Anne Hathaway shuts down fake baby bump rumors after red carpet look sparks social media speculation

Red carpet reaction

Anne Hathaway, 43, attended the Los Angeles premiere of her film "The End of Oak Street" on Sunday, 9 August, wearing a custom Atelier Prabal Gurung crop top that the designer described as a "sculptural high-low halter top with a cascading train," paired with low-rise La Ligne jeans and red Aquazzura stilettos. The outfit left her pregnant belly fully exposed, and photos and video from the event quickly circulated on social media, with users on platforms including X and TikTok questioning whether the bump was real. Comments ranged from "Why does it look fake?" to "Oh come on. That is not real," with one post on X saying "It looks so fake" that received roughly 6,000 likes. Some speculated that Hathaway was wearing a prosthetic, with one person claiming there was even makeup on the belly.

Others pushed back, noting that a pregnant belly can appear particularly defined on someone with developed abdominal musculature. One commenter wrote: "A lot of people in these comments have never seen a pregnant belly on someone who has abs." Another questioned why other women would doubt the appearance of a pregnancy bump because "mine didn't look like that."

Hathaway's response

Hathaway addressed the speculation directly on Instagram, posting a video of her preparation and arrival at the premiere with the caption "Fake hair, real bump." In the clip, she showed stylists applying hair extensions or a wig, and clarified with humor that she was wearing extensions. She also joked about the heat, writing that her outfit was "literally melting" during the event.

The pregnancy is Hathaway's third with her husband Adam Shulman, whom she married in 2012. She announced the pregnancy in June via a video on Instagram. The couple already have two sons, Jonathan (10) and Jack (6). Hathaway described the pregnancy on Late Night with Seth Meyers as "one of the last chances," saying that at a certain age the odds of success are only one or two percent.

We of course knew what we were doing. But we were surprised that I got pregnant again so quickly. It was done consciously, but we were still in shock for a moment.

Cultural commentary and expert reaction

The outfit drew mixed reactions beyond the pregnancy speculation. Some social media users called the look "ridiculous," "tacky," or "bizarre," while others read it as a statement of body positivity and self-determination. Charlotte Cripps, writing in the Independent, interpreted the outfit as a message of body positivity, strength, and gender equality.

It might be an outfit that her social media critics wouldn't be seen dead in, but it's a clear message of body positivity, strength, and gender equality - and it's her unique expression of the next chapter of her life.

Rebecca Cope, in the Telegraph, placed the look within a broader trend of celebrities choosing to show their bodies during pregnancy, challenging maternity fashion conventions. Vito Trojano, past president of the Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Sigo), told Adnkronos Salute that the criticism did not surprise him.

Many people wrongly consider pregnancy as a disease or an abnormal condition for the organism. There are even those who ask the gynecologist for medication to better cope with this phase. It's madness.

A busy year

Hathaway has been visible throughout the summer, promoting Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" at its London premiere on 6 July and its US premiere in New York on 14 July. She has five films released or forthcoming in 2026, including "The Odyssey," the second installment of "The Devil Wears Prada," and an adaptation of "Verity" set for October. Her "coconut water" nail look from the premiere also drew attention on social media and in beauty media.