Halle Bailey, who stars in Disney’s live-action movie “The Little Mermaid”, faces controversies over photos taken at a zoo in Thailand.
On April 26th (local time), online media “coconuts” reported that Halle Bailey visited the infamous Safari World in Thailand, known for its cruel animal training, and has received harsh criticism from animal lovers.
Previously, on April 19th, Halle Bailey posted photos on her official Instagram account, taken with various animals such as orangutans, tigers, and elephants at a zoo in Bangkok, Thailand.
According to the report, the zoo Halle Bailey visited was identified as Safari World in Bangkok.
For years, Safari World has been under international scrutiny for confining animals in narrow cages and subjecting them to brutal training. Furthermore, over 20 years ago, it was involved in a case of smuggling over 100 primates, which drew considerable criticism.
Many fans requested that Halle Bailey delete the photos taken with the animals at such an infamous location, pointing out the zoo’s misdeeds. Currently, Halle Bailey’s Instagram is flooded with comments calling the photos “promoting animal exploitation.”
As the controversy grew, the animal protection group Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand warned that the images of the zoo posted by Halle Bailey could give tourists a false impression and turn the controversial zoo into an attraction, despite the great pain it inflicts on animals.
Another group, World Animal Protection Thailand, also expressed their disappointment, stating that Thailand has many wild animals that are confined from a young age, forced to undergo cruel training, and work in poor conditions for their entire lives.
“By participating in or promoting these activities, tourists inadvertently contribute to this vicious cycle of animal cruelty”, they emphasized.
Many fans are disappointed in Halle Bailey’s actions, especially as the release of Disney’s live-action movie “The Little Mermaid” approaches.
However, some fans have defended Halle Bailey, arguing that there is a high possibility she visited the controversial zoo without knowing its background.
Meanwhile, Halle Bailey’s movie “The Little Mermaid,” in which she plays the role of a black Ariel, is set to be released in May of this year. So far, Bailey has not spoken up regarding the controversy.
Source: Coconuts Bangkok
