Samuel L. Jackson defends Halle Bailey: ‘mermaids aren’t real’

Samuel L. Jackson applauds diversity in filmmaking and criticizes those who complained about Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. The actor, best known for his role as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, celebrates the success of films like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which prove that audiences are more interested in enjoying cinema than in judging diversity of the cast.

The Little Mermaid and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse were two standout films at the box office this year, grossing millions of dollars. The former reached $500 million, while the latter reached $559 million. These numbers show that people are looking to enjoy exciting stories on the big screen and aren’t as concerned by the diversity of the cast.

In a recent interview with Sway’s universe, Samuel L. Jackson praised the success of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and stressed the importance of characters representing different groups. According to the actor, the film was so successful because it offers something new and fresh to the audience. Miles Morales’ character is different than Peter Parker, and that’s something to celebrate.

the actor too addressed the controversy generated by the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Some fans expressed their discontent with the character being played by a black actress, sparking heated debates on social media.

With that said, Samuel L. Jackson forcefully responded, remembering that mermaids are not real and therefore can be represented in different ways. He believes it is important to give people a great experience that takes them away from everyday problems, such as violence, robbery or homelessness.

You hear people complaining about, “Oh, a black siren.” Mermaids are not real. They can be black, they can be green, they can be orange. They are not real things. But to represent that and give people a great life or something that takes them away from the reality of the shit that we have to deal with day in and day out, you know, mass shootings, muggings, homelessness, all this other stuff, we still need,” said the actor.

• It may interest you to read: “The Little Mermaid” has not been approved in China and South Korea
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The little mermaid over superhero movies

Despite the doubts that may arise regarding the success of The little Mermaid at the box office thanks to its big budget, the truth is that it has raised more money than many superhero films released this year. This shows that audiences are willing to support productions with a diverse cast and that films with diverse characters can have a big impact on the film industry.

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Diversity in media and entertainment is essential. Not only does it offer diverse perspectives, but it also encourages inclusiveness and empathy, and allows all people to feel represented in popular culture. In recent years, both Disney and Netflix have taken significant steps to enhance ethnic representation in their productions.

Disney, for example, released films such as Black Panther and Moana: A Sea of ​​Adventures, which were noted for their positive portrayal of African and Pacific Islander culture, respectively. Additionally, series like Disney+’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier have addressed issues of race and the African-American experience. For its part, Netflix has opted for series such as Dear White People and Never Me, which explore the experiences of people of different cultures and ethnic origins.

These efforts are key to giving voice to diverse human experiences and challenging stereotypes. Representation in the media can contribute to greater understanding between different cultures and ethnic groups. However, much remains to be done to ensure full and fair representation in entertainment and media. We must continue to promote diversity and support productions that reflect the multicultural reality of our society.