Rumors of Avantika playing a live-action Rapunzel spark racist backlash online

“Mean Girls” star Avantika Vandanapu has been the subject of racist backlash following rumors that she’s set to play Rapunzel in a live-action version of the Disney animated film “Tangled.”

“Mean Girls” star Avantika Vandanapu has been the subject of racist backlash following rumors  that she’s set to play Rapunzel in a live-action version of the Disney animated film “Tangled.” 

No live-action Rapunzel movie has been confirmed by Disney, but fan accounts on social media have claimed without basis that the Indian American actress is screen-testing for the role. Many “Tangled” lovers took those posts literally, and some supported the idea of casting her. 

Others responded with racist comments on TikTok and Instagram, saying an Indian woman with long black hair isn’t fit to play the role. 

“rapunzel should be played by a blonde white girl,” one TikToker wrote in a post.

“Rapunzel is a GERMAN folk story. Indians are not and never will be German,” another said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/avantika-rapunzel-racist-backlash-rcna147039

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