The New “Lilo & Stitch” Live Action Trailer Has Sparked Further Criticism Of Sydney Agudong’s Casting As Nani
“Disrespected Nani with that casting.”
The trailer for the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake came out on Wednesday, and once again, Sydney Agudong’s casting as Nani Pelekai is sparking backlash across social media.
L. Ortega / Getty Images / Disney
Now, I understand that some folks are fatigued with Disney’s live actions, but as a Samoan woman, I was SO looking forward to this one. I grew up in the days before Moana, so the original Lilo & Stitch was my only mainstream representation. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to look up at my TV as a little girl and see Pacific Islander characters! In a Disney movie! Plus, a live action would mean an entire cast of PI actors, finally giving opportunities to our many talented people who are often overlooked — or so I thought.
Disney
Back in 2023, Sydney Agudong’s casting announcement received immediate criticism and initiated a debate about colorism in the industry. At the time, many believed Sydney was light-skinned with Native Hawaiian ancestry, and that the role should have gone to a Native Hawaiian with a darker skin tone. However, people started looking into Sydney’s background and found no indication that she is actually Native Hawaiian in any databases, newspaper clippings, etc. By their accounts, it appears that Syndey is white and Filipino.
Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images
This sparked another wave of backlash since Nani’s Native Hawaiian identity is essential to the film, from struggling to get by in her native land amid overtourism to the commodification of Native Hawaiian culture to Nani singing “Aloha Oe” (a song written by Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaiʻi who was overthrown before the US unconstitutionally annexed the islands).
Disney
Additionally, many folks pointed out that Nani had a thicker body shape in the original movie. Social media users were disappointed that Disney chose to ignore this, too.
It should be noted that Sydney has yet to respond to all the criticism or confirm her background. I’m still excited to see the movie and celebrate the Native Hawaiian actors and culture featured! I just wish it weren’t shadowed by this casting controversy.
So, with all that in mind, here’s what people are saying on X (formerly Twitter):
Editor’s Note: While we can’t endorse what X has become, we can bring you the worthwhile moments that still exist there, curated and free of the surrounding chaos.
2.
4.
Disney has failed Native Hawaiians multiple times, especially my cousins who have dark brown skin. A dark skin Native Hawaiian should have played Nani and Disney is always colorist.
I know work is hard for some fellow Native Hawaiian actors/crew members and I hope we get better. https://t.co/6fVo5Hz0nH
— Brayden Sylva (@BraydenSylva) March 12, 2025
Disney / @BraydenSylva / Twitter: @BraydenSylva
5.
7.
Nani’s Not Native Hawaiian actress calling the tourist trap she works at a fake luau and then singing Aloha Oe to Lilo before an actual Native Hawaiian agent takes her away is gonna be peak comedy https://t.co/wefob6ZHmN
— Too Many Crowns just needs some space
(@TooManyCrowns) March 13, 2025
Disney / @TooManyCrowns / Twitter: @TooManyCrowns
9.
11.
12.
Alongside with the skin, something that also bothers me is that Nani has meat on her, like she has big tighs and a muffin top. Rather than being big or model skinny, she just has an average body and we rarely we see this type of body proportion shown!
—
HLIL (Rhy)
(@Flower_On_Table) March 13, 2025
Disney / @Flower_On_Table / Twitter: @Flower_On_Table
13. And finally:
Disney / @kabaneriis / Via x.com
