Anne Hathaway accused of 'playing Muslim' after viral 'Inshallah' comment

Lydia Davies
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:37:00 +0000

A video clip of Anne Hathaway uttering the Arabic phrase “Inshallah” has spread rapidly across social media, dividing opinion among viewers worldwide.

The Oscar-winning actress made the remark during an interview with People magazine, where she spoke about her hopes for the future.

“I want to have a long, healthy life, Inshallah. I hope so,” she said while reflecting on life in her forties.

The Arabic expression translates to “if God wills” or “God willing”, and is widely used across the Arab world when expressing hope for the future while acknowledging divine providence.

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Fans and critics of The Princess Diaries star quickly flooded social media with their reactions.

One penned: “People who speak Spanish say ojala, which comes from inshallah, so we say it all the time. It really is not a big deal.”

Another added: “I don’t understand why Muslims have an issue with her saying Inshallah. She’s literally invoking God’s name in the right context. We do not have the right to gatekeep that. This is a very wrong view.”

“It just means 'God willing' in Arabic btw,” a third wrote.

Another commented: “This is so funny cause she’s married to a Jewish man and she’s basically expressed herself as agnostic.”

“Everyone will be Muslim eventually, sooner or later,” someone else penned.

However, someone else asked: “Is she playing Muslim now?"

Ms Hathaway grew up in a Roman Catholic household before her family later converted to the Episcopal Church.

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the concept of anne hathaway saying “inshallah” pic.twitter.com/u0mrJDoeI9
— joy 🧸 (@supersketches) April 20, 2026

The actress has previously described her spiritual beliefs as a personal “work in progress”.

Beyond the viral moment, Ms Hathaway also shared broader reflections on reaching her fifth decade, saying turning 40 offers a chance to assess past choices and consider new directions.

She added that age has deepened her appreciation for the phrase “take it with a grain of salt” and taught her to value a sense of calm.

This isn't the first time Ms Hathaway's comments have caused controversy.

In 2024, she issued a personal apology to journalist Kjersti Flaa after a 2012 Les Misérables interview resurfaced.

The clip showed her giving short, dismissive answers and appearing reluctant to engage, prompting accusations she had been “rude”.

She has also faced mixed reactions for refusing to discuss cosmetic surgery, calling it “extremely intimate” and saying people should do whatever helps them “not live crushed by shame”.

Earlier in her career, her 2013 Oscars acceptance speech drew widespread mockery and fuelled the so-called “Hathahate” backlash.

This centred on her opening line “It came true”, which critics labelled overly rehearsed, while she later admitted she had been “faking happiness” during the win.

More recently, she apologised following backlash over her role in The Witches, after disability groups criticised the portrayal of limb differences, with the actress saying she was “truly sorry” for any hurt caused.