Anne Hathaway Responds To Criticism Over The Witches Controversy

Anne Hathaway responded to criticism that she received for her character’s hands in the new version of her new movie, The Witches. The actress has issued an apology for the depiction of her character’s hands in the movie.

The movie received a lot of backlashes which is Roald Dahl’s latest adaption of his 1983 book. It features Anne as the Grand High Witch and her character has three fingers on each hand. Although both the book and the 1990 adaption of the novel has described that the witches have five fingers, the new film producers have only portrayed three.

This has led to a lot of backlash from people to the new film’s producers, who have been accused of being insensitive towards disabled people. Amy Marren, a British Para swimmer was among the many people who criticized the movie. The latest adaption of the book is directed by Robert Zemeckis.

Marren said the depiction of the witches’ hands could be harmful to people, especially children, with limp impairments. Warner Bros already issued an apology after the backlash and Anne has also issued an apology now.

The actress said now that she knows better, she promises to do better. She took to her Instagram to apologize and address the issue. She wrote that she does her best to be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others.

The Academy winner wrote, “Let me begin by saying I do my best to be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others not out of some scrambling PC fear, but because not hurting others seems like a basic level of decency we should all be striving for.”

“I’m Sorry I Let Your Family Down”

She further wrote that she is someone who really believes in inclusivity and detests cruelty. The actress went on to apologize for the pain she has caused. Anne wrote, “As someone who really believes in inclusivity and really, really detests cruelty; I owe you all an apology for the pain caused. I am sorry.”

She further explained that she did not connect limb difference with GHW when the look of the character was brought to her. The actress assured that if she had connected it that way, she would never let it happen.

Anne further added, “I particularly want to say I’m sorry to kids with limb differences: now that I know better I promise I’ll do better”. She further issued a special apology for everyone who loves them as much as she loves her kids. The actress apologized for letting their families down.

The Academy-winner had also shared a video from the Lucky Fin Project. It is an organization supporting those with limb differences. Earlier, a Warner Bros. representative shared how deeply upset the filmmakers were at causing such hurt.

The Witches also stars Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci. Anne had recently made a virtual appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan to promote her new movie, The Witches. The actress said she now has a beautiful almost-11-month-old baby boy; and revealed she was pregnant when she was filming her upcoming movie. She said technically her baby is all over that performance.

“Big And Entertaining But Never Too Much”

The actress revealed how the designer wanted her to have a really tight waist and Anne had just found out she was pregnant. She said she denied dressing up like that and the designer asked her why. Anne said, “And I was like, ‘Eh, you know, I just know myself.’ I’m scrambling for a reason.”

The Devil Wears Prada actress further explained how she told the designer she won’t be as free if she is constrained around the middle. She then suggested that everything should be made very loose.

The actress had revealed previously what went into making the children book’s villainess. Anne had revealed, “The Grand High Witch was a total collaboration between costumes, hair, and make-up, the writers, my dialect coach, the effects department, stunts, [director] Bob Zemeckis and myself.”

Describing her character she had shared how her character is such a weirdo, silly, and over-the-top. She revealed how everyone had to be on the same page so it felt “big and entertaining but never too much.”