Indian-American actor Avantika Vandanapu has been targeted by racist trolls online following rumours that she's been cast as Rapunzel in a live-action remake of Disney's 'Tangled'.

The 'Mean Girls' actor was reportedly considered for the role of Rapunzel in a potential live-action rendition of Disney's animated movie 'Tangled'. This speculation arose from a social media post, which has now been deleted, suggesting that the actor was undergoing a screen test with Milo Manheim.

This news triggered a backlash from certain fans, who expressed their discontent on Avantika's Instagram, questioning the suitability of casting an Indian-American actor for the role of Rapunzel, a character depicted as a fair-skinned, blonde woman in the original 'Tangled'.

There's no official word from Disney about a live-action 'Rapunzel' movie, but fan speculation on social media spiraled out of control, leading to hateful comments directed at Vandanapu. The 19-year-old actor, known for her role in 'Mean Girls', has been bombarded with messages criticising her ethnicity and deeming her unfit for the role solely based on her heritage.

Vandanapu hasn't addressed the rumours publicly, but her experience is unfortunately not unique. Actors of colour like Halle Bailey, who played Ariel in the live-action 'The Little Mermaid', have faced similar harassment in the past.

While Disney has made strides with recent live-action remakes featuring actors of colour, a vocal minority continues to resist such casting choices.

Source: India Today