Disney must be excited by all the love that the upcoming remake of The Little Mermaid is getting, but they may not have done themselves any favors by adding a scene that seems to take a shot at Kate Middleton, also known as Catherine, Princess of Wales. It also inadvertently serves as a dis to any girl named Catherine.
The potential bad-look for Disney makes one wonder why they would even approve such a scene, despite it apparently being a very mild dig at the present Princess of Wales. Why any dig at all?
Page Six reports that the dis happens when Ariel meets Prince Eric. Trying to guess the mermaid’s name, which we all know is Ariel, Eric asks, “Diana?” which happens to obviously be the name of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Obviously, however, it’s not the mermaid’s name, so he has to guess again and suggests, “Catherine,” which is the present Princess of Wales. Ariel responds with a look of disgust on her face, to which Eric says, “OK. Definitely not Catherine!”
Meghan Markle discussed The Little Mermaid during her famous Oprah interview in 2021, saying that she relates to Ariel’s journey in the original 1989 movie, sans the whole fish thing. Middleton has reportedly not taken a liking to Markle, creating what some claim is a rivalry between the two. So, why would Disney even care to mention their names?
It certainly seems too much of a coincidence, considering Meghan’s comments about the film, the fact that the character of Eric is a prince, and the names used in the scene.
It’s also worth noting that there is nothing else in the film that would make Ariel repulsed over the name of “Catherine.”
It’s a shame that any such controversy could take away from the movie, especially with the highly talented Halle Bailey in the lead, but it remains to be seen how the public will react.
Regardless of what people make of the scene in relation to whether or not it’s a Kate Middleton dis, it will almost certainly come across as a completely unnecessary dis to any girl named Catherine. What was Disney thinking? Do they think they have no fans with that name? Imagine how any kid named Catherine is going to feel after watching that scene. It just seems like a poor move by Disney, when they don’t even think of that.