“If it is not Sydney Sweeney, closes Disney’s studies,” admitted fans protest after Disney’s CEO revealed that black actress Francesca Amewudah-rivers would be chosen to play the princess.
The announcement of a new Live action entangled project of Disney Studios has caused an immediate wave of controversy, dividing fans and lighting the heated debate on social media platforms. The Disney CEO confirmed that the study has chosen the Francesca Amewudah-rivers ascent to portray Rapunzel, a decision that was destined to bring a “new type of magic” to the beloved fairy tale. However, instead of universal emotion, the casting choice has encountered an intense reaction, with fans who join behind the viral slogan: “If it is not Sydney Sweeney, then closes Disney’s studies.”
For weeks, speculation around who would be chosen as Rapunzel had dominated online discussions. Many fans campaigned largely for actress Sydney Sweeney, believing that her appearance and growing popularity coincided perfectly with the iconic princess with the long golden hair. When Francesca Amewudah-rivers, a black actress, was officially announced, shock waves undertake through the Fandom. The critics said that the casting moved too much away from the original animated character and accused Disney of prioritizing identity policy about loyalty to history.
Social networks quickly became the scenario of a mass protest. The hashtags like #Notmyrapunzel, #Tangleddisaster and #Sydneyforrapunzel began to trend in a matter of hours. Innumerable memes, requests and reaction videos flooded platforms such as X and Tiktok, many of them expressing outrage due to Disney’s decision. Some even demanded a boycott of the film, claiming that the study was “destroying the magic” of an appreciated history of childhood. The most viral protest line, “if it is not Sydney Sweeney, then closed Disney’s studies,” thousands of times in fans communities have been repeated.
Despite the violent reaction, others have defended Disney’s decision, praising the study for taking a bold step towards greater diversity in his narration. Supporters argue that fairy tales have always evolved with each new count and that the launch of Francesca Amewudah-rivers offers the opportunity to reinterpret Rapunzel in a way that resonates with the modern public. For these fans, the criticism aimed at the actress highlights a deeper theme of racial bias within certain sections of the fans base. “Rapunzel is more than just its hair color or skin tone,” he wrote an online follower. “The magic of history comes from his courage, his spirit and his journey.”
The controversy is the last of a series of heated debates that surround Disney casting options in live action adaptations. The study faced similar criticism during the launch of The Little Mermaid when Falle Bailey was chosen to play Ariel, generating months of arguments about representation and authenticity. While that film finally found success at the box office, the tangled reaction suggests that Disney is still struggling to balance fans’ expectations with their impulse for inclusion.
As production for tangled advances, all eyes remain in Disney and Francesca Amewudah-rivers. Will the protests fader once the public sees their performance, or the outrage became a large -scale boycott? For now, the future of this fairy tales count hangs in balance, eclipsed by a growing storm of divided opinions and the implacable voices of fans who believe that their rapunzel should have been Sydney Sweeney.
