Anne Hathaway apologizes as 'The Witches' sparks angry backlash in disability community

Anne Hathaway has apologized after the recent movie adaptation of Roald Dahl's book The Witches provoked criticism from the disabled community.

Taking to her official Instagram account, the 37-year-old Academy-Award-winning actress shared a video with her 18.9 million followers, which came courtesy of the disability awareness group The Lucky Fin Project.

Anne Hathaway recently shared this video showing her transformation into the Grand High Witch:

[[jwplayerwidget||jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/FBNJmlUc-sKUnNGKf.mp4||FBNJmlUc]]

In a lengthy and contrite caption, Hathaway wrote:

"I have recently learned that many people with limb differences, especially children, are in pain because of the portrayal of the Grand High Witch in The Witches. 

"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."

Watch the trailer for The Witches remake in the video below: 

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/aokudlc5-Q0L14jDU.mp4||aokudlc5]]

Hathaway continued:

"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.

"I particularly want to say I’m sorry to kids with limb differences: now that I know better I promise I’ll do better. And I owe a special apology to everyone who loves you as fiercely as I love my own kids: I’m sorry I let your family down."

Take a look at the video Hathaway shared below: 

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/CHOGW7JlpRv/]]

The controversy over the Robert Zemeckis-directed movie began when a number of disability rights activist groups voiced their concern over Hathaway's character of the Grand High Witch, who has three fingers.

Critics of the film, concerned about the common media depictions of evil characters with distinct hand and foot impairments, have concluded that the movie will sow prejudice against those born with ectrodactyly - a condition in which the hand is split.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Paralympics/status/1323591880689504258]]

As a result of the movie's portrayal of its witches, the Paralympic Games launched the hashtag #notawitch, encouraging others to share pictures of themselves to raise awareness of limb differences.

The official Paralympics Twitter account tweeted: "Limb difference is not scary. Differences should be celebrated and disability has to be normalized. #NotAWitch calls out #TheWitches movie for portrayal of disability."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/BeckyCant/status/1323334079622897666]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/luckyfinproject/status/1323323068635336705]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Red_Fringe/status/1323694732300701698]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/FaceEquality/status/1324009632759689220]]

Per a recent report by Deadline, a Warner Bros spokesperson has now apologized for any offense caused, stating:

"In adapting the original story, we worked with designers and artists to come up with a new interpretation of the cat-like claws that are described in the book. It was never the intention for viewers to feel that the fantastical, non-human creatures were meant to represent them."

Indeed, Dahl's original 1983 novel makes no mention of witches having three digits. Instead, witches are identified by their box-shaped feet and lack of toes, bald heads, and clawed (five-fingered) hands.