2023 Rewind: Right Wing Aghast that Disney Hired Adult Male Performer as Hunky Extra in 'The Little Mermaid'

This piece is part of EDGE's 2023 Rewind series. We're reaching into our archives and sharing some of our favorite stories from the past year.

It may be called "The Little Mermaid," but it is one of the film's not-so-little merman who is getting dragged in the culture wars for being an adult male performer who happened to have appeared in the Disney film.

According to the website Inside the Magic, "when casting the film, an inside source went on record saying, 'Casting bosses decided to hire a number of really sexy male models to play mermen in the movie.' Actor Stefano Tomadini is a 24-year-old Italian based out of London. He was also one of many men who filmed scenes as creatures of the sea in the live-action film. Only, it turns out, he's acted a bit more in a very different industry."

The victim of this nonsense is Tomadini. As Inside the Magic goes on to say: "It's worth noting that the scenes within the film aren't of an adult nature. While the fact that Disney cast a 'really sexy' porn star in an extra role is quite surprising, it doesn't change the essence of the movie. Separating artists from art is essential to appreciating any film. JK Rowling and Harry Potter aren't tied at the hip, nor should 'The Little Mermaid' be linked to this blip. It doesn't deter fans from guessing, theorizing, and gossiping. All viewers can do is take casting with a grain of ocean salt and see the film for its modern take on a valuable classic."

Inside the Magic continues: "Going by the alias Dante Ferrari, the merman filmed various different pornographic films during his acting career, though not as a part of the Disney production. Reportedly, Disney cast a 'really sexy' porn star unaware of the finer print on their resume. What could have gone unnoticed came into focus when the actor tagged Disney in a post on Instagram. Spreading like a social media wildfire..."

With Tomadini being dragged into the culture wars as proof of Disney culpability with the LGBTQ+ agenda. In reporting the story for the far-right outlet Breitbart, John Nolte opinionated:

"The report claims the hiring was 'accidental.' Still, it wouldn't surprise anyone who knows anything about Disney to discover this was some in-joke amongst the perverts and child exploiters who now run the Magic Kingdom. Are we supposed to believe a gazillion-dollar company doesn't run basic Google searches and background checks of potential employees? Well, maybe the company is too busy scheming to destroy the innocence of children to worry about such things.

"Disney has long been accused of adding secret sexual messages in its children's movies, a claim I found absurd until Disney came out of the closet as proud child groomers.

"What I'd like to know is how this report can claim Disney 'accidentally' hired a gay porn star when Disney has so far refused comment?"

In 2022 Ferrari posted a NSFW video on the adult male site English Lads with this description: "Dante Ferrari is one incredibly muscular Adonis and he's back this week showing off his beautifully tanned and ripped body! Dante has captivating blue eyes, amazing handsome features, and today he gives us a tour of my house in his clothes, then again naked, and lastly whilst he has a throbbing hard uncut erection!"