Ariel’s original voice actor supports changing ‘Little Mermaid’ song lyrics for consent.

Jodi Benson, Original Voice of Ariel, Supports Changes in Live-Action “Little Mermaid”

“The Little Mermaid” is making a splash once again with its live-action remake, and some changes have been made to the classic story. Jodi Benson, the actress who originally voiced Ariel, recently spoke out in support of these changes.

Changes to Classic Songs

One of the most notable changes is to the lyrics of the classic song “Kiss the Girl.” The words were altered to include consent, so the audience knows Prince Eric would never “force himself on Ariel.”

The original lyrics were:

“Yes, you want her. Look at her, you know you do. Possible she wants you, too. There is one way to ask her. It don’t take a word. Not a single word. Go on and kiss the girl.”

The song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” also had lyric edits to make it more palatable for the PC crowd. The original version had the villain, Ursula, singing about how women should not speak out of turn.

Support for Change

Jodi Benson spoke out in support of the changes, saying, “It’s 2023, so we have to grow, we have to learn, we have to be aware of our surroundings.” She believes it’s important to stay relevant and be aware of what’s going on around us.

Alan Menken, who wrote the music for the original film, also supports the changes. He explained that the revisions were made to ensure that young girls don’t feel like they shouldn’t speak out of turn.

Actress Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in the newest film version, also supports the changes. She believes the film is about more than just a girl leaving the ocean for a boy.

The live-action “Little Mermaid” debuts in theaters on May 26. Don’t miss it!

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