Menu

Anne Hathaway Apologizes to Journalist For Disastrous 2012 Interview

Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway in Princess Diaries
Credit: Disney

Disney fans have loved Anne Hathaway for more than twenty years. She first cemented her place in their hearts when she played Princess Mia Thermopolis in the 2001 movie, The Princess Diaries. She reprised the role of Princess Mia in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Hathaway returned to Disney two more times, playing the White Queen in Alice in Wonderland (2006) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).

Hathaway has been a big name on the big screen for years and is considered one of America’s sweethearts. However, she hasn’t always shown the best side of herself, and she is now acknowledging that.

The Princess Diaries

Credit: Disney

Related: Disney and Anne Hathaway Make HUGE ‘Princess Diaries 3’ Announcement!

In 2012, Anne Hathaway participated in a press junket for the film Les Misérables, where she was asked various questions by journalists, including Kjersti Flaa. Flaa, aiming for a lighthearted interaction, requested the actors to sing their responses, considering the film’s musical nature. While co-stars Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe complied, Hathaway responded dismissively. This inconsistency in engagement sparked debates among audiences and critics alike.

The audience was divided in their perception of Hathaway’s behavior during the interview. Some viewers labeled her reactions as rude, while others speculated that she might have been experiencing personal issues that influenced her demeanor. The fallout from this interview, however, did not fade away quickly, leading to discussions about the responsibilities celebrities hold during public engagements.

Anne Hathaway as Fantine in Les Miseraables

Credit: Screenshot, ‘Les Misérables’, Universal Pictures

Recently, Kjersti Flaa shared archival footage of this uncomfortable interview on her YouTube channel, Flaawsome Talk. The video reignited interest in the 2012 encounter and subsequently resulted in an unexpected communication from Hathaway. Flaa received an email forwarded by Hathaway’s publicist, which contained a heartfelt apology from the actress.

In her message, Hathaway elaborated on the struggles she was facing at the time of the interview, expressing regret for her conduct. Flaa described the email as deeply personal and heartwarming.

“Yesterday, I did receive an email. It was from Anne Hathaway’s publicist, and he forwarded a message to me from Anne Hathaway. I have to say, I was pretty shocked. I had not expected her to reach out to me at all. I thought she was never gonna even see that video. But she did. And she did something pretty amazing.”

 “[It was] a long email explaining to me what she was going through right then when she did this interview, and she apologized for being…giving me an awful interview basically. It was so touching to me. Just talking about it makes me almost teary eyed, ’cause I was just so grateful that she did that. And it was a very personal note. And we decided that I wouldn’t share exactly what was in the email, but I just wanted to share with you guys what she did.”

Related: ‘Princess Diaries’ Star Tweets About Being Done With “Struggling Just to Survive” In Hollywood

Flaa’s reaction to Hathaway’s apology was overwhelmingly positive. She remarked on the profound impact of Hathaway’s gesture, noting that it made her almost teary-eyed. As part of her acknowledgment, Hathaway invited Flaa for a future interview, hinting at a more collaborative relationship moving forward.

Amid the resurfacing of the 2012 interview, Hathaway is gaining attention for her upcoming projects. She has been confirmed to reprise her role as Mia Thermopolis in the long-anticipated Princess Diaries 3. The sequel, which has been in discussions for years, is expected to be directed by Adele Lim, known for her work in Joy Ride (2023) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018).

Do you think Anne Hathaway did the right thing by apologizing? Are you excited to see her return for The Princess Diaries 3? Let us know in the comments!

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.