed the criticism though, with Variety reporting that the trailer had amassed 104 million views globally. Following the release of “The Little Mermaid,” the trailer was the number one trending topic on YouTube, and currently holds the top spot on YouTube’s Movies.
In a recent interview with “Variety,” Bailey said that during the backlash, her grandparents reminded her of the legacy she was creating for Black girls and representation.
“It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear their words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you,’” said Bailey.