The trailer for the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake came out on Wednesday, and once again, Sydney Agudong’s casting as Nani Pelekai is sparking backlash across social media.
L. Ortega / Getty Images / Disney
Now, I understand that some folks are fatigued with Disney’s live actions, but as a Samoan woman, I was SO looking forward to this one. I grew up in the days before Moana, so the original Lilo & Stitch was my only mainstream representation. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to look up at my TV as a little girl and see Pacific Islander characters! In a Disney movie! Plus, a live action would mean an entire cast of PI actors, finally giving opportunities to our many talented people who are often overlooked — or so I thought.
Two animated characters and Stitch, an alien, sit on a sandy beach. They appear engaged in conversation
Back in 2023, Sydney Agudong’s casting announcement received immediate criticism and initiated a debate about colorism in the industry. At the time, many believed Sydney was light-skinned with Native Hawaiian ancestry, and that the role should have gone to a Native Hawaiian with a darker skin tone. However, people started looking into Sydney’s background and found no indication that she is actually Native Hawaiian in any databases, newspaper clippings, etc. By their accounts, it appears that Sydney is white and Filipino.
Person smiling at an event, wearing a sheer top under a jacket
This sparked another wave of backlash since Nani’s Native Hawaiian identity is essential to the film, from struggling to get by in her native land amid overtourism to the commodification of Native Hawaiian culture to Nani singing “Aloha Oe” (a song written by Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaiʻi who was overthrown before the US unconstitutionally annexed the islands).
Two animated characters, a girl and a young woman, lovingly share a moment on a hammock under a night sky
Additionally, many folks pointed out that Nani had a thicker body shape in the original movie. Social media users were disappointed that Disney chose to ignore this, too.
It should be noted that Sydney has yet to respond to all the criticism or confirm her background. I’m still excited to see the movie and celebrate the Native Hawaiian actors and culture featured! I just wish it weren’t shadowed by this casting controversy.
A person in a casual shirt looks surprised as a small, animated creature energetically interacts with a refrigerator
So, with all that in mind, here’s what people are saying on X (formerly Twitter):
Editor’s Note: While we can’t endorse what X has become, we can bring you the worthwhile moments that still exist there, curated and free of the surrounding chaos.
1.
Disney / @AtlantisFell / Twitter: @AtlantisFell
2.
Two images from a film scene. Left: Sydney looks surprised. Right: she’s driving, girl in backseat with a creature resembling Disney’s Stitch
3.
Disney / @CarterJahad / Twitter: @CarterJahad
4.
Disney / @BraydenSylva / Twitter: @BraydenSylva
5.
A tweet criticizing the casting choice for Nani in the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” movie, mentioning the actress lacks a particular body type
6.
Disney / @eviIeIf / Twitter: @eviIeIf
7.
Disney / @TooManyCrowns / Twitter: @TooManyCrowns
8.
Disney / @auroralitex / Twitter: @auroralitex
9.
Tweet by Adamos: “Nani is meant to be indigenous Hawaiian, not a Filipino raised in Hawaii.”
10.
Disney / @hanniesangels / Twitter: @hanniesangels
11.
A tweet comparing Sydney’s looks to Nani’s
12.
Disney / @Flower_On_Table / Twitter: @Flower_On_Table
13.And finally:
Tweet expressing frustration about a non-Hawaiian being cast to play Nani instead of hiring a Hawaiian actress, mentioning skin tone disparity
BuzzFeed has reached out to Sydney for comment. We’ll update you if she responds.
