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Anne Hathaway is issuing an apology for her character’s hands in HBO Max’s The Witches revival.

If you don’t know, the witches appear in the new adaptation with three-fingered hands, similar to the limb abnormality ectrodactyly, otherwise known as “split hand.” However, the witches in Roald Dahl’s original book are described as having “claws instead of fingernails.” An illustration on the first edition cover also shows them having all five fingers.

“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,” Anne posted on Instagram. “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 [Grand High Witch] when the look of the character was brought to me; if I had, I assure you this never would have happened.”

She continued, “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.”

“If you aren’t already familiar, please check out the @Lucky_Fin_Project (video above) and the #NotAWitch hashtag to get a more inclusive and necessary perspective on limb difference,” Anne added.

Warner Bros. also released a statement in response to the backlash.

The Witches is getting some backlash.

The Robert Zemeckis-directed, Anne Hathaway-starring film sparked outrage from the disabled community, including British Paralympic swimmer Amy Marren, for its depiction of the witches.

“Warner Bros, was there much thought given as to how this representation of limb differences would effect the limb difference community?” she wrote on Twitter.

The witches appear in the new adaptation with three-fingered hands, similar to the limb abnormality ectrodactyly, otherwise known as “split hand.” However, the witches in Roald Dahl’s original book are described as having “claws instead of fingernails.” An illustration on the first edition cover also shows them having all five fingers.

Disability advocate Shannon Crossland also spoke out: “Is this the kind of message we want the next generation to receive? That having three fingers is a witch’s attribute? It is an extremely damaging portrayal. Disability should not be associated with evil, abnormality, disgust, fear, or monsters.”

A Warner Bros. spokesperson issued a statement in reaction to the backlash, saying they were “deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in The Witches could upset people with disabilities” and “regretted any offense caused. 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.”

Find out more about The Witches, and watch the trailer.

The highly anticipated remake of The Witches was supposed to hit theaters this month, but the movie will be released on HBO Max instead!

Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, and Stanley Tucci star in director Robert Zemeckis‘ fantasy adventure based on the classic story by Roald Dahl.

The Witches tells the darkly humorous and heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy (newcomer Jahzir Kadeem Bruno) who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma (Spencer) 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 (Hathaway) has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe—undercover—to carry out her nefarious plans.

Also starring in the movie are Kristin Chenoweth, Chris Rock, and Codie-Lei Eastick. The screenplay was written by Zemeckis with Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro and black-ish creator Kenya Barris.

The movie will start streaming on HBO Max on October 22. Watch the trailer below!