Advocates are criticizing Disney for casting an actress that is white-presenting as Nani in the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sydney Elizabeth Agudong will play Nani in the upcoming remake. Disney declined to comment to The Hollywood Reporter about the casting.
Pop Base also tweeted about the casting announcement with a side-by-side picture of Agudong and the cartoon version of Nani. Many people were upset that Disney had seemingly cast a white-presenting woman as Nani.
According to IMDB, Agudong was born in Kaua’i, Hawai’i. Some social media users claim she is Native Hawaiian and Filipino but her ethnicity has not been confirmed.
Several people have also pointed out that the core issue is Disney did not cast a fully indigenous woman. They noted that Nani being an indigenous woman with brown skin was essential to the storyline.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This holiday season, double your impact by making a tax-deductible donation to Asian American Media Inc and AsAmNews. Thanks to additional benefactors, all donations will now be matched up to a total of $17,000.
Please also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X.
