Actress Halle Bailey has revealed she learned to “block out the noise” following the racist backlash to her casting in The Little Mermaid.
Halle Bailey learned to “block out the noise” following the racist backlash to her casting in The Little Mermaid.
The 26-year-old actress was subjected to a barrage of online criticism after being cast as the lead in the 2023 reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, but Halle is adamant she didn’t let the negativity ruin her experience and it taught her some valuable lessons.
She told The Independent newspaper: “[It was] a beautiful experience for me – and I feel like it taught me to listen to myself and the good voices inside. I learnt how to block out the noise …
“How do I explain it … It was actually freeing to be in the middle of this conversation where so many different opinions were coming in, and they were so opposite from one another … [It was] like an experiment. I felt like I was watching myself inside a cup, seeing how people react to it.”
Halle has been dealing with fame since a young age after signing a record deal at the age of 13 performing as Chloe x Halle alongside her sister Chloe Bailey, and she has learned to accept fame for what it really is.
She explained: “Growing up in the industry can really develop your sense of self, and for me, it keeps me grounded in a way.
“I know for some people it’s the opposite but I just always think to myself: ‘None of this is real’ …
“The fact I’m here is a blessing, and I’m grateful [to be doing music and acting], but at the same time, this is not what matters in life. What matters is keeping our feet on the ground, and holding the people we love.”
It comes after Halle admitted becoming a mother to her son Halo has made her feel more “confident” and changed her approach to life.
She told PEOPLE: “I think after I had my baby I was like, ‘I’m grown-grown now’. He’s made me more sure of myself and confident in my voice.
“Stronger is my word for this year.”
Halle confessed to being “obsessed” with her baby boy. She added: “It’s very trippy to have a whole being grow inside you and now to see them run around and be their own person. I cry every day. I’m just obsessed.”
Halle is no longer with DDG, the father of her child. But the singer remains thankful for having such a strong support network in her life.
She explained: “You don’t do it alone. I feel grateful that I have beautiful women in my life that surround me and lift me up and that are my village. It’s a village job.
“Especially when you’re trying to work on so many different things. You’re trying to do your career as well as balance [motherhood], but I feel like women, we can do it all. Like we really can. We need to give ourselves more credit as women sometimes, too, and know that we are amazing.”
Halle Bailey learned to ‘block out the noise’ after Little Mermaid backlash
