It's worth mentioning that Disney attempted to assuage some of these concerns about harmful depictions of Middle Eastern peoples and cultures. In the original theatrical release of "Aladdin," the song "Arabian Nights" featured the line "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face" as a description of Agrabah, the fictional city at the heart of the film. Through lobbying, the line was altered for the physical release in 1993 to "Where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense." In this same vein, the original animation now features an extra advisory screen on Disney+.
For the 2019 remake, Disney benefited from hindsight and constructive criticism. Despite this, the studio managed to embroil itself in a viral controversy. The Hollywood Reporter was only one of many news sites that reported on Disney's vocal struggle to find the right leads. According to the studio, it was difficult to find a Middle Eastern or Indian individual who could successfully sing and dance the part. This rang false to listening ears in no small part thanks to the existence of Bollywood, which is almost drowning in talent that fits that exact bill of needs.
Lexi Alexander, an Academy Award-nominated director, found Disney's lack of success questionable. "Nobody in their right mind can state that it is impossible to find a young male South Asian or Middle-Eastern actor who can dance, sing and act, said Alexander. "It's a convenient system that insists actors-of-color need to be household names to be cast, while nobody wants to give them a break."
