Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Mom In Tears After Realizing Woman Who Took Photo With Daughter Is Original Ariel Jodi Benson

Screenshots from TikTok
jaylabrenae5/TikTok

TikToker @jaylabrenae5 was stunned after the 'Little Mermaid' voice actress wanted a picture with her young daughter.

A mom on TikTok was reduced to tears after realizing one of her lifelong dreams—to meet her childhood hero.

As part of her work as an influencer, TikToker Jaylabrenae, known as @jaylabrenae5 on the app, got to attend to the star-studded premiere of the new live-action remake of the Disney classic The Little Mermaid. Along with her, she brought her adorable plus-one, her toddler daughter.


During one of the many events they attended, Jaylabrenae and her little girl were approached by a woman who wanted a photo with them. It turned out to be none other than the original Little Mermaid herself, voice actress Jodi Benson.

And Jaylabrenae absolutely lost it in the most moving way possible.

See the big moment below.

@jaylabrenae5

I LITERALLY CANNOT STILL I AM CRYING ALL OVER AGAIN💕🌊 #thelittlemermaid #jodibenson #littlemermaid #ariel #disney #dreamcometrue #emotional

Benson originated the role of Ariel in the Disney animated 1989 version of The Little Mermaid.

The new live-action version features actress Halle Bailey in the role, who herself has said that Benson was among her biggest inspirations while making the film.

Suffice to say, she's an inspiration to Jaylabrenae as well--she couldn't help but burst into tears when she realized it was Benson who wanted a photo of her and her little girl. In her TikTok's caption, she wrote that she "literally cannot" and was "crying all over again."

Meeting Benson was only one part of Jaylabrenae and her daughter's trip to the premiere, which was sponsored by hydration company Liquid I.V. As she showed in another video, she and her daughter got to walk the "blue carpet" and attend all kinds of celebrations kicking off the film, which debuts in theaters on May 26.

@jaylabrenae5

While Ariel's legs were made for dancing, ours are made to walk the blue carpet thanks to @liquidiv! What an unforgettable experience to see Disney's #TheLittleMermaid at their World Premiere! All props to Liquid I.V. to keeping everyone hydrated with their mocktails made with their Hydration Multiplier that tasted AMAZINGGG! This movie is an absolute must see and Liquid I.V. is a must buy! Bring it with you to the theater May 26th! 💙🧜🏾‍♀️

But meeting Benson and Bailey was definitely among the highlights, as Jaylabrenae shared in another TikTok follow-up.

@jaylabrenae5

Replying to @jrenee5964 i think this cry is valid🥹 in all seriousness I am truly grateful for these once in a lifetime experiences. We are so blessed and im forever thankful for this life #whyIcried #whyicriedtoday #thelittlemermaid

In the video, she tearfully shared:

"My daughter got to walk the blue carpet today at two years old. Halle Bailey waved at her... I understand how blessed I am and I would never, ever take it for granted."

People on TikTok were definitely feeling for Jaylabrenae and her daughter.

They were deeply moved by their Little Mermaid experience.

@iamkiarajanay/TikTok

@cicelydyson/TikTok

@lovearielita/TikTok

@izthebee/TikTok

@miss_arrobinson/TikTok

@buschmomma/TikTok

@flourishing_fancy/TikTok

@ard9092/TikTok

@marlanight/TikTok

Even Halle Bailey herself was in tears over Jaylabrenae's big moment.


@hallebailey/TikTok

The Little Mermaid opens May 26.

While we can't promise your experience will be as amazing as Jaylabrenae and her daughter's, it's shaping up to be one heck of a blockbuster.

More from Entertainment/celebrities

Elon Musk looks on during a public appearance, as the billionaire once again turns a newsroom style decision into a culture-war grievance broadcast to millions on X.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk Cries Racism After Associated Press Explains Why They Capitalize 'Black' But Not 'White'

Elon Musk has spent the year picking fights, from health research funding to imagined productivity crises among federal workers and whether DOGE accomplished anything at all besides leaving chaos in its wake.

His latest grievance, however, is thinly disguised as grammatical. Specifically, he is once again furious that the Associated Press (AP) capitalizes “Black” while keeping “white” lowercase.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk; Yale University School of Engineering and Applied Science
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images; Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Elon Musk Gets Brutal Wakeup Call After Claiming That Yale's Lack Of Republican Faculty Is 'Outrageous Bigotry'

Elon Musk—who has repeatedly whined about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—took to his social media platform to whine about a lack of conservative faculty at Yale University.

Musk shared data compiled by The Buckley Institute (TBI), a conservative-leaning organization founded at Yale in 2010. TBI found 82.3% of faculty self-identified as Democrats or primarily supporting Democratic candidates, 15% identified as independents, while only 2.3% identified as Republicans.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barry Manilow
Mat Hayward/Getty Images

Barry Manilow Speaks Out After Postponing Farewell Tour Dates Due To Lung Cancer Scare

"Looks Like We Made It" singer Barry Manilow is in the process of saying goodbye to the stage and meeting his fans in-person, but he has to press pause for a few months after receiving a jarring diagnosis.

On December 22, 2025, the "Mandy" singer posted on Facebook, explaining that a "cancerous spot" had been discovered on his left lung.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame, the last time audiences saw Captain America before his unexpected return was teased for Avengers: Doomsday.
Disney/Marvel Studios

Marvel Just Confirmed That Chris Evans Is Returning For 'Avengers: Doomsday'—And Fans Have Mixed Feelings

Folks, once again, continuity is more of a suggestion than a rule in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel has officially confirmed that Chris Evans is returning as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday, and the internet has responded exactly how you’d expect: screaming, celebrating, arguing, and a very justified side-eye toward how Sam Wilson keeps getting treated.

The confirmation comes via a teaser now playing exclusively in theaters ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash. There is no official online release, despite leaks circulating. If you didn’t catch it on the big screen, Marvel’s response is essentially: sorry, guess you had to be there.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Sean Duffy
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Eric Lee/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Hits Sean Duffy With Blunt Factcheck After Duffy Tries To Take Credit For New Infrastructure Grants

California Governor Gavin Newsom gave Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy a pretty important reminder after Duffy touted $1.5 billion in new infrastructure grants as a win for the Trump administration.

Duffy shared a video of different landmarks of U.S. infrastructure—including the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and Portland's Union Station—that would be improved as a result of BUILD grants allocated because of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which President Joe Biden signed in 2021.

Keep ReadingShow less