Give Them The Finger(s)

Before I say anything else, let me say this. My grandfather only had three fingers on his right hand.

Some people with disabilities, specifically ectrodactyly (which means they are missing fingers (or toes, but it’s fingers that are the issue here), or people who claimed to be speaking out for them, got bent out of shape over the appearance of Anne Hathaway’s appearance in the remake of THE WITCHES. Because she’s missing fingers. Really, folks? Really? She’s a non-human character. A monster. She wasn’t meant to look like you or me. Did you see her mouth? That hardly looked human, did it? Is it that farfetched an idea that she would have claws instead of regular hands?

Anne Hathaway issued a sincere apology, which shows that she’s a classy lady, but I don’t honestly see why she should be apologizing. Was the decision to have her character appear in such a way her decision? That would’ve been up to the director or producers, I’m thinking. She seems to confirm this with her statement. “I am sorry. I did not connect limb difference with the GHW [her character] when the look of the character was brought to me…” And the things is, folks, no one else did either. I really believe that. Only those of you who got offended had it even cross your mind. The rest of the world, minus the cretins among us, who are going to be idiots no matter what excuse you provide them, or whether you provide them with an excuse or not, would never have seen that fictional, non-human character and equated it with a real, living person with a disability. And I honestly don’t think your children would have, either.

My grandpa would have found this whole thing silly. Of *course* people with ectrodactyly are just as good, just as worthy, are possessed of just as much inherent quality as people who have all their digits. If anyone were saying otherwise, then we all *should* be protesting. But they weren’t. In THE WITCHES, any similarities between actual persons, living or dead or missing digits, was purely coincidental.

By The Evil Cheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 MORTUI VELOCES SUNT!

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