Anne Hathaway apologizes for ‘The Witches’ disability controversy

Anne Hathaway has apologized following criticism surrounding her HBO movie “The Witches.”

In the film, an adaption of the Roald Dahl classic book, the 37-year-old actress plays an evil witch who has three fingers on each hand, a condition that’s similar to ectrodactyly, a limb disability.

“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,” she wrote on Instagram Thursday.

She continued, “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 apology ran alongside a video from Lucky Fin Project, a nonprofit organization that aids children with limb differences.

The mom of two also wrote, “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.”

Earlier in the week, Warner Bros. issued a statement apologizing for the portrayal that read in part, “We the filmmakers and Warner Bros. Pictures are deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in ‘The Witches’ could upset people with disabilities and regret any offense caused.”