Did you all hear the news that Halle Bailey shut the internet down with the trailer of Disney’s live-action trailer of The Little Mermaid? We’re not surprised either. Making its debut at the Disney D23 Expo last weekend, Bailey stuns on screen as the first Black mermaid, as the trailer has earned over 104 million global views, according to Variety.
The trailer clip gives audiences a breathtaking view of the ocean and underwater world of Ariel (Bailey), as she sings a snippet of a soul-stirring performance of the well-known Disney theme song, “Part Of Your World.” The “Forgive Me” singer shared the official trailer on Instagram, which has amassed over 1.8 million views, and nearly 1.85 likes on her personal page alone.
“ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!! 🧜🏽♀️❤️❤️ A MF GOATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!! 😩😩 AHHHHHHHHHHH ‼️‼️‼️‼️ HISTORIC, LEGENDARY!!! THE BIGGEST!!!,” her boyfriend, rapper, and YouTube sensation DDG commented.
“I wanna cry I’m so excited AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BLESS IS SEA QUEEN,” added SZA, while Nicki Minaj, Chlöe, Scottie Beam, and others on Twitter celebrated on their timelines.
As the cover girl of the September / October 2022 issue of Essence along with her best friend and fellow Chloe x Halle duo member Chlöe, the future The Color Purple star shared with former Style and Beauty Editor Blake Newby that she was nervous to do something on her own when she chose to star as the first Black Ariel in the upcoming live-action movie.
“I was like, I don’t know if I can do it without her [Chloe]. I’m so used to her being there and giving me that final push…seeing how Chloe’s navigated stepping out on her own is so inspiring to me. I’m grateful for that example,” Bailey said.
While she is receiving major love on social media for the trailer, Bailey has also inspired a new social media trend that involves reactions from young Black girls watching the trailer.
On Halle’s Instagram page, she shared that she is touched by all of the reactions that have been sent to her. “people have been sending these reactions to me all weekend and i’m in truly in awe ♥️seeing these little babies reactions makes me so emotional 💗,” Halle captioned. “this means the world to me 💗😭thank you all for your unwavering support.” Big sister Chlöe, with whom she shared the September ESSENCE cover, commented: “you make us so proud to be in the skin that we’re in!!!!”
“People have been sending these reactions to me all weekend and i’m in truly in awe ♥️seeing these little babies reactions makes me so emotional 💗this means the world to me 💗😭thank you all for your unwavering support,” Bailey says. Check out a couple of the reactions that are guaranteed to warm your heart and make you cry at the same time.
About Deidre: Deidre Montague is a writer who enjoys focusing on Race, Social Justice, and all things celebrating Black girls, Black women, and women of Color. When she is not writing, she loves watching Ziwe and Catfish, along with listening to music from Gospel, R&B, and Pop. She can be found on Twitter @dthejournalist1, IG: @deethejournalist, and FB: @DeidreMontague.
Photo Credit: ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Halle Bailey poses at the IMDb Official Portrait Studio during D23 2022 at Anaheim Convention Center on September 09, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb)