‘The Little Mermaid’ makeup artist breaks silence on criticism over Ursula's look

The makeup artist on The Little Mermaid Peter Smith King, who transformed Melissa McCarthy into Ursula has responded to the criticism he received for his work.

During his recent conversation with theInsider, King who has been working as the makeup artist for theatres and films since 42 years, clarified that he did not draw inspiration from Ursula's character in 1989’s original movie.

"No, no. It was me. I didn't really draw on anything. I played around quite a lot with different colors, different shapes, and stuff," he admitted.

"It just was sort of Melissa and I talking and creating. So I didn't really draw on anything at all."

King also responded to the backlash he received for Ursula’s character that Disney should have hired a drag makeup artist, denying the claims that the animated villain was inspired from a legendary drag performer.

"I find that very offensive," King expressed, "why can't I do as good a job as a queer makeup artist?"

"That's ridiculous. That's trying to claim it and that's fine, if that's what they wanna do, but don't put people down because they're not what they want it to be," he added.

King also set the record straight that the look of Ursula wasn't "based on Divine," who he met in London before the drag legend's death.