In the new “The Witches” film, the character of Anne Hathaway has faced backlash. And thus, Warner Bros. has apologized for the same. They asked forgiveness for causing “offense”.
Anne Hathaway’s Grand High Witch of The Witches film features neglecting fingers. It is almost similar to the limb abnormality ectrodactyly. This is a situation that’s referred to as ‘split hand’, as it exemplifies the scarcity of one or more fingers or toes.
Many people have spoken out their opinion and express their disappointment over the nature of The Witches film. A British Paralympic Swimmer named Amy Marren wrote on Twitter, “It’s not unusual for surgeons to try and build hands like this for children/adults with certain limb differences and it’s upsetting to [see] something that makes a person different being represented as something scary.”
“Yes, I am fully aware that this is a film, and these are Witches. But the Witches are essentially monsters.”I fear that children will watch this film, unaware that it massively exaggerates the Roald Dahl original and that limb differences begin to be feared. This opens up all-new difficult conversations for those with limb differences and sets back what we are trying to achieve which is to celebrate who you are!”
A spokesperson of Warren Bros. in a statement to Us Weekly, said that the company was ‘deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in The Witches could upset people with disabilities’, the company regretted the offense caused by The Witches.
The statement states, “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. This film is about the power of kindness and friendship. We hope that families and children can enjoy the film and embrace this empowering, love-filled theme.”
A Synopsis Of The Witches States:
“Robert Zemeckis’s visually innovative film tells the darkly humorous and heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis.”
“As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort.”
“Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch has gathered her fellow witches from around the globe – undercover – to carry out her nefarious plans.”
The film is available to watch on HBO Max in the US and is available on rent through PVOD in the UK.
