Disney's Forthcoming 'Lilo and Stitch' Live-Action Remake Sparks Colorism Debate
The internet is not happy with the casting.
Disney‘s Lilo and Stitch is getting turned into a live-action, and so far, fans don’t seem too excited about the casting. As a result, many have taken to accuse Disney of whitewashing, sparking a debate about colorism online.
So far, three roles for the film have been announced: Maia Kealoha will portray Lilo; Sydney Agudong will play Nani, Lilo’s older sister, while newcomer Kahiau Machado will play David, Nani’s boyfriend. All actors appear to be visibly lighter-skinned than their respective animated characters.
Many have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the casting decision as representation matters. “This is a disservice to brown girls who saw themselves in Nani. Colorism remains strong in this industry,” writer and producer Joelle Monique wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, one fan tweeted, “‘But not all Pasifika are darker-’ NANI IS??? It’s 2023, stop glorifying Eurocentric beauty standards in the name of erasing characteristics and features integral to ethnicities, especially in terms of representation, give darker-skinned Pacific Islanders the visibility we deserve.”
For more, check out some of the cast below.
Sydney Agudong and Kahiau Machado to star as Nani and David Kawena in Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ film. pic.twitter.com/OVCS199jZF
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 17, 2023
