Warner Bros. apologises after The Witches sparks backlash from people with disabilities

By Rebecca Rubin|

Warner Bros. has apologised after being criticised by people with disabilities over the depiction of Anne Hathaway's character in The Witches. In a statement, the studio said it "regretted any offence caused".

In the recent Robert Zemeckis-directed adaptation, Hathaway's villainous character, known as the Grand Witch, has missing fingers. Many people with disabilities pointed out that she appears to have Ectrodactyly, a limb abnormality that's commonly referred to as "split hand". Advocates fear that portraying villains with physical defects can perpetuate stereotypes that disabilities are abnormal or scary.

The Witches 2020 reboot starring Anne Hathaway. (HBO)

Paralympic athlete Amy Marren said she was "disappointed" in Warner Bros. and questioned if there "was there much thought given as to how this representation of limb differences would affect the limb difference community". The official Twitter account for the Paralympic Games echoed Marren's sentiments, writing "Limb difference is not scary. Differences should be celebrated and disability has to be normalised."

Marren explained that surgeons often try to build hands for children and adults with limb differences. "It's upsetting to something that makes a person different being represented as something scary," she said.

"Yes, I am fully aware that this is a film, and these are Witches. But Witches are essentially monsters," she continued. "My fear is that children will watch this film, unaware that it massively exaggerates the Roald Dahl original and that limbs differences begin to be feared."

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The Witches stars Anne Hathaway, Jahzir Kadeem Bruno, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Chris Rock and Kristin Chenoweth. (Warner Bros)

A spokesperson for Warner Bros. said the studio was "deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in The Witches could upset people with disabilities".

"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," the statement reads. "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. It is our hope that families and children can enjoy the film and embrace this empowering, love-filled theme."

The Witches, which debuted on HBO Max in the US in October, is the second film adaptation of Dahl's popular children's book. The story centres on a young boy who stumbles upon a gathering of witches while staying with his grandmother at a hotel. After finding out their evil plan to turn the world's children into mice, he works with his grandmother to thwart their wicked plot.

Along with Hathaway, the cast includes newcomer Jahzir Kadeem Bruno, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Chris Rock and Kristin Chenoweth.

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