Asian American Ariel Encounters Prejudiced Social Media Comments

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 2:02pm

http://buffalonews.com/2017/08/12/little-mermaid-star-rude-awakening-middle-america/

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 2:21pm

Just a reminder that she's portraying a mermaid and her sidekicks are a crab, seagull, and fish and the villain is an octopus with eel minions. None of them are actually human.

Brava, Diana! I hear she's fantastic in the role.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 2:24pm

I hate people.   

 

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 2:29pm

Why am I not surprised, especially after yesterday.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 2:34pm

That's so sad. I will never understand this kind of thinking. What difference does it make? She's playing a mermaid in a fairy tale. And she looks beautiful!

[Margo319]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 2:59pm

In Trump's America, bigots think it's totally acceptable to say whatever they want.  He does.  He ran on a platform of hate, and people voted for him.  What else can we expect now?  Very. very sad.  

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 3:08pm

If any of you didn't come across this article from a couple of weeks ago, they truly have the perfect woman playing this princess... 

“Cora got to meet Diana Huey, who played Ariel,” Dani said. “Diana dropped to her knees immediately to talk. Cora’s first question was, `Why do you have legs?’ Diana explained that she had to keep the secret that she was a mermaid, and so she had to wear her legs when she wasn’t on stage.”

How a 6-year-old blind girl met a mermaid in Memphis

 

[HennySlay]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 4:08pm

I saw the show in Pittsburgh and the production and directorial choices weren't my favorite, but she was quite good. Her voice was absolutely lovely. I beloeve this is one of the biggest things she's done in her career and I hope it just keeps growing. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 6:09pm

Margo319 said: "In Trump's America, bigots think it's totally acceptable to say whatever they want.  He does.  He ran on a platform of hate, and people voted for him.  What else can we expect now?  Very. very sad.  

 

"

It is and should be totally acceptable for people to say whatever they want - better to have these dangerous ideas out in the open so they can be challenged and criticised than inside people's minds where they can be used surreptitiously (e.g., in hiring decisions). When we see such blatant examples of racism I think the best course of action is to argue against (which I think some have done well very RE: the commentary of this issue and nature of the character) rather than try to shut down the conversation (as the left try to do far too often these days). Stopping people from speaking does not challenge ideas.

Stopping people from challenging and criticising ideas is exactly why, for example, in 2017 we are still suffering and putting up with farcical, intellectually absurd, homophobic, sexist right-wing belief systems (e.g., Christianity and Islam) in massive scale. If these awful ideas can be openly criticised and challenged continuously over time this issue would be much less a problem as it is today. Let people speak. Let them be challenged.

Updated On: 8/27/20 at 06:09 PM

[Margo319]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 6:57pm

People should be able to say whatever they want?  Nope.   My friend shouldn't be called a "n*" on the subway for being black and I shouldn't be called a "sand n*" for existing on the street as a brown person.  Everyone should be able to say anything whatever they want???  Tell that to the family of Heather Heyer.  Repugnant.  

[Lynsey1122]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 7:11pm

I saw the show in Charlotte, while some choices made were not my cup of tea, she was fabulous.  

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 7:27pm

People have been thinking and saying whatever they want about race in this country since the 19th century? Since its inception? When this land was first discovered by Europe? How much longer is it acceptable to say things that are blatantly racist and literally hurtful? How did Oscar Hammerstein II put it? O yeah, "You've got to be carefully taught." It's still being taught and it's still being said and we've gained less progress than we all thought. This institutionalized and systemic racism has to stop, period. It can't be okay to say things like this anymore. Shows casting Asians as lead characters is an example of the kind of action that is needed. It is the way the entertainment industry can combat these small-minded people. "You change the world when you change your mind." Bravo to this creative team for doing such a simple thing as casting the best singer for the role; it leaves a much bigger impact than the apparent simplicity of the casting choice. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 7:32pm

Margo319 said: "People should be able to say whatever they want?  Nope.   My friend shouldn't be called a "n*" on the subway for being black and I shouldn't be called a "sand n*" for existing on the street as a brown person.  Everyone should be able to say anything whatever they want???  Tell that to the family of Heather Heyer.  Repugnant.  

 

"

I mean I suppose of course there are limits (I see personally attacking someone because of their race a little different than someone expressing their genuine disappointment because of casting of a non-white person). it is a very fine line between them though I understand. But we can't just try to suppress speech because we don't like what we are hearing.

By expressing these views a dialogue has been opened and the people expressing these views can hopefully learn something. On the other hand, had the dialogue never been opened the attitudes would still exist - we just wouldn't know about it or be able to challenge it. It would continue unchallenged.

The left always seem to have good intentions but trying to shut down free speech and control the words people say is a lot more like 1984 than is comfortable.  And I can already see the negative effects of this (despite good intentions) in the case of criticism towards Islam - when universities or radio stations are stopping criticism of false, harmful, right-wing ideas and calling it 'hate speech' you know something is wrong. It should not be up to us to decide whether someone can express ideas or not. We aren't good enough at determining when it is appropriate or not. 

 

Updated On: 8/13/17 at 07:32 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 8:52pm

Free speech doesn't include hate speech or other language that's inherently harmful to others. It doesn't encompass neo-Nazi ideology, because if those people had their way every single non-white person in this country would be dead or locked up somewhere. There is no dialogue to be had with people who would throw my queer Jewish ass in a gas chamber before I could logically argue my way out of it. Acting like there is one is appeasement and complicity. America is built on the concept of white people taking things that were never theirs to take from the people who were here first, and constructing their own society on the backs of people they stole from elsewhere. The rise of visible white supremacy isn't because of the opening of dialogue between them and people who aren't hateful, violent racists. It's come about because these vile people feel safe expressing their true thoughts while there's a white supremacist in the White House. We all have every right to be scared and want them to go away. Unless, I guess, you're a white dude, because they were never coming for you anyway. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 9:03pm

I understand there can be limits but let's make it specific to this case. I assume that the people complaining about this casting are not calling to gas Asian people (but maybe that assumption is wrong) - rather I imagine them to be southern hicks who think (mistakingly) Ariel is a 'white' character and are disappointed because of it. If they aren't allowed to express their genuine experience as a human being (as racist and puzzling it may be) - how will it ever change? They will never be criticised or challenged. I would much rather someone openly and loudly tell me they are a racist than have to guess it or not when I go for a job interview. We need to change attitudes not just change speaking behaviours. 

 

 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 9:12pm

qolbinau, I say this respectfully, but I believe you are a white person in another country, so you really don't completely understand what it's like to be a someone non-white in America, especially right now.  I am respectfully asking you to open your ears.  There is no place for hate speech in America.  After seeing what I have seen these last few days, I am fed up.  Yes, feel free to express whatever opinion you have, but expect those around you to smack you down.  The xenophobia in this country is off the charts.  You may not agree with the religion, but people have the right to practice with freedom of persecution in the United States of America.  Yes you have freedom of speech, but I have the freedom to speak against it.  Honestly, I'm not open to having a "conversation" about this.  I was a month ago, but it has been proven to me that anyone who still suppots Trump and his ideas are Neo-Nazis and I don't converse with Nazis.  I hope that you open your mind and try to put yourself in someone else's shoes.  I guarantee that your opinion on this matter will change.

[binau]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 9:21pm

So just to clarify are we saying that someone expressing disappointment for non-white casting is 'hate speech'? What I am trying to understand and reconcile is that if these people did not say what they said, they would still hold their racist attitudes in privacy but have been open to no criticism. The problem would still exist, we just wouldn't know about it. Wouldn't we much rather have this out in the open for everyone to see than hidden behind closed doors when it comes to things like recruitment decisions or other instances of racist behaviours? 

What I really like about this instance is it has allowed people to comment about how ridiculous the idea of taking an issue with non-white casting of Ariel is. This never would have happened if people stayed silent and yet the attitudes would still have remained. Perhaps it's in the short-term more comfortable to simply not know what other people are thinking and doing in private or behind closed doors - ignorant bliss. But I can't see how this will change attitudes at all. 

[JennH]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 9:45pm

Margo319 said: "People should be able to say whatever they want?  Nope.   My friend shouldn't be called a "n*" on the subway for being black and I shouldn't be called a "sand n*" for existing on the street as a brown person.  Everyone should be able to say anything whatever they want???  Tell that to the family of Heather Heyer.  Repugnant.  

 

"

qolbinau didn't say they should be allowed to be allowed to say anything they want because he/she agrees with them/"free speech", it's so we know who these insane people are and can call them out on this. And while there is some truth to the differences between being "disappointed by casting a non white" v attacking due to race, the problem is, is that just because one is more overt than the other, doesn't mean the covert one is ok. Bigotry can be subtle, and that's an example of it. Merely for the fact that Ariel isn't human, for the love of heaven it doesn't matter who's cast as long as they got the skill set and yes they need to be educated about this, but the thing is we've been trying.so.hard. And they're.still.not.getting.it! This is why we finally are just wanting to shut up their nonsense because the "nice conversations and dialogue" haven't done a damn thing. They still don't understand the concept of white privilege nor believe it exists. Once there's an understanding that it exists and WHY, then finally admitting one's privilege can happen, and finally a forward momentum can start. It's not very many steps to take, but it's take a whhoollleee lot to get people to take them. There's a reason why the cliche of "big city people with forward thinking ideas v small minded people who still live in their small hometown" still persists in the world of fiction....because sadly it proves true in real life all too often. Heck I don't even remember exactly or when I finally "saw the light" as it were and I'm glad I did but dammit trying to explain this to people who haven't gotten it proves hard to do. It's hard to explain covert/subtle bigotry to someone who doesn't understand it because all they've seen is their hometown without really haven't been exposed to anything else. 

I know I ranted a bit, but these white supremacists coming out like roaches who've been in hiding just makes me want to scream. It's easy to to condemn overt bigotry because those people are just insane. Any sane person would condemn it, but there's still many a sane, but still ignorant, populace who needs to understand that bigotry isn't just murderous lynch mobs, labor slavery, or throwing people of certain backgrounds out of one's establishment. All that may not exist in droves like it used to which I'm grateful for, and much progress has been made in a century's worth of time when humans have been around for eons (think about that for a hot sec...) but there's still a ways to go.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 10:48pm

qolbinau, the fact that you "like" this specific instance for exposing racism just further belies your privilege. You are constantly speaking as a self-ordained authority on racial issues on this board when you clearly don't have any understanding of the history of racism in America in particular. Take several seats. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/13/17 at 11:10pm

So what are you suggesting? That we shout down these people as racist bigots and let them continue on their racist ways in private where you won't even know that it's happening? I think we all want the same goals but we are disagreeing on the vehicle to achieve that goal.

Good luck trying to change attitudes by shouting down people as racist bigots and suppress freedom of speech.  They'll just shut up but turn the Asian applicant away because they aren't a 'good fit', not buy a ticket to the Little Mermaid because it has an Asian actor, not go to the Asian restaurant because they can't get their 'Merican food, complain when their son wants to marry an Asian woman, and not want to travel to an Asian country. 

Maybe though they will read the articles about this issue and realise you know what, maybe it doesn't matter if an Asian person is playing a non-human and buy that ticket for them and their family after all. 

Updated On: 8/13/17 at 11:10 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 12:56am

You realize those things can run concurrently in America, right? I have a great many issues with call-out culture and social justice on the internet and the sinister ways those things can actually work against progressivism. If you hadn't noticed, this particular Asian woman got a job, because her director was intelligent enough to actually give it to the person he felt was best for the role. She seems like a lovely and talented woman. 

But the "alt-right" or white nationalists or neo-Nazis or just straight-up Nazis would happily see that woman dead. You don't seem to understand the urgency of that. I don't want to have a dialogue with a white man wearing a Klan hood and holding a machine gun. He doesn't want to have a dialogue with me either. I'm not going to change his mind. 

Stop pretending you have any context or credibility on this issue. You're embarrassing yourself. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 1:20am

It sounds incredibly conspiracy-like to claim that the entire 'alt-right' politics movement would want the lead actress to be dead. A very strong claim and to me sounds akin to people saying that all followers of Islam are terrorists. Do we have any real evidence to believe that the specific people complaining about this casting want her dead? To me the issue here seems much more likely to be the small town/backwards-type mentality than a conspiracy to want non-white people dead. I am very dubious/skeptical about this claim indeed - perhaps embarrassing myself. But I just don't buy that the motivations from these complainers were one of wanting non-white people dead. Maybe a small fraction of a movement. But not a whole movement. This is crazy talk - and I am definitely out of touch with the issue and the sense of urgency if it is true (but given the ability for the left and right to overreact and twist each other's views my first reaction is skepticism).

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 1:27am

We have a white supremacist in the White House. Wake up. This is the mainstream. 

A young woman died in Charlottesville after a white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of counter-protestors. Black people get shot by police every other damn day. People on this very board seem offended by the idea that people of color deserve more opportunities in the theatre. These things interact with each other and feed each other and drive pickup trucks with Blue Lives Matter stickers and Confederate flags on the back. Still confused? 

And you're creating a false equivalency by trying to compare Islamophobia to rejecting the "alt-right" which is a code word for white supremacy and neo-Nazism, but nice try I guess. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 1:42am

I want to point out that the article mentions that a similar issue arose when he cast Nikki Renée Daniels as Belle in a production of Beauty and the Beast 13 years ago. So you know what will continue to open minds? Diversity in theatre. It will actually change the world. Wouldn't you even agree with that, qolbinau, since you like this situation or opportunity or however you put it? It's such a simple thing to cast people of color in prominent roles and change someone's mind and preconceived notions about characters and people in general. (Also, I bet Nikki was a fantastic Belle.)

[binau]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 1:56am

Yes I agree. Hopefully they will attend and realise it's all ok. Let's be clear about my position though: I'm glad people had the opportunity to challenge these ideas rather than suppressing the speech and letting them go unchallenged. I just feel the tone of your post is almost disingenuously suggesting I am glad racism exists, which is not the issue here at all. 

And perfectlymarvelous, I can see how witnessing those events does make it seem like there is a growing uprising that wants to repeat the holocaust. Maybe I'm misguided with the following claim but my intuition is that treating all racist events and behaviours as if they come from a place of neo-nazism and deep hatred might be an overreaction though and counter-productive. My sense is that while there might be a small fraction of politicized white supremacy - the vast majority of the kind of racism we see in our society is the more covert, sometimes unintentional kind - like a casting director not 'seeing' an Asian male in a lead role in their vision rather than necessarily thinking that Asians are subhuman and don't belong on the Broadway stage. Hopefully I am just not naïve. 

Updated On: 8/14/17 at 01:56 AM