Mena Massoud.Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty for Disney
On Saturday, the actor, 31, responded to a tweet that shared box office projections for the upcomingLittle Mermaidmovie,which debuts in theaters May 26, and contrasted the numbers withAladdin’s opening weekend four years ago.
Aladdin, which also starredWill Smithand Naomi Scott, went on to earn more than $1 billion worldwide.The Lion King(2019),Beauty and the Beast(2017) andAlice in Wonderland(2010) also made it to $1 billion.
Massoud tweeted, “Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It’s the only way we reached the billion dollar mark with our opening. My guess is TLM doesn’t cross the billion mark but will undoubtedly get a sequel.”
“and what exactly did u gain from commenting this?“tweetedone person. Anotherwrote, “I’m honestly still confused as to why Mena Massoud tweeted this in the first place. Did he WANT to start a fight?“wroteone person.
The Little Mermaid.Disney
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Another accounttweetedafterward, “I don’t understand why Mena Massoud felt the need to put down #TheLittleMermaid when black twitter showed up for him after he cried about being unemployed even after he did Alladdin.”
A rep for Massoud did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
In December 2019, Massoud toldThe Daily Beastthat hehadn’t had any auditions sinceplaying Aladdin in the hit Disney movie.
“I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it,” he said at the time. “I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something likeAladdin. ‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition sinceAladdincame out.”
Mena Massoud and Will Smith inAladdin(2019).Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection
He later added, “The big truth is I haven’t really seen a big anything from [Aladdin].”
“It’s wild to a lot of people,” added Massoud. “People have these ideas in their head. It’s like, I’m sitting here being like, okay,Aladdinjust hit $1 billion — can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, ‘Here’s Batman.’ But can I just get in the room? … Can you just give me a chance?”
source: people.com
