“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Alums Criticize “The Little Mermaid” Remake for Not Hiring a Queer Makeup Artist for Ursula

The recent remake of “The Little Mermaid” has received criticism from many “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alums for not hiring a queer makeup artist to work on Ursula. However, Peter King, the movie star’s makeup artist, has come to his own defense, calling the backlash “ridiculous” and “very offensive” in a recent interview with Insider.

King argues that his sexual orientation does not reflect his ability to do a good job on the film. He believes that a makeup artist, regardless of their sexual orientation, can design makeup and do the job just as well as a queer makeup artist. He also added that it was unfair for people to put him down because he is not what they want him to be.

Furthermore, King mentioned that he did not understand the criticism he received, which began after a Twitter video of Melissa McCarthy being made into the villain went viral. He admitted that he was old, but that this did not affect his ability to do the job well.

The original Disney movie, which came out in 1989, featured Ursula, who was modeled after drag legend Divine, according to composer Alan Menken. Melissa McCarthy, who played the role of Ursula in the new film, said that she “100 percent” researched drag queens while preparing for the role. The actress also expressed her admiration for the art and entertainment of drag shows and how she has been a fan since she was young.

However, despite McCarthy’s efforts to understand the drag queen culture, drag queens like Art Simone and Kerri Colby have criticized the makeup look that King designed for McCarthy. Simone tweeted about how King had lied on his resume to get the job. Meanwhile, Colby pushed for “up and coming” LGBTQ+ artists who have “a pulse on the present and a vision for the future” to be given opportunities like this.

The criticism of “The Little Mermaid” remake for not hiring a queer makeup artist for Ursula has sparked a debate about the role of sexual orientation in the film industry. While some argue that a person’s sexual orientation does not affect their ability to do the job, others believe that hiring queer artists could bring more authenticity to the film’s representation. Regardless of the debate, it is essential to recognize the importance of diversity and representation in the film industry and to give opportunities to artists from all backgrounds.