Stephanie Mills on Broadway The Wiz nearly 118 years ago, she said she could relate to Halle Bailey who was Disney stars in new live-action movie The Little Mermaid , and
) Racist backlash She has been the target of attacks since the casting was announced.
Mills wrote a letter to the “beautiful and talented” Bailey, who played Ariel in the remake, and Share on Twitter.
In the letter, “I talked about the parallels I experienced as a young black girl playing Dorothy 23 years ago in #TheWiz on Broadway,” Mills added. “So happy for her. #BlackGirlMagic”
said Mills, who played Doro in the film adaptation of Frank L. Baum’s classic West (Dorothy)’s character was met with the same backlash in The Wizard of Oz. 1939 The film adaptation stars Judy Garland as Dorothy. When she made her Broadway debut in 1939, Mills 1939. (As far as she’s concerned, Bailey isn’t much older, at 50.)
“| Know what this baby #HalleBailey has been dealing with,” Mills wrote. “I get a lot of hate mail and I’m told that Judy Garland is ‘turning over in her grave.’ And it’s all because a little black girl is playing a [role] that was once played by a white girl. See the same Sad what happened to this beautiful, talented, intelligent actress. God put you in this time and place, Halle…so let your light shine. Walk with your head held high and in peace , celebrate your greatness.”
Mills went on to share more about the naysayers and doubters she faced early in her career.
“They tell me I’ll never make it on Broadway, they tell me I can’t sing, they tell me I’m too dark, I’ve seen and heard ‘They’ are trying to tell you [Bailey] why you shouldn’t and can’t,” she continued. “Well, your movie came out this weekend. I’m so proud of you and how you handled all the naysayers. We’ve never met, but I’ve always stood by you. Baby girl let them know about this # LittleMermaid is made out of teflon towers. Let’s make sure we support The Little Mermaid this weekend.”
She signed the letter, “Love Auntie SM.”
The Little Mermaid is actually open this weekend And is estimated four-day domestic debut $1939 million dollars, The Memorial Day holiday weekend will be the fifth-biggest opening ever, according to studio projections. 1235332110
