“She’s even dumber than me.” Those shocking words came from actress Halle Bailey, who openly lashed out at Francesca Amewudah-Rivers for accepting Disney’s offer to star in the upcoming live-action Tangled. Bailey, who herself has faced criticism for her role as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, accused Amewudah-Rivers of being “foolish” for agreeing to work with Disney despite what she claims was a disappointing contract deal.
According to insiders, the contract signed by Francesca Amewudah-Rivers is significantly lower in value compared to previous Disney live-action projects. While Disney has presented the casting of Amewudah-Rivers as a step toward inclusivity and modernization of its princess legacy, Bailey argued that the actress was undervaluing her worth.
The comment immediately set social media on fire. Some fans defended Bailey for speaking out against what they see as Disney’s exploitation of young talent, while others condemned her words as unnecessarily cruel and divisive, especially coming from another Black actress who had once broken barriers in Hollywood.
Supporters of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers rushed to her defense, praising her for embracing the opportunity and believing that the role of Rapunzel could serve as a career-defining moment regardless of the contract amount. “Sometimes it’s about legacy, not money,” one fan posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Meanwhile, critics of Bailey accuse her of jealousy and hypocrisy, pointing out that she had previously celebrated her own groundbreaking role despite facing backlash. “If she had turned down Disney because of the contract, we wouldn’t even know her name today,” one user commented.
Disney has not responded publicly to Bailey’s remarks, but industry analysts suggest the controversy may generate even more attention around the Tangled remake, which is already one of the most talked-about upcoming projects.
For now, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers has remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the details of her contract. However, her quiet professionalism is being praised by many, who argue that her calm approach is winning her more fans than Bailey’s outburst.
What began as a casting announcement has now turned into a headline-making feud, with Halle Bailey’s blunt words ensuring that the Tangled remake is under the brightest spotlight possible.
