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Original Ariel actor speaks out after new The Little Mermaid trailer gets 1.7 million dislikes on YouTube
Featured Image Credit: BV International Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Original Ariel actor speaks out after new The Little Mermaid trailer gets 1.7 million dislikes on YouTube

Jodi Benson has had her say on Disney's new trailer for The Little Mermaid

The OG Ariel actor has spoken out on the new trailer for The Little Mermaid remake which got more than 1.7 million dislikes on YouTube.

I know what you're thinking - YouTube no longer lets you view the dislike counter on videos.

However, there happens to be various plug-ins that can work around the missing feature.

A popular plug-in revealed that the new trailer for The Little Mermaid - starring Halle Bailey as Ariel - got millions of dislikes just days after its release.

Watch the trailer below:

Well, original Ariel actor Jodi Benson has now said she is 'so proud' of Bailey's performance in the teaser.

On her Instagram story, Benson, 60, has praised the 22-year-old for her 'amazing' show.

After the trailer dropped, Jodi wrote: "So thrilled! So excited! Halle, you were absolutely amazing!

"I'm SO proud of you and your beautiful performance as Ariel!"

Jodi Benson is the original voice of The Little Mermaid character Ariel.
Instagram/jodi.benson

Despite the large number of dislikes, the trailer has been well received by young girls that have gone viral for their heartwarming reactions.

In one video, a little girl named Sienna, who is seen watching the trailer, says 'That is Ariel? That is her?’ while ‘Part of Your World’ softly plays in the background.

One user wrote: “I hope Halle understands what this means for so many little girls all over the world and millennials.”

Another said: “The look in their eyes when they see that is the reason this is so important. I don’t know why people can’t understand that.”

While a third person shared: “Her lil' face lighting up.”

Sienna's reaction went viral.
nickyknackpaddywack/TikTok

Bailey recently sat down with People to speak of the significance of her portrayal of the Disney princess.

She said: "The fact that now it's getting to be played by me, a person who looks like me, woman of colour, I'm just like, wow, I'm so grateful for what it will do for all the other little Black and brown boys and girls who will see themselves in me.

"Because I know if I had seen myself when I was younger, I think my whole perspective would've changed."

Singer Halle Bailey as the beloved mermaid Ariel.
Disney

The Little Mermaid will also feature Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian and Awkwafina as Scuttle.

The Little Mermaid hits cinemas 26 May 2023.

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Topics: YouTube, Disney, Film and TV