TV talk show interviews have been known to sometimes get uncomfortable, resulting in some awkward moments that go viral. One such show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, has seen its share of these moments, including a particularly memorable one with Anne Hathaway earlier this year.
In April, Hathaway appeared on Fallon’s show to promote her movie, The Idea of You. In the film, she plays Solène Marchand, a 40-year-old single mother who starts a romantic relationship with a 24-year-old boy band lead singer, Hayes Campbell, portrayed by Nicholas Galitzine.
The film received favorable reviews, maintaining an 81 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Alejandra Martinez of The Wrap commented, “Galitzine and Hathaway anchor the film and their chemistry is palpable, making every touch feel electric.”
The movie is adapted from Robinne Lee’s 2017 novel of the same name, which has garnered a dedicated following.
During her chat with Fallon, Hathaway had a rather awkward interaction while discussing the film’s origins.
Reflecting on her filming experience, Hathaway posed a question to the audience: “Has anybody here read the book?” However, rather than receiving enthusiastic responses or laughter, the room fell silent.
Hathaway reacted by widening her eyes, covering her mouth with her hand, and looking down, visibly taken aback by the silence.
Fortunately, Fallon quickly intervened to ease the tension, joking, “No, we don’t read. This is The Tonight Show. You want to go to Stephen Colbert if you want to get people to read books. Lame! We do audible here.”
The audience and Hathaway burst into laughter, and she humorously noted the book is ‘fabulous’ while quipping, “What’s a book?”
Fallon’s quick response and Hathaway’s handling of the moment were praised by viewers online.
One Twitter user remarked, “Jimmy actually was a great host in this situation!” Another agreed, stating, “Don’t always love him as a host, but I totally agree! Moments like this really showcase the years of experience he has and why he got the job in the first place.” A third added, “This is seriously so funny I can’t stop thinking about it. Anne is fighting for her life up there and handling it like a pro.”