Halle Bailey Expresses How She Handles Dealing With Negative Comments Online, “People Are So Critical And Say Anything That They Would Never Say To Your Face”

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Cousins! While in conversation with Variety, fellow actresses Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey reflected on the harassment they were forced to deal with online regarding their roles in playing Snow White and Ariel in the Disney films The ‘Little Mermaid’ and ‘Snow White’

Halle shared that she dealt with racist comments surrounding her role in playing the first Black Ariel. The 23-year-old expressed that though she dealt with a lot of cruel comments on social media, her gratitude for the opportunity to push forth diversity outweighed the bad.

“You proved them wrong with grace,” said Rachel, to Halle in Variety’s “Actors on Actors,” latest segment. “I was so inspired by the way you handled anybody who had anything bad to say about it.” “Did you ever let it affect you at all?” Rachel asked. “You definitely didn’t publicly.”

“Of course,” Halle responded. “I mean, we’re sensitive. We’re human beings. I get my feelings hurt if my cat doesn’t doesn’t want to sit next to me.”

She continued, “That’s what people don’t realize: We’re granted amazing opportunities and able to be seen on massive screens, but there is a dissociation. People start taking you away from being a real human being that has feelings and reacts to things. That was definitely something that I had to navigate.”

“However, it “turned out to be the most beautiful lesson — to block any naysayers or negativity out,” she said. “Also, I’m an Aries, so I’m a fire sign. People are like, ‘Oh, she’s so sweet. She’s so nice.’ But a lot of times when I see stuff online, I get mad.” She added, “It’s hard being women under the spotlight. People are so critical and say anything that they would never say to your face.”

According to Entertainment Weekly, Halle recently voiced her support for Rachel on Twitter ( X) following the backlash she received about her casting as a Latina actress in the movie ‘Snow White’.

“Choosing thankfulness and gratefulness is choosing peace,” Rachel added. “As much as you’d like to remind people verbally that being in the spotlight doesn’t absolve you of your humanity — that you’re allowed to have human moments — it doesn’t necessarily do what you want it to do. It fuels them more.”

Ultimately, “We’re making things that make people connect with one another,” Zegler added. “And there are people out there who say things that make people want to not come together, that make people want to fight. And it’s just not worth the time and energy.”

“Stay grateful and ignore the hate,” said Halle