Chloe Bailey revealed how she felt when her sister, Halle Baileyreceived heavy criticism for his role in the live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.”
Halle played the role of Ariel, but when the film came out, many people were divided over her casting. Most of the criticism took the form of racist comments, with some objecting to the character being played by a black actress.
Chloe Bailey recalls the pain caused by Halle’s role as Ariel
The live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” was one of the most anticipated films of 2023. However, its release was overshadowed by intense criticism from some viewers regarding the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel.
For Chloe, the other half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle, watching the controversy unfold was emotionally difficult.
“It broke my heart,” the singer said in an interview with Variety.
She added, “Seeing her put so much work and time into an iconic role, I just wanted people to see how amazing she was in that role, because all of that happened before the movie even came out. But my sister is resilient and I’m happy that she proved all the naysayers wrong.”
Chloe says Beyoncé shaped her from childhood
Chloe and Halle first gained attention in the entertainment industry after releasing a cover of Beyoncé’s “Pretty Hurts” in 2013, which caught the superstar’s attention. Beyoncé then signed the sisters to her company, Parkwood Entertainment.
However, Chloe’s connection with the iconic singer began years earlier, when she met her on the set of “The Fighting Temptations,” a meeting that left a lasting impression.
“I have always been Beyoncé’s biggest fan since I was little. Meeting her when I was four and her kindness to me on set only sparked a greater love for her. She had such a pure spirit that my four-year-old self clung to,” she revealed.
More than a decade after signing with Beyoncé, Chloe remains grateful for the singer’s mentorship.
Looking back over the years, she said she appreciates how much the music icon’s presence shaped and impacted her life and career.
“Being able to study her performances and be a true BeyHive fan, and then being able to sign with her and have intellectual conversations with her about life, the industry and music is something I’ve never taken for granted. I really appreciate her ear,” Chloe noted.
To this day, she still sticks to the advice she received from Beyoncé, which was about dealing with internet noise.
“One of the first pieces of advice she gave us was the ‘no scrolling’ rule: don’t read the comments, don’t read what people are saying, and don’t even let it fill your head,” the “Have Mercy” singer said.
Chloe attributes industry success to her bond with Halle
As for her and her sister’s success in the entertainment industry, Chloe believes their close bond played a major role.
“We were together. We never went through anything alone. We played together, sang together and were each other’s best friends,” she said.
According to the singer, having someone to lean on and who completely understood what she was going through was a “saving grace”, which she remains grateful for, even though they now appear to be pursuing solo careers.
“I’m grateful that we grew up in this industry. You know how they say to never walk down the street alone and always have a friend with you? It was almost like that,” Chloe also noted.
Chloe Bailey teases the music of the future with Halle
Chloe and Halle’s most recent musical collaboration is the track “So I Can Feel Again”, released on October 24, 2025, as part of Halle’s debut solo album, “Love?…or Something Like That”.
Before that, their last joint project was in June 2020 on their second studio album, “Ungodly Hour,” after which they took a break from performing as a duo.
Speaking about the group, Chloe clarified that they haven’t broken up and still plan to release music together.
“The band never broke up! We just had different projects at different times,” Chloe said.
“We both strengthened who we are as individuals, so when the music comes back as a duo, it will be even better. We strengthened both halves of the heart,” she added.
