The upcoming live-action movie adaptation of “Peter Pan & Wendy” has sparked controversy among fans and viewers due to the casting of Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell.
Disney’s decision to make Tinker Bell a Black character instead of creating a new character for a person of color has drawn criticism and outrage from some members of the audience.
Many are now questioning Disney’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity in their movies.
Several people took to Twitter to express their disappointment with Disney’s casting choice.
Some criticized the company’s practice of “race-swapping” existing characters instead of creating new ones for people of color. One Twitter user wrote, “Disney loves to race swap these days instead of creating original and new characters that are POC.”
Another echoed that sentiment, stating that Disney was more focused on “race-swapping” existing characters than on creating new ones with more diverse casts.
Other critics argued that Tinker Bell has always been depicted as a white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, and that diverging from the original source material was not right.
Some fans also expressed that they would have preferred a new character that was a person of color rather than a Black Tinker Bell.
Disney has faced similar backlash in the past for their casting choices, such as when they cast Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.”
While some fans are unhappy with the casting of Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, others have suggested alternative actresses for the role. A number of Twitter users have suggested that longtime Disney Channel alum Dove Cameron would have been a perfect fit for the role.
The controversy surrounding “Peter Pan & Wendy” is likely to continue in the lead-up to the movie’s release in late April.
Disney will need to be prepared for the potential impact of the criticism on the film’s box office performance. As one Twitter user put it, “Disney should be ashamed of themselves for not creating new characters instead of just changing the races of old ones.”
