Tituss Burgess doesn’t want to be part of the world of The Little Mermaid critics.
On September 27, 2022, Burgess attended the grand premiere of Hocus Pocus 2 and spoke to the press about other upcoming Disney projects. In particular, the actor told Page Six that he wasn’t particularly surprised by some of the negative reactions to the first teaser of the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey as Ariel.
“You know what? I’m not surprised by anything. We live in America,” Burgess remarked. “It’s a very racist country, it’s a very narrow-minded country, full of mental illness and people who cannot see the forest from the trees.”
The breakout star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt added, “The movie is not made for them. It’s made for people with open minds.”
Burgess also reminded the publication that Ariel is a mermaid (a create that doesn’t exist in real life) and a fictional character based on a fairytale. “She doesn’t exist, so there’s that!” he remarked. “[That’s] all the information you need about the people who are feeling cantankerous about it.”
For context, Burgess originated the role of Sebastian the Crab on the Broadway adaptation of The Little Mermaid, so he has a deep connection with Disney’s modern take on this fairytale. He is also attached to several different projects with Disney – from movies like Snow White to TV shows such as The Wonder Years.
Thankfully, the positive reaction to the live-action The Little Mermaid – as well as its impact on young girls – has been even more significant than the negative comments that surfaced online about the race of an actress who’s playing a fictional character.
The Little Mermaid opens May 26, 2023 in theaters.
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