Viral video of Kathy Bates’ emotional healing ‘in real time’ after 33 years of guilt touches hearts

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A heartwarming moment unfolded when actress Kathy Bates experienced unexpected relief during a recent interview on CBS' 'Sunday Morning', as reported by Buzzfeed.

The 76-year-old 'Matlock' star had been burdened under the weight of a guilt for over 30 years.

The actress believed all these years that she had forgotten to thank her mother during her 1991 Oscar acceptance speech for 'Misery'. However, journalist Ben Mankiewicz gently corrected her, showing video evidence that Bates had, in fact, not forgotten to do so.

Kathy Bates in tears on realizing she hadn't forgotten her mother in Oscar speech

Kathy Bates, who won the Best Actress Academy Award for 'Misery' in 1991, recalled she "forgot to thank" her mother, Bertye Kathleen Talbot, in her acceptance speech. Her mother died in 1997.

But Ben Mankiewicz reminded her, "You know, you did thank her at the end of your speech, You thanked her."

"No, I did not," Bates replied. "I did not. You go back and look at it. I didn't."

But when Mankiewicz pulled up the footage, the actress was visibly moved after seeing herself say, "I’d like to thank my family, my friends, my mom at home, my dad — who I hope is watching somewhere.”

“Thank you," Bates said, getting emotional. "Why did I think I didn't thank her? Oh, what a relief.”

Kathy was visibly emotional as she watched the footage. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she covered her mouth in shock, realizing that she hadn’t forgotten to mention her mother after all.

“Why does that mean so much to you?” Mankiewicz asked. 

Bates then reflected on her mother’s sacrifices and support throughout her acting career.

"She should have had my life," Bates shared, mentioning how much it meant to her to know she had acknowledged her mother during such a significant moment in her career.

Bates also recalled her mother's underwhelmed reaction to her Oscar win.

"When I won the Oscar for 'Misery', she said, 'I don't know what all the excitement is about. You didn't discover the cure for cancer'," said Bates.

Kathy Bates’ emotional video strikes a chord with fans

Kathy Bates turning emotional during a recent interview after finding out she had not forgotten to thank her mother during her 1991 Oscar acceptance speech struck a deep chord with fans and viewers alike, prompting heartfelt reactions across social media.

One user articulated the profound empathy involved in Kathy Bates’ journey, stating, "The amount of empathy you have to have to see through your mother’s bitterness towards you and realize it's not your fault but, in fact, her own regrets/anger that she’s carried for decades."

Another user expressed admiration for Bates, saying, "Oh Kathy, the WOMAN YOU ARE!!"

An individual wrote, "That really touches my heart. I love Kathy so much. So beautiful and moving."

One comment read, "This reaction here was genuine. Even though I’m used to her acting her a** off, she was no acting here. We watched a burden be released from someone in real time."

Another user stated, "I don’t exist, but my mom gets to live, not just survive. Our parents really sacrificed so much for us.”

One user simply stated, "I adore her."

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