LOS ANGELES

A Disney-owned cable network has taken aim at critics who disagree with the decision to cast Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming adaption of “The Little Mermaid.”

Freeform posted an open letter on Sunday in support of Ms. Bailey after some on social media used the hashtag #NotMyAriel to object to an African-American woman portraying the red-headed mermaid princess of the animated film.

But the network said, “Danish mermaids can be black because Danish people can be black.”

Ms. Bailey is half of the sister duo Chloe x Halle. She will star in the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” that will include songs from the 1989 animated Disney hit, as well as new tunes from original composer Alan Menken and “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Ms. Bailey will join Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina in the film.