Bella Ramsey, the 21-year-old British actress best known for portraying Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us, has found herself at the center of a fierce online storm. The controversy began when she casually expressed interest in playing Rapunzel in a potential live-action adaptation of Disney’s Tangled. Within hours, thousands of mocking posts flooded platforms such as X and TikTok, many criticizing her appearance and claiming she did not fit the traditional image of the golden-haired princess. Memes comparing her to everything from a “gothic garden gnome” to “a medieval potato” spread rapidly, reigniting debates about casting choices in Hollywood.
The backlash was swift and unforgiving. Internet users resurrected old photos of Ramsey from her Game of Thrones days, superimposed her face onto Rapunzel’s animated body, and created cruel side-by-side comparisons with Lily James, who played Cinderella, and Elle Fanning, who starred in Maleficent. Hashtags like #NotMyRapunzel and #BellaIsNoPrincess trended globally for two days, amassing millions of views. Some comments veered into outright cruelty, questioning her gender presentation and mocking her short haircut, while others accused Disney of pushing an agenda by even considering her for the role.
In response, Ramsey posted a now-deleted audio message on her private Instagram story that quickly leaked online. Sounding visibly upset, she declared, “I’m done being the internet’s punching bag. Anyone who mocks me, any account, any page, any studio that thinks this is funny—I will sue you. I have the resources now.” The threat, delivered through tears and punctuated by expletives, shocked fans who had previously praised her calm demeanor during earlier waves of online hate.
Legal experts immediately weighed in on the feasibility of her vow. Entertainment lawyer Sarah Klein told Variety that while public figures can pursue defamation cases, proving “actual malice” and measurable damages from memes and jokes is extraordinarily difficult. “Threatening mass lawsuits against thousands of anonymous accounts is legally unrealistic,” Klein explained. “Emotional distress claims rarely succeed when the statements are opinion-based rather than factual falsehoods.” She added that Ramsey would need to identify specific, provably false statements that caused tangible harm.
Disney, which has not officially announced any Tangled live-action project, remained silent for nearly 48 hours. When pressed, a studio spokesperson issued a brief statement: “We do not comment on casting rumors.” Industry insiders suggest the studio was blindsided by the intensity of the reaction and is now reconsidering whether to green-light the project at all. One producer, speaking anonymously, admitted, “The optics are terrible right now. We can’t move forward while this is the narrative.”
Ramsey’s supporters quickly mobilized, pointing out the blatant double standards. When Florence Pugh was cast as Yelena Belova or Zendaya as MJ, both praised for breaking traditional beauty molds, the backlash was minimal by comparison. Celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Millie Bobby Brown, and Mandy Moore (the voice of animated Rapunzel) posted messages of solidarity. Moore wrote, “Rapunzel is about courage and heart, not hair length. Leave Bella alone.” The hashtag #BellaForRapunzel briefly overtook its mocking counterpart.
Mental health advocates also condemned the pile-on. “We watched the same thing happen to Rachel Zegler over Snow White,” said Dr. Emily Carter, a psychologist specializing in cyberbullying. “Young women, especially those who don’t conform to Disney-princess beauty standards, are held to an impossible nostalgic ideal that never actually existed.” She warned that such coordinated attacks can lead to severe anxiety and depression, particularly for actors still in their early twenties.
By day five, Ramsey deactivated her public Instagram and issued a calmer statement through her representatives. “I spoke out of hurt and anger,” it read. “I’m taking time away to focus on my health and upcoming projects. Thank you to everyone who showed kindness.” While she walked back the lawsuit threat, the episode has left a lasting mark on discussions about casting, beauty standards, and the brutality of online discourse.
The incident has forced Hollywood to confront an uncomfortable truth: no matter how many statements studios release about diversity and inclusion, a significant portion of the audience remains fiercely protective of childhood icons. For every step forward in representation, there appears to be an equally loud pushback when the character in question is a beloved fairytale princess with waist-length golden hair.
As of now, any live-action Rapunzel project remains in limbo. Whether Disney proceeds—and whether Bella Ramsey would still want the role after this ordeal—remains uncertain. One thing, however, is clear: the internet’s fairy-tale fantasies are far less forgiving than the stories themselves.