During an early screening of the film, attendees noticed a scene that seemed to indirectly favor Meghan Markle, thereby hinting at a preference by Disney. In this particular moment, Ariel, the protagonist, sacrifices her voice to reach the surface and meet Prince Eric. As he tries to guess her name, his first guess is Diana, the name of Prince Harry's late mother. His second guess is Catherine, the full name of his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. However, Ariel's reaction of disgust prompts him to conclude, "OK, definitely not Catherine."
This choice of names draws parallels between the fictional characters and the real-life dynamics involving Meghan Markle, suggesting a connection between Kate Middleton and Ariel's character. It is widely known that Kate Middleton has had a strained relationship with Harry and Meghan, especially following their decision to step down from their royal duties in 2020.
Furthermore, the critic who witnessed the early screening noted several other subtle references in the film, one of which is the portrayal of Ariel as a black character while Eric is depicted as white. This comparison draws similarities to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, further fueling speculation about Disney's alignment with Meghan Markle.
Although the use of specific names in the film could be coincidental, the cinemagoer strongly believes that such choices were not arbitrary, considering the extreme reaction shown by the mermaid character. The critic argues that Disney would be disingenuous to imply that these name choices were mere happenstance, suggesting a deliberate nod towards the real-life tensions surrounding Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton.
As the release of "The Little Mermaid" remake approaches, audiences are left intrigued and curious to see if Disney's apparent support for Meghan Markle will be further explored or addressed within the narrative.
