Lilo & Stich' fans slam casting of light-skinned Hawaiian actress in live-action remake

The upcoming Lilo & Stitch live-action movie has faced backlash over casting decisions.

[{"selector":"#anim-0ac9cfba-c52c-47dc-bfbe-3a8a9d155266 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.5092772497529%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47d8d8cb-8781-440f-a6af-9d8067e1c536","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c261cd66-a8bc-402c-8b37-ecfd41f86e8f","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5b498c0-521f-42b2-ac12-2a5c91c9a6b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03ad6e87-e09a-4985-b235-4f18a058aafc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110.33592%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Fans criticized the choice to cast a non-Pacific Islander actor as the lead character Lilo.

[{"selector":"#anim-e4d36969-4fde-46ee-aa13-ec77ecb99980 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-35.25085440269026%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3c7ab25-3ec7-4825-a9d8-c38d188def22","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc459974-01e3-46a7-978d-7a83c55cfd30","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc71ed06-cf40-4598-bf05-6fae6a808b92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20ddf340-b566-49e8-a5f7-38d15beb5d9d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110.33592%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Many believe the decision perpetuates colorism in Hollywood and erases Pacific Islander representation.

[{"selector":"#anim-6c8796b1-8d6e-42ae-9152-55853eed0ef7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-59.87472524146663%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0aea463c-aeca-4410-ae33-f75f693f923a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db90fb15-959f-4a0e-884c-6fa27ea97dcc","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-811640e1-b996-4864-8b4b-cf74c5552af3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74288973-8e86-4568-b249-b306d3c75454","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 122.90126%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Disney has defended the casting, stating that they are committed to diversity and inclusivity.

[{"selector":"#anim-49cfe627-d11f-4339-8da6-aeb874819e4f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.542968638003448%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0ffac1a-ef42-4044-8f9a-f359c8ce7ce3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bafce204-61fc-4169-b9f6-20bf9af47083","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe659e29-f13b-4f1d-8367-b361a6e13320","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6991bb9f-143a-468f-817c-79193bbfb85f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.73305%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, some argue that diversity without authentic representation is not true progress.

[{"selector":"#anim-636761d3-9e18-4748-9398-c92082682bc4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.264526211025643%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb5877ab-4e91-4778-935d-f0dd0705cec2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6863e7e0-9dbd-4d7a-9ad9-10003759e60a","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57440ff3-70fe-4bb8-8678-0e276ab9d88d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f11e506-23e1-4e0c-ae34-d4bedcf5acff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.47132%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The controversy highlights the ongoing struggle for marginalized communities to see themselves on screen.

[{"selector":"#anim-66ef9156-2ff2-4abe-b5b3-60c76cc3fa57 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-35.91003409419014%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48b47d8f-97bb-464c-a0ae-f85d709da5a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5961ab00-cb31-4ead-a2a7-af8182e51695","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbc4a0aa-596b-4616-9406-dbb6ec7e42c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-457b503a-d46f-47d2-95ab-f09586eaa2ce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 122.90126%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

It also underscores the responsibility of filmmakers to accurately represent the communities they are portraying.

[{"selector":"#anim-bab123ab-233b-48e0-ae28-d92c8f6679b4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-35.937499914669296%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01198e76-a81b-4268-88fd-52359488e073","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aade2cb6-4188-4a5e-98a9-f3a1082e8b34","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0869e2ad-4e61-4f17-a6c3-9733e926adb9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50bae897-331b-4cef-97f2-6b5eccfd1152","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 131.23458%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This is not the first time Hollywood has been accused of whitewashing or erasing Pacific Islander stories.

[{"selector":"#anim-952aafbb-45ef-4773-9339-7af1f6a31ec1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.03953541829748%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de0b0dfe-bdab-45dd-8cb9-e52eeb9a1a69","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c57cc0c0-d80b-4871-9141-be9500daa135","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-213112da-feb9-4ca5-8005-0a86df59ba2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2ad198c-cb66-491c-abd4-c1d88f700055","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.47132%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-d1e37739-6feb-4181-a153-3579427f8f96 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-36.26708976041924%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecaa3c38-3906-4613-9fca-1b2e7d83dc66","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc0823bb-3c9e-4222-867c-4ab1405fc560","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-155dd9bf-136e-4870-96f5-867655b3c303","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a26f20f3-e0f6-489f-8903-b774bf3c1dc2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.59062%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Some advocates are calling for more accountability and transparency in casting decisions. The Lilo & Stitch casting controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of authentic representation in media.

Swipe Up To Read More Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-f36f4c73-ab88-4341-aa22-dccfe79acc6b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c12dced-c76f-4644-865b-abad11bdc690","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -344.07001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -96.75248681200001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -32.893092956000004%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -12.352113359%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.367492156%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1077552-ad89-44d1-b8b6-3eded084401a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(152.99999%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68460e3c-586f-4ec9-b429-f73979332e2b","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Fill in some text Learn more