Stephanie Mills Sends Support To Halle Bailey In The Midst Of Racist Rearing Their Head Over Her Disney Success

When Stephanie Mills sang, When I think of home, I think of a resting place, A place where there’s peace, quiet, and serenity, not a place where racists haters are coming for me.

It’s crazy that whenever someone reaches overwhelming success, the crabs in the barrel start reaching their claws to the top.  In the case of the box office smash hit this past weekend of Disney’s  ‘The Little Mermaid” starring Halle Bailey as The Little Mermaid, the racists decided to give their overwhelming opinion of dissatisfaction with Halle Bailey playing the character in the live version because in the animated version the mermaid was white with red hair.  A dissatisfaction that the legendary singer Stephanie Mills was all too familiar with, so she decided to show Halle Bailey support publicly.

 Stephanie Mills, had a similar experience when she was cast to portray the role of Dorothy on Broadway for the 1974 run of “The Wiz.” The movie is a reimagining of the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” which stars Judy Garland, a white woman, as Dorothy.

“As a young Black girl playing the [role] as Dorothy in 7-time Tony Award-winning Broadway play The Wiz, I know what this baby #HalleBailey has been dealing with. I got so much hate mail, I was told Judy Garland ‘is turning over in her grave.’ All because a little Black girl was playing a [role], that was once played by a white girl.” “It’s sad to see the same thing is happening to this beautiful, talented, smart and intelligent actress. “Halle, God put you in this place and time. So let your light shine. Hold your head up high, walk in your peace, and celebrate the greatness that you are.”

Take a look at everything Stephanie Mills had to say in her social media letter to Halle Bailey below.

A letter I wrote to the beautiful and talented @HalleBailey who is starring in the @Disney movie #THELITTLEMERMAID. I touch on the similarities I experienced as a young black girl playing Dorothy 50 years ago in #TheWiz on Broadway. So happy for her. #BlackGirlMagic👏🏾👏🏾💐💐 pic.twitter.com/NHWoraHK9l

— Stephanie Mills (@PrettyMill1) May 28, 2023