From mermaid to survivor: Halle Bailey seeks court protection from ex DDG in abuse allegations

Just months after capturing hearts as Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Halle Bailey is facing a chilling real-life ordeal behind the scenes. The Grammy-nominated singer and actress has taken legal action against her ex-boyfriend, rapper and YouTuber DDG, after alleging a disturbing pattern of abuse and harassment.

In a Los Angeles court, Bailey secured a temporary restraining order this week protecting both herself and their 17-month-old son, Halo. The judge ordered DDG, whose real name is Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., to stay away from Bailey and the child until a full hearing scheduled for June 6.

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From fairy tale to fear: Bailey describes months of alleged abuse

Bailey, 25, painted a harrowing portrait of a relationship marked by escalating violence, both during and after their breakup in 2023. “Throughout our relationship, Daryl has been and continues to be physically, verbally, emotionally, and financially abusive towards me,” Bailey wrote in court filings. “I am seeking orders to protect myself and our son Halo from his ongoing abuse.”

She recalled a particularly violent January incident in which an argument during a custody exchange escalated into physical assault. According to Bailey, DDG pulled her hair and slammed her face into a steering wheel, chipping her tooth. She included photos of the injuries and bruises in her petition.

The Little Mermaid actress also detailed a pattern of controlling behavior since the breakup, including Granberry entering her home uninvited, destroying her Ring security camera, and sending threatening messages. One alarming text reportedly included a photo of her bed, taken while she wasn’t home.

Social media weaponized: alleged online harassment by DDG

Bailey further alleges that DDG, a social media personality with millions of followers across YouTube and Twitch, has used his platforms to turn public sentiment against her. She claimed that whenever he wants to "cause upset," he accuses her of withholding their son or seeing other men, resulting in online harassment.

“Whenever he wishes to cause upset, he starts bad mouthing me to his several millions of fans,” Bailey said in the legal documents. “As a result, I then receive threats and hate on social media.”

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Bailey also requested that the court bar DDG from possessing firearms. The judge has granted that order while setting the June 6 hearing, where the restraining order could be extended for up to five years.

Rising star vs. online persona: public careers collide with private turmoil

DDG, 27, rose to fame through YouTube and later as a hip-hop artist. His fourth studio album, Blame the Chat, was released on May 5 under Epic Records. He is originally from Pontiac, Michigan.

Bailey, a native of Atlanta, first found fame alongside her sister as part of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, earning five Grammy nominations. She starred in the TV series Grown-ish and made her blockbuster lead debut in 2023’s The Little Mermaid, a historic casting that made headlines worldwide.

Now, as her Hollywood star rises, Bailey must navigate a deeply personal and painful battle in the public eye, one that could redefine her narrative not as a Disney princess, but as a mother fighting for safety and justice.