Actor Mena Massoud, known for his role in the live-action Aladdin, recently found himself at the center of controversy on Twitter. His remarks about the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid sparked a backlash from fans and led to him deleting his Twitter account. Let’s delve into the details of the incident.
Mena Massoud’s Twitter Controversy: Mena Massoud played the titular character in the highly successful 2019 live-action remake of Aladdin, alongside Will Smith. The movie achieved significant box office success, earning over $1 billion worldwide, with $356 million from the domestic market.
‘THE LITTLE MERMAID’ is tracking to earn $115M on its domestic box office opening weekend.
In comparison, ‘ALADDIN’ earned $112M on its opening. pic.twitter.com/vpIoYcYcQ2
— The Hollywood Handle (@hollywoodhandle) May 12, 2023
The conversation shifted to The Little Mermaid, another Disney live-action remake set to hit theaters soon. A Twitter post by The Hollywood Handle stated that The Little Mermaid was projected to earn around $115 million domestically in its opening weekend, slightly higher than Aladdin’s opening weekend earnings. In response, Massoud made a comment that some interpreted as a slight against The Little Mermaid.
Massoud’s tweet, which has since been deleted, read as follows: “Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It’s the only way we reached the billion dollar mark with our opening. My guess is TLM doesn’t cross the billion mark but will undoubtedly get a sequel.”
Backlash and Twitter Account Deletion: The controversial tweet generated a backlash from fans of The Little Mermaid and its lead actress, Halle Bailey. Massoud’s prediction that viewers would not watch The Little Mermaid multiple times like they did with Aladdin was seen by some as throwing shade at the upcoming film.
As a result of the ensuing backlash, Massoud decided to delete his entire Twitter account. While his account is no longer accessible, screenshots of the tweet can still be found online. The decision to abandon the platform appears to be a direct response to the criticism he received for his tweet.
Aladdin vs. The Little Mermaid Highlights:
- Mena Massoud’s Twitter post sparks controversy and leads to him leaving the platform.
- Massoud played the lead role in the live-action remake of Aladdin in 2019, which was a huge box office success.
- Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is generating buzz and is projected to earn $115 million in its opening weekend.
- Massoud’s response on Twitter suggested that The Little Mermaid might not reach the billion-dollar mark but would likely get a sequel.
- The tweet has been deleted, but images of it can still be seen on TMZ.
- Massoud’s Twitter account is no longer accessible, indicating that he may have abandoned it due to backlash.
- Some fans criticized Massoud for his comments, interpreting them as throwing shade at The Little Mermaid and its star, Halle Bailey.
- Speculation arises that Massoud’s frustrations with the stalled development of an Aladdin sequel influenced his remarks.
- Despite director Guy Ritchie mentioning potential ideas for an Aladdin sequel, Massoud previously stated that it was unlikely to happen.
- The Little Mermaid, directed by Rob Marshall and starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, and Noma Dumezweni, will be released on May 26, 2023.
Conclusion:
Mena Massoud’s involvement in a Twitter controversy surrounding The Little Mermaid led to the actor deleting his account. The incident highlights the intense scrutiny and passionate fan bases associated with beloved franchises. It remains to be seen whether Massoud will return to Twitter or address the issue publicly.
