Bailey backlash:
Disneyowned cable network Freeform has taken aim at critics who disagreed with the decision to cast Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.” Freeform posted an open letter after some on social media used the hashtag #NotMyAriel to object to a black woman portraying the redheaded mermaid princess of the animated film. But the network says “Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black.”
Taking a stand: Nicki Minaj is pulling out of a July 18 concert in Saudi Arabia. “I believe it is important for me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community and freedom of expression,” she said in a statement. In Saudi Arabia, gender segregation between single men and women is still enforced in many restaurants, coffee shops, public schools and universities.
Farm Aid: Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and the Dave Matthews Band will headline Farm Aid 2019 in Wisconsin’s dairy country. Tickets for the Sept. 21 event in East Troy go on sale Friday. Nelson says devastating weather, low prices and current federal farm and trade policies pose enormous challenges to family farmers. July 10 birthdays: Singer Mavis Staples is 80. Folk singer Arlo Guthrie is 72. Banjo player Bela Fleck is 61. Actress Fiona Shaw is 61. Actor Gale Harold is 50. Actress Sofia Vergara is 47. Actor Adrian Grenier is 43. Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is 42. Singer Jessica Simpson is 39. Rapper-singer Angel Haze is 28.