Wait, Did Halle Bailey Really Say THAT?! 😱
The internet is losing it over rumors that Halle Bailey threw shade at another Black actress over Disney’s Tangled casting—allegedly calling her “stupid” and mocking her hair! But is there more to this story than meets the eye? 🌟 Dive into the drama and uncover the truth behind the Tangled project and why it’s sparking such heated debate! Click the link to get the full scoop—you won’t believe what’s really going on! 👉

The internet loves a good scandal, and the latest rumor swirling around Halle Bailey and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers has set social media ablaze. A viral claim suggests that Bailey, celebrated for her role as Ariel in Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid, insulted Amewudah-Rivers, calling her “stupid” and mocking her appearance in connection to a supposed role as Rapunzel in a Tangled remake. The accusation, steeped in controversy, alleges Bailey criticized Amewudah-Rivers for accepting a low-paying contract and implied she’d need a wig due to her hair. But here’s the catch: there’s no evidence to support this story. No credible sources confirm Amewudah-Rivers’ casting as Rapunzel, let alone any feud with Bailey. So, what’s really going on? This article dives into the origins of the rumor, the broader context of casting controversies, and the ongoing challenges Black actresses face in Hollywood, particularly around hair and representation.

The Rumor: Fact or Fiction? Let’s start with the claim itself. The rumor alleges that Halle Bailey, who faced her own wave of racist backlash after being cast as Ariel, made derogatory comments about Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, a rising British actress known for her West End debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet alongside Tom Holland. The supposed insults—calling Amewudah-Rivers “stupid” for accepting a low-value Disney contract and mocking her hair—have spread like wildfire on platforms like X and Reddit. However, a closer look reveals no verified reports of such statements. Neither Bailey nor Amewudah-Rivers has publicly addressed this alleged feud, and there’s no confirmation of Amewudah-Rivers being cast as Rapunzel. In fact, the only recent Tangled casting rumors have centered on South Asian actress Avantika Vandanapu, who faced similar online vitriol for allegedly being considered for the role.

The absence of evidence suggests this story is likely a fabrication, possibly fueled by trolls or misinterpretations of unrelated events. Bailey, who has consistently advocated for representation and spoken about her own experiences with racism, seems an unlikely candidate to disparage another Black actress. Similarly, Amewudah-Rivers, who endured racist harassment after her Romeo and Juliet casting, has focused on her craft, not public disputes. The rumor’s specificity—mentioning a “low contract value” and hair-related insults—feels like a calculated attempt to stir division, playing into harmful stereotypes about Black women and their hair.

The Tangled Casting Context While the Bailey-Amewudah-Rivers feud appears baseless, the rumor taps into real tensions surrounding Disney’s live-action remakes and diverse casting. Disney’s Tangled, released in 2010, features Rapunzel, a character with long, magical blonde hair, traditionally depicted as white in Western fairy tales. When rumors surfaced in 2024 that Avantika Vandanapu, an Indian-American actress, was being considered for a live-action Rapunzel, social media erupted with racist backlash. Critics argued that a non-white actress couldn’t embody the “blonde, white girl” image of Rapunzel, ignoring the fact that fairy tales are fictional and adaptable. Similar sentiments plagued Bailey’s casting as Ariel, with the hashtag #NotMyAriel trending in 2019 over her dreadlocks and skin color.

The idea of Amewudah-Rivers as Rapunzel, though unconfirmed, fits into this pattern of resistance to diverse casting. Her West End role as Juliet drew thousands of racist and misogynistic comments, prompting over 800 Black actors to sign an open letter in solidarity. The Tangled rumor may have originated from similar online speculation, misattributing her name to the project. Disney has not officially announced a Tangled remake, but the studio’s history of remaking classics like Cinderella and Mulan suggests it’s only a matter of time. If a Black or South Asian actress were cast, the backlash would likely mirror past controversies, highlighting the persistent challenge of representation in Hollywood.

Hair and Identity: A Loaded Topic The rumor’s focus on hair—specifically the claim that Bailey said Amewudah-Rivers would need a wig—is particularly insidious. Hair has long been a battleground for Black women in entertainment, where Eurocentric beauty standards often dominate. Bailey faced criticism for her dreadlocks as Ariel, with detractors arguing they didn’t match the animated character’s red, flowing hair. In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, Bailey spoke about the significance of seeing a Black Ariel, saying, “As a child, seeing a Black Ariel would have changed my life”. She also addressed the backlash, noting, “As a Black person, you just expect it and it’s not really a shock anymore”.

Amewudah-Rivers, too, has navigated scrutiny over her appearance. Her casting as Juliet was met with comments questioning her beauty and desirability, often rooted in racist and misogynistic tropes. The rumor about Bailey mocking her hair taps into this painful reality, weaponizing a sensitive issue to pit two Black actresses against each other. In reality, Black actresses like Bailey, Amewudah-Rivers, and others have faced systemic mistreatment on sets regarding their hair. For example, Meagan Good recounted a hairstylist burning her forehead while pressing her hair, highlighting the industry’s lack of expertise with Black hair textures.

The Bigger Picture: Misogynoir and Media Manipulation The Bailey-Amewudah-Rivers rumor is a textbook example of misogynoir—the intersection of racism and sexism that targets Black women. Both actresses have faced disproportionate online abuse for their roles in high-profile projects. Bailey endured the #NotMyAriel campaign, with critics fixating on her appearance rather than her talent. Amewudah-Rivers’ casting as Juliet led to such severe harassment that the Jamie Lloyd Company issued a statement condemning the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse”. The rumor of a feud between them feels like an extension of this pattern, designed to undermine their achievements and sow division.

Social media plays a significant role in amplifying such narratives. Platforms like X and Reddit thrive on viral, sensational claims, often without fact-checking. The Tangled rumor, with its specific details about contracts and wigs, may have been crafted to provoke outrage and engagement. This tactic isn’t new—similar controversies have targeted actresses like Zendaya, Ambika Mod, and Avantika Vandanapu for their roles in Spider-Man, One Day, and Tangled speculation, respectively. The cycle is predictable: a Black or minority actress is cast, online trolls attack, supporters rally, and the debate moves on to the next target.

Disney’s Role in Representation Disney’s live-action remakes have become a lightning rod for discussions about diversity. While the studio has made strides—casting Bailey as Ariel and Anika Noni Rose as Tiana in The Princess and the Frog—its approach has drawn criticism. Some argue that remaking traditionally white stories with diverse casts invites backlash without addressing systemic issues in storytelling. As one Harvard Crimson article noted, “Disney must consider making original diverse content” to avoid leaving actors like Bailey to face racism alone. A Tangled remake featuring a Black or South Asian Rapunzel could be a powerful step, but it would require Disney to actively combat the inevitable online hate.

The focus on hair in these controversies reflects broader cultural biases. Rapunzel’s long, blonde hair is iconic, but the assumption that only a white actress can portray her ignores the flexibility of fiction. South Asian hair, for instance, is globally prized for its strength and luster, making a South Asian Rapunzel a logical choice. Similarly, a Black Rapunzel could redefine beauty standards, much like Bailey’s Ariel did for young Black girls whose viral reactions to the Little Mermaid trailer moved millions.

What’s Next for Bailey and Amewudah-Rivers? Halle Bailey has continued to thrive despite the Little Mermaid backlash, starring in The Color Purple and working on her solo music career. Her resilience in the face of racism—she told The Face, “I don’t pay attention to the negativity”—is a testament to her strength. Amewudah-Rivers, meanwhile, has earned accolades for her Romeo and Juliet performance, winning the Ian Charleson Award and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Newcomer in 2025. Both actresses are carving out impressive careers, undeterred by online noise.

The Tangled rumor, though false, highlights the need for better support systems for Black actresses. The industry must address issues like hair mistreatment and ensure diverse casts are met with celebration, not hate. Fans can play a role too, by amplifying positive voices and challenging misinformation. As Bailey’s casting as Ariel showed, representation matters deeply—her performance inspired countless young girls who saw themselves in a Disney princess for the first time.

Conclusion: Rising Above the Noise The rumor of Halle Bailey insulting Francesca Amewudah-Rivers is a stark reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread, especially when it targets Black women in the spotlight. There’s no evidence to support the claim, and it’s likely a fabricated attempt to stir division. Instead of focusing on a nonexistent feud, we should celebrate Bailey and Amewudah-Rivers for their talent and resilience in the face of systemic challenges. A Tangled remake, whether featuring Amewudah-Rivers, Vandanapu, or another actress of color, could be a chance to redefine iconic characters for a new generation. As Hollywood grapples with representation, it’s clear that actresses like Bailey and Amewudah-Rivers are leading the way, proving that their voices—and their hair—are beautiful, powerful, and here to stay.