Controversy Surrounds Film 'The Little Mermaid' for Not Acknowledging Slavery

Marcus Reed, an influential British activist and the chairperson of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, expressed admiration for Halle Bailey's performance but raised objections to the film's glossy portrayal of racial harmony.

Reed stated that the background of 'The Little Mermaid' appears to be the 18th-century era of African slavery, yet the fictional Caribbean islanders living near Atlantis exist in a world free from this historical context.

莱德说，《小美人鱼》的背景似乎是18世纪的非洲奴隶制时代，但虚构的靠近亚特兰蒂斯的加勒比岛民生活在一个没有人权暴行的世界。

"Placing this fantastical story in that time and place is akin to setting a love story between a Jew and a Gentile in 1940s Germany and ignoring the Holocaust of the Jews."

Reed acknowledged that 'The Little Mermaid' is a fantasy story and does not need to be historically accurate, but he believes that disregarding the past is not beneficial for children.

He suggested that Disney could have depicted Ariel meeting her prince in a backdrop of racial harmony after the abolition of slavery in Haiti.

Reed's viewpoint faced criticism from online users who argued that 'The Little Mermaid' should be seen as a mere fairy tale. Subsequently, Reed claimed that his article had been misinterpreted.

Reed expressed his appreciation for the film, praising its portrayal of a black beauty and the diversity on-screen. However, he questioned the diversity behind the camera.

He wrote, "The sad reality is that this great film has made me concerned that Disney did not handle this incredibly sensitive time and place with the seriousness it deserved, given the atrocities that occurred there, particularly considering the impressionability of children."