Anne Hathaway Issues Apology to Journalist Following Controversial Interview
Anne Hathaway recently extended an apology to a journalist after a past interview from 2012 resurfaced, causing a stir online. The clip in question featured Hathaway being perceived as ‘rude’ and ‘dismissive’ towards the interviewer, Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa, during a press junket for the film Les Misérables.
In the resurfaced footage, Flaa can be seen asking Hathaway to sing responses to her questions, a request that did not sit well with the actor. Hathaway’s responses were described as blunt and lacking enthusiasm compared to her co-stars Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman, who participated more willingly in the singing. Flaa shared the video titled “This might be my worst interview idea ever” on YouTube, reflecting on her experience with Hathaway during the press event.
Flaa noted that she felt Hathaway was ‘not very nice’ and even expressed feeling that the actor ‘hated’ her during the interview. Hathaway’s terse ‘No’ responses to questions about the film’s themes, particularly regarding love and sacrifice, further exacerbated the tension during the interaction.
Following the video’s resurgence, Flaa revealed that she received a heartfelt apology from Hathaway through her publicist. In a follow-up video, Flaa expressed her surprise at Hathaway reaching out and appreciated the actor’s effort to explain the circumstances surrounding the interview and to apologise for how it transpired.
Hathaway’s gesture of sending a personal email to Flaa acknowledging her behaviour during the interview and expressing regret was described by Flaa as ‘touching’ and ‘grateful’. Additionally, Hathaway extended an invitation to Flaa to interview her for an upcoming project as a means to make amends for the previous experience.
It’s worth noting that Flaa had previously called out another actor, Blake Lively, for a similar uncomfortable interview experience back in 2016. Flaa had congratulated Lively on her pregnancy during the interview, to which Lively responded in a manner that Flaa found offensive, resulting in an awkward exchange between the two.
This incident sheds light on the dynamics of celebrity interviews and the importance of mutual respect and understanding between actors and journalists. Hathaway’s apology serves as a reminder of the importance of owning up to past mistakes and seeking reconciliation in a professional manner, even in the high-pressure environment of media interactions.