SNL's Ego Nwodim Plays Ariel the Little Mermaid on Show Amid Disney Movie Controversy

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32 Years Under the Sea With "The Little Mermaid": Live From E! Rewind

Don't telephone the new Little Mermaid "Black Ariel," Saturday Night Live says.

The casting of Halle Bailey arsenic Ariel successful Disney's upcoming live-action remake successful 2019 has since sparked debate, with critics unhappy that the role, portrayed arsenic achromatic successful the 1989 animated film, did not spell to a achromatic actress. The news, and a precocious released first teaser showing the prima singing "Part of Your World," has besides inspired a caller generation to dress up arsenic Ariel. On NBC's SNL Oct. 8, formed member Ego Nwodim portrayed the quality on Weekend Update.

"Disney precocious made past aft announcing the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid featuring a Black Ariel," co-host Colin Jost said. "Here to remark is Black Ariel."

Ego then joined the anchor table in a Little Mermaid costume. "Thanks truthful overmuch Colin," she said. "You know, you tin conscionable telephone maine Ariel. I don't telephone you White Colin. To your face."

Colin past told her quality that "some radical online are present calling you a leader and a relation model," to which she replied, "Role exemplary to who? Black girls who privation to beryllium a fish?"

She continued, "I gotta beryllium honest, Colin, it's a batch of pressure. People are each like, 'Oh, Ariel, you're perfect. You're the leader we need.' Bitch, I americium normal."

Ego's Ariel past went connected to item immoderate of her weaknesses and idiosyncratic faults, specified arsenic increasing up [Jeff] Bezos-rich and riding connected "poor people" seahorses "for fun," being truthful "stupid-stupid" that she's ever falling for a worm connected a hook and being "pro-SeaWorld."

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Directed by Rob Marshall, The Little Mermaid besides stars Melissa McCarthy arsenic villain Ursula, Javier Bardem arsenic Ariel's begetter King Triton, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Hamilton's Daveed Diggs arsenic Sebastian the crab, Awkwafina arsenic Scuttle the seagull and Little Women actor Jonah Hauer-King arsenic Prince Eric.

"It has been the toughest acquisition being distant from everything and everyone i've ever known, to feeling aforesaid doubt/ loneliness, but besides feeling specified state and perseverance arsenic i've reached the end," Halle wrote connected Instagram successful July, regarding clip filming The Little Mermaid. "This acquisition has made maine truthful overmuch stronger than one ever thought one could be."

In September, Halle talked to E! News at the D23 Expo astir however Disney's animated Little Mermaid movie inspired her. "I decidedly deliberation that due to the fact that I emotion this movie truthful much, and I've treasured it since I was a small girl, I did enactment a spot of unit connected myself," she said. "Just due to the fact that I privation to present each of the feels that I saw erstwhile I was a small girl."

(E! and NBC are portion of the NBCUniversal family.)

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