The film 'The Witches' called insensitive by Disability Crusaders

American entertainment conglomerate Warner Bros, have issued an apology after its latest movie dubbed 'The Witches' sparked backlash from the disability community. The filmmaker has been accused of perpetuating bias against individuals with limb differences.  

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, 'The Witches' is a dark fantasy comedy film adapted from a 1990 film by Nicolas Roeg. It is based on the 1983 novel going by the name by author Roald Dahl. 

The film, which stars Anna Hathaway, has evil characters who have distinct hand and feet impairments. As such, the characters have three fingers on each hand, which is similar to the limb abnormality known as ectrodactyly.  Hathaway plays the Grand High Witch, a powerful and evil witch who is the leader of all the witches in the world.

Those who were quick to bash the film include UK Paralympic swimmer and Para-triathlete Claire Cashmore, British Paralympic swimmer Amy Marren and the official social media account for the Paralympic Games among others.  
 
"Limb difference is not scary. Differences should be celebrated and disability has to be normalized. #NotAWitch calls out ‘#TheWitches’ movie for the portrayal of disability,'' Paralympic Games wrote on Twitter.  
 
Actress and disability advocate Melissa Johns also took to Twitter to condemn the film. "Why missing fingers?? Here we go again...Using disability as a costume and to highlight a character as a “baddie”. Children with limb differences rarely get to see themselves represented truthfully. But instead get shown as scary monsters? Not what we need,''  her Twitter message read in part.  
 
Following the eruptions on social media, the film studio in a statement said it was "deeply saddened to learn the movie could upset people with disabilities".  
 

Speaking exclusively to Deadline, Warner Brothers said it was "deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in 'The Witches' could upset people with disabilities, adding that it "the film is about kindness....It was never the intention for viewers to feel that the fantastical, non-human creatures were meant to represent them." 

Hathaway, the film's leading star also issued an apology, saying: "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."
 
According to Business Insider, 'The Witches', which also stars Octavia Spencer and Chris Rock, was digitally released in the United States on October 22 2020 via HBO max, with a theatrical release in select international markets beginning on October 28, 2020.  

Margaret Njuguna