I no longer ‘live in fear’ of ‘Hatha-hate’

Anne Hathaway is opening up about “Hatha-hate.”

Hathaway faced harsh criticism after winning the Oscar for best supporting actress in “Les Misérables” in 2013, with people questioning her persona and calling her “annoying.”

The actress became the butt of the joke all over the internet, with the New York Times even publishing an article titled “Do We Really Hate Anne Hathaway?” in which she’s depicted as one of the “princessy, theater-schooled girls who have no game and no sex appeal and eat raisins for dessert.”

During her acceptance speech at ELLE’s 29th annual Women in Hollywood Event, Hathaway, 39, decided to address the issue head on, saying that “the language of hatred begins with the self.”

“Ten years ago, I was given an opportunity to look at the language of hatred from a new perspective,” she said. “For context — this was a language I had employed with myself since I was 7. And when your self-inflicted pain is suddenly somehow amplified back at you at, say, the full volume of the internet… It’s a thing.”

The “Devil Wears Prada” actress said what she went through made her realize she had “no desire to have anything to do with this line of energy.” 

“I would no longer create art from this place. I would no longer hold space for it, live in fear of it, nor speak its language for any reason. To anyone. Including myself,” Hathaway said.

“Because there is a difference between existence and behavior. You can judge behavior. You can forgive behavior or not. But you do not have the right to judge — and especially not hate — someone for existing. And if you do, you’re not where it’s at,” she continued.

The Academy Award winner acknowledged that hatred is a learned behavior in culture that leads to toxicity, but it can be unlearned and changed.

“Hate seems to me to be the opposite of life; in soil that harsh, nothing can grow properly, if at all,” Hathaway said.

“This next point is debatable, and I hope it is not offensive in its optimism, but: I believe the good news about hate being learned is that whoever learned it can learn. There is a brain there. I hope they give themselves a chance to relearn love,” she added.