15+ Responses To ‘Aladdin’ Cast Picks in Twitter Tantrums

After weeks of speculation of Disney’s casting of the upcoming live-action ‘Aladdin’ remake, Disney revealed their picks on July 15th at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.
Relative newcomer Mena Massoud and former Pink Power Ranger Naomi Scott have been chosen as Aladdin and Jasmin and Will Smith has been cast as Genie. After the formal presentation at D23, Disney made their big reveal on Twitter just before noon on Saturday morning.
Mena Massoud announced as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Jasmine, and Will Smith as Genie in live-action Aladdin! #D23Expo
— Disney (@Disney) July 15, 2017
Being the internet, an unscrupulous playground for the perpetually discontent, the announcement was greeted almost immediately with criticism, i.e. whining. After it was leaked earlier in the week that Disney was having trouble casting the lead role, the internet quickly stepped in to offer their opinions. And there were a-plenty.
Frontrunners for the title role included Hollywood big-hitters like Dev Patel and Riz Ahmed, and for the role of Jasmin, fans suggested Little Mix popstar Jade Thirlwall and Priyanka Chopra. So obviously when the casting decisions were announced, disgruntled fans got salty and turned to social media to vent. Here’s what fans on Twitter had to say.
Folks were pleasantly surprised about the choice for the lead role.
Y'all Aladdin is Egyptian and he's cute as hell @MenaMassoud ?????? pic.twitter.com/Cx7R7v0L5m
— farida abdelaal (@Farida_Mohd98) July 15, 2017
can i just say how BLESSED we are that this fine looking man, Mena Massoud, is our new Aladdin pic.twitter.com/6CEwEcAzWh
— x (@ClNEMAH) July 17, 2017
In all honesty I'm just glad Aladdin isn't played by some white actor like Bradley Cooper. Congrats to @MenaMassoud. pic.twitter.com/WfK5kplgS4
— AYESHA (@ayeshamirza_) July 16, 2017
But this is 2017 and Hollywood still has a problem with whitewashing films, so naturally it turned into a race issue pretty fast.
aladdin, dir. by guy ritchie pic.twitter.com/XNPaBOMIaW
— taraㅤㅤㅤ (@zatannnazatara) July 13, 2017
Thank you @MenaMassoud, for showing the world that Egyptians can pursue a career other than pharmacy #Aladdin @CopticMemes
— Nardine Bekhit (@nardinebekhit) July 16, 2017
People were particularly irked by Naomi Scott. The actress, half-Indian, half-white, will be portraying an Arab character.
when you have a 22 Arab countries but you can't find one arab actress to play Jasmine #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/JpUCXWSFyZ
— VI.XX.LR (@UniCupcake_) July 18, 2017
This is Naomi Scott. She is Indian, and white.
— Hamza Mussé (@HamzaMusse) July 15, 2017
This is Jasmine, she is middle eastern. And not white. #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/MTvfQvyaMt
Many people are holding fast to their opinion that Jade Thirlwall would’ve been a better choice.
#Aladdin HOW ISNT JADE THIRLWALL WHO HALF YEMENI AND EGYPTIAN NOT JASMINE FOR GODS SAKE pic.twitter.com/6UZAXq2tuz
— heterophobic amy(na) (@moonlyanna) July 15, 2017
She's had enough, though.
And other people are stepping in to regulate.
So y'all were so ready for Avan Jogia to be casted as Aladdin but hate Naomi as jasmine. They the same race. Take several seats! #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/H2GwZjcJJt
— Will (@WgistWilliam) July 15, 2017
In case you don’t know, this little slice of heaven is Avan Jogia. Like Scott, he’s half-white and half-Indian. He’s also 100% yumm-a-licious. *swoon*
Thankfully, we can all agree on Will Smith:
*will smith is announced to be genie*
— mia (@melissaxaim) July 16, 2017
me: "iiiin western arabia born and raised in my magic lamp is where i spent most of my days"
But can we take a moment to realise.....Will Smith is the Genie, and you know what that means? WILL SMITH MOVIE WITH MUSIC AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/fbIvwUipFx
— Jamal (@reggiegotlag) July 16, 2017
So far, these three roles are the only that have been announced. While we wait for the rest of the cast to be announced, Twitter users have not stopped making suggestions.
Hey @Disney y'all should just go ahead and cast @djkhaled as the Sultan. ???❤️ #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/ilHM4wP8oQ
— ?ℑudy ℑetson ⚯͛? (@ShesSweetVenom) July 16, 2017
Just confirmed: Kim Kardashian will play Jafar in the upcoming Aladdin movie pic.twitter.com/MKaP68I5PF
— Blac Chynese (@sadgalamzz) July 16, 2017
is disney still looking for actors for aladdin? i might not be jasmine, but i'd make a good carpet considering everyone walks all over me
— ??? (@lauranotclaire) July 15, 2017