Anne Hathaway finally explains the truth behind her viral cupcake meme: ‘I was 7 months pregnant’

Anne Hathaway has finally revealed the real story behind one of the internet’s most enduring memes and it turns out the viral moment happened under very different circumstances than fans imagined.

During a conversation with her The End of Oak Street co-star Ewan McGregor for Esquire, Hathaway explained that the famous paparazzi photo showing her eating a cupcake while wearing a guilty expression was taken while she was seven months pregnant and heading to the gym.

The cupcake photo wasn’t what people assumed

Hathaway recalled that the now-famous image dates back to January 2016.

She had planned to work out first before enjoying a cupcake she purchased from a nearby bakery as a reward. However, she quickly changed her mind.

“I was early to go to the gym,” Hathaway explained. “There was a bakery around the corner, and I bought a cupcake.”

She initially intended to save the dessert until after exercising.

Why she decided to eat the cupcake immediately

As she walked toward the gym, Hathaway admitted she reconsidered her plan.

“I’m just gonna eat the cupcake now and then I’ll burn it off,” she remembered thinking.

At the time, Hathaway was expecting her first child and emphasized that an important detail was missing from the viral narrative.

“Mind you, I’m seven months pregnant,” she said.

While enjoying the cupcake, she suddenly realized paparazzi photographers were taking pictures.

How the famous meme was created

The moment became internet history after someone paired the paparazzi photos with a humorous caption.

According to Hathaway, the meme suggested she had the expression of someone realizing they had eaten every cupcake.

“Somebody put it together almost like a comic strip,” she recalled.

The caption read something similar to: “Me realizing I ate all the cupcakes.”

Hathaway laughed that her facial expression wasn’t about regret over dessert it was simply her reaction to unexpectedly being photographed.

“The face I gave is me being like, ‘Ah, no more cupcakes!'”

She also shared her favorite cupcake-eating trick

Hathaway has spoken publicly about cupcakes before.

During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2022, she demonstrated her favorite way to eat one.

Instead of taking traditional bites, she removes the bottom half of the cupcake and places it on top of the frosting, creating what she described as a cupcake sandwich.

The technique helps prevent frosting from getting everywhere while making each bite more balanced.

Kelly Clarkson compared it to eating a whoopie pie.

Another Hathaway meme came from a stressful moment

The Oscar winner also discussed another internet-famous image that circulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The still came from her virtual appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2021.

Hathaway revealed that the awkward smile seen in the screenshot happened because she was experiencing a panic attack during the Zoom interview.

She recalled becoming flushed, sweating and forcing herself to smile through the moment.

Internet users later transformed the image into a meme comparing it to an HR representative preparing to fire an employee.

“The smile goes nowhere near my eyes,” Hathaway joked.

Hathaway embraces the internet’s humor

Rather than criticizing the memes, Hathaway appeared amused by how the internet has embraced both moments.

Her explanation adds important context to the famous cupcake photo, revealing that what many viewed as a guilty expression was actually the reaction of a pregnant actress unexpectedly encountering paparazzi while simply enjoying a sweet treat before heading to the gym.

More than a decade later, the meme continues to circulate but now fans finally know the story behind the expression.

Featured Image: instagram.com/annehathaway