Yara Shahidi Is Focused On Diversity Instead Of Haters With Her New Role As Tinker Bell

Despite some criticism about her upcoming role as Tinker Bell, Yara Shahidi says diversity has long been needed in Disney films. 

The 23-year-old shared her views with Byrdie, expressing her longing for representation in children’s movies delivered by the company. When taking on the role of the famed fairy in ​​“Peter Pan & Wendy,” Shahidi had this objective in mind. The “Grown-ish” star spoke with director David Lowery, sharing that she was pleased with his desire to allow people of color to see characters that looked like them. After that chat, Shahidi felt that Lowery wasn’t interested in simply “popping Black and Brown folks in the cast.”

“Instead, it’s about creating a story that so many more people can see themselves in after we’ve been left out for so long,” Shahidi said during her chat with Byrdie for its digital Revival Issue.

Last month, the first images of Shahidi as Tinker Bell sparked heavy debate across social media. While many praised her upcoming appearance in the live-action film, others slammed the decision to cast her in the part. Fans of the animated movie right out believed that a white woman should have portrayed the fictional fairy. Then, there were those who believed Disney should have recreated a new film altogether instead of another remake. 

Y’all aren’t mad that Yara Shahidi is playing Tinkerbell because she “doesn’t look like the original”…y’all are mad because she’s black.

Because Julia Roberts played a red head, freckle faced, tomboy Tinkerbell and nobody cared.#tinkerbell

— The Nostalgia Queen (@Snow_Blacck) March 16, 2023

Yara looks a fucking mess as tinker bell disney set her up

— letgodbetruequickly (@letgodb) March 22, 2023

Yara as Tinkerbell is such a hard no for me. Her voice does not give cute and fairy like 🥴🙄

— Tyjeria Sha’na (@tyjeria_shana) March 15, 2023

why did they not make yara shahidi’s tinkerbell blonde

— avery 🍉 (@hollqnds) March 20, 2023

Idk Yara being tinker bell bothers me because literally the whole tinker bell universe is diverse ! There’s fairies of every color and there is definitely a brown one that Yara could’ve killed but instead make her a white character that has little to no powers !

— KASSANDRA 🌻 (@kfiggie) March 18, 2023

Nevertheless, Shahidi is ready for the film’s debut, and Disney is celebrating with an all-new Tinker Bell doll modeled after the actress. “Peter & Wendy” will arrive on Disney+ on April 28th.