Hollywood actress, Anne Hathaway, has apologised after she received a backlash from the disabled community for her role in the 2020 movie, ‘The Witches’.
Hathaway, who played the part of The Grand High Witch, was shown to have three fingers, similar to those diagnosed with ectrodactyly, which is also called ‘split hand’. It is a case where a person’s central digits are missing on the hand and foot.
The actress via Instagram revealed that she never linked her role as The Grand High Witch with ‘split hand’ and if she had known, she would have never done that.
This started when Paralympic swimmer, Amy Marren, said she is disappointed with what the movie portrayed, as children who watch the movie may start to fear those who have limb differences due to the movie.
On Tuesday, Paralympic Games, backed Marren up via Twitter saying there is nothing scary about limb differences as it is something to be celebrated, and not feared.
Illustrator, Grace Mandeville, criticised the movie, saying he is also disappointed in what it portrays.
Hathaway answered: “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.
“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. I did not connect limb difference with the GHW when the look of the character was brought to me; if I had, I assure you this never would have happened.”
The actress encouraged her fans to check out and support the Lucky Fin Project, a non-profit organisation set up to help those diagnosed with ectrodactyly.
