Right now, there is a bill headed to President Trump’s desk that will protect Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography. This is an incredible win for Americans, and something I have been fighting for my entire career. 
Over decades in the cybersecurity field, I’ve helped solve a lot of crises for government agencies, major corporations and more. But there’s a certain kind of call that I still dread getting. It starts with a trembling voice on the other end of the line: “Can you help me?” As they tell their tale, my heart sinks. A lump forms in my throat. This is another life shattered by explicit images strewn across the digital public square, each notification on their phone another dagger into their sense of safety as the image spreads.
For years, my team and I have made a point to fight for these survivors. We make calls, write letters, beg social media giants to remove the content – real photos stolen from private moments or deepfakes conjured by AI’s dark alchemy. This crime is indiscriminate. It targets the socialites, the professionals, rising stars, the rich and the poor. One professional athlete, a courageous woman I helped, saw her stolen images resurface dozens of times over several years. She told me it made her want to stop leaving her house. Even Scarlett Johansson — a global icon with every possible resource at her fingertips — can’t banish her deepfakes for good. If she’s powerless, what chance do everyday victims have? They have to watch their trauma go viral, reliving it with every view. Some, in desperation, have taken their own lives.
There are different ways to refer to this phenomenon. Terms like “revenge porn” and “deepfake” are often used interchangeably. “Deepfake” describes a specific kind of AI-produced image that usually uses a reproduction of a real person’s face. I reject “revenge porn” because while it may sound edgy in headlines, it re-victimizes the victim. People take intimate images of themselves for all kinds of reasons, from self-confidence to sharing with someone they trust. That may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it doesn’t make it okay to share those peoples’ images without their consent in ways for which they weren’t intended. That’s why I refer to these pictures or videos as non-consensual intimate images, or NCII.
It wasn’t that long ago that pornography hid behind brown wrappers and clerks who checked IDs before you bought it. Now, anyone can steal an image, fabricate a lie, and blast it worldwide at lightning speed. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative estimates over 15 million Americans – that’s 1 out of every 23 of us – have faced NCII sharing, a number that continues to balloon as AI fuels the carnage. Deepfakes — 98% pornographic, 99% targeting women — number in the hundreds of thousands, with just 16 sites known for hosting them racking up 200 million visits in a six-month period last year.
Social media companies can do better. It’s the right thing to do, and they have the technology to do it. If their algorithm can figure out my favorite shoe color and relentlessly sell them to me, they should be able to address this plague across their platforms. They are making some efforts. Meta removed 1.2 million NCII items in 2024’s first half, but gaps persist. And it’s not entirely the fault of the platforms themselves. 

A tangle of laws and regulations used to combat NCII sharing makes the process slower and more difficult. A 2024 study found that X (formerly Twitter) left 25 reported deepfakes up for weeks, while removing copyright violations in hours – a stark sign that today’s laws prioritize property over people. YouTube and TikTok axe millions of videos over copyright claims, yet billions of views on deepfake sites reveal a glaring chasm. Victims currently have to navigate a maze of rules, pleading to faceless systems with no human to hear their pain and no guarantees the images will come down.
That’s why their haunting words echo in my mind: “Can you help me?” Yes, I can. But my team can’t chase resurgent ghosts across the internet forever.
Thankfully, Washington has woken up to the crisis. The &#8216;Take It Down Act&#8221; makes publishing non-consensual intimate imagery — real or AI-crafted — a federal crime and requires platforms to remove it within 48 hours of a victim’s plea. The bill’s sponsors are Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar – both outspoken, prominent members of their parties who have run for president in recent years. They have very little in common politically – although they are both parents of daughters. But they worked together to secure an astounding unanimous vote to pass the bill in the Senate. And this week, thankfully, it received an overwhelming victory in the House and is now headed to President Trump’s desk.
Critics, many from the libertarian tech crowd, claim the &#8220;Take It Down Act&#8221; stifles free speech, but protecting victims from abuse isn’t censorship — it’s justice. It helps the rule of law catch up with the pace of technology. It’s not about politics, it’s about people. By one estimate, over 4 million American children have been scarred by AI porn fakes of themselves or peers. The NCII porn pirates don’t care who you vote for – they will strike your family, your friends, your coworkers. The sensible updates to our laws included in the &#8220;Take It Down Act&#8221; will help us protect ourselves and each other. This is a victory worth celebrating.
* * *
Theresa Payton is the CEO of Fortalice Solutions. She was the first female White House chief information officer, serving under President George W. Bush.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.

Senators Cruz And Lummis Hold Press Conference To Discuss Deepfakes

‘Can You Help Me?’ Why The ‘Take It Down Act’ Is A Lifeline For Victims

'Can You Help Me?' Why The 'Take It Down Act' Is A Lifeline For Victims

Artificial Intelligence

Congress

Deepfake

Melania Trump

Pornography

President Trump

Scarlett Johansson

Social Media

Technology

White House

Women

Actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actress-cate-blanchett-mocked-for-calling-herself-middle-class">Cate Blanchett</a> said she worries that artificial intelligence (AI) could “totally replace&#8221; anyone and said it’s a much bigger problem than just how it will affect her career.
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clygy87nleqo">Speaking to the BBC</a>, the 55-year-old actress admitted she’s “deeply concerned” about the technology and worried more &#8220;about the impact it&#8217;s going have on the average person” than her industry.
&#8220;I&#8217;m looking at these robots and driverless cars &#8230; and I don&#8217;t really know what that&#8217;s bringing anybody,” Blanchett said. &#8220;I&#8217;m worried about us as a species, it&#8217;s a much bigger problem.&#8221;
“You can totally replace &#8230; any person,” she added. &#8220;Forget whether they&#8217;re an actor or not, if you&#8217;ve recorded yourself &#8230; for three or four seconds your voice can be replicated.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Cate Blanchett interview for BBC News “I&#8217;m deeply concerned about AI”.<a href="https://t.co/CztBQ3Ydpp">pic.twitter.com/CztBQ3Ydpp</a>
— cate blanchett photos (@blanchettphotos) <a href="https://twitter.com/blanchettphotos/status/1862878268157813222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;When you look at it one way [it&#8217;s creativity], but it&#8217;s also incredibly destructive, which of course is the other side of it,” Blanchett continued.
Hollywood has been recently reckoning with AI. In August, Tom Hanks slammed ads using the technology and warned fans to not be fooled, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/cate-blanchett-worries-ai-could-totally-replace-anyone">Fox News</a> noted.
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&#8220;There are multiple ads over the internet falsely using my name, likeness, and voice promoting miracle cures and wonder drugs,” Hanks said. &#8220;These ads have been created without my consent, fraudulently and through AI.&#8221;
&#8220;I have nothing to do with these posts or the productions and treatments, or the spokespeople touting these cures. I have type 2 diabetes, and I ONLY work with my board certified doctor regarding my treatment,” he added. “DO NOT BE FOOLED. DO NOT BE SWINDLED. DO NOT LOSE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY.”
Earlier this year, Scarlett Johansson made headlines when she said she was forced to hire legal counsel, accusing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/openai-unleashes-new-ai-model-gpt-4-which-can-pass-academic-exams-program-software-and-even-do-taxes">OpenAI</a> of using a voice for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-reveals-what-we-really-need-to-fear-about-ai-chatbots">ChatGPT</a> that sounded “eerily similar” to her own after turning down an offer from the tech company, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarlett-johansson-accuses-openai-of-using-voice-that-sounds-eerily-similar-to-mine">reported</a>.
In a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/technology/scarlett-johansson-openai-statement.html">statement</a>, Johansson said <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/openai-reaches-deal-to-reinstate-sam-altman-as-ceo">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman</a> asked her to provide a voice for his popular AI system because he felt it would be “comforting,” but she declined.
With the previous unveiling of “Sky,” a voice option for ChatGPT, Johansson said friends, family, and the public all noted that it sounded like her.
“I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference,” Johansson said.
OpenAI <a href="https://openai.com/index/how-the-voices-for-chatgpt-were-chosen/">denied</a> “Sky” was an imitation of Johansson’s voice, insisting it was instead developed with a different professional actress using her “own natural speaking voice.”
Altman also claimed the voice for “Sky” was not Johansson’s and was “never intended” to resemble the actress’ voice. He said OpenAI cast the “Sky” voice actor before any outreach to Johansson.
“Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products,” Altman said in a prior <a href="https://x.com/haydenfield/status/1792748249272795348">statement</a>. “We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didn’t communicate better.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cate-blanchett-claims-she-didnt-make-any-money-on-lord-of-the-rings-i-basically-got-free-sandwiches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cate Blanchett Claims She Didn’t Make Any Money On ‘Lord Of The Rings’: ‘I Basically Got Free Sandwiches’</a>

Cate Blanchett

Oscar-Winning Actress Worries AI Could ‘Totally Replace’ Anyone

Oscar-Winning Actress Worries AI Could ‘Totally Replace' Anyone

Celebrities

Entertainment

Hollywood

World

Congress is seeking testimony from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/scarlett-johansson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scarlett Johansson</a> after the Hollywood star accused <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/openai-unleashes-new-ai-model-gpt-4-which-can-pass-academic-exams-program-software-and-even-do-taxes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OpenAI</a> of using a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-reveals-what-we-really-need-to-fear-about-ai-chatbots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ChatGPT</a> voice that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarlett-johansson-accuses-openai-of-using-voice-that-sounds-eerily-similar-to-mine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sounded &#8220;eerily similar&#8221;</a> to her own despite no deal between them.
A <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24740333/nancy-mace-scarlett-johansson-testimony-request.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> sent last week invited Johansson to appear for a Capitol Hill hearing before a House Technology Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
&#8220;You recently expressed concerns via social media about the resemblance between your own voice and that of the &#8216;Sky&#8217; chatbot, recently released as part of OpenAl&#8217;s GPT- 40 update,&#8221; Mace wrote.
&#8220;This hearing would provide a platform for you to share those concerns with House Members, and to inform the broader public debate concerning deepfakes,&#8221; she added.
Mace&#8217;s office told Axios, which <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/10/scarlett-johansson-openai-chatgpt-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported the letter</a> on Monday, that Johansson is unable to make the proposed date of July 9 and would likely be available sometime in October.
Johansson, who voiced an AI chat system in the 2013 film &#8220;Her,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarlett-johansson-accuses-openai-of-using-voice-that-sounds-eerily-similar-to-mine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in May</a> she was &#8220;shocked, angered and in disbelief&#8221; upon the reveal of a ChatGPT voice that sounded &#8220;eerily similar&#8221; to hers.
The actress said <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/openai-reaches-deal-to-reinstate-sam-altman-as-ceo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman</a> had asked her to provide a voice for the feature, but she declined and so she hired lawyers to reach out to OpenAI when a similar voice feature came out.
OpenAI <a href="https://openai.com/index/how-the-voices-for-chatgpt-were-chosen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denied</a> its &#8220;Sky&#8221; voice was an imitation of Johansson&#8217;s voice, insisting it was instead developed with a different professional actress using her &#8220;own natural speaking voice.&#8221;
Separately, Altman apologized to Johansson &#8220;that we didn’t communicate better. He also said, &#8220;Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky&#8217;s voice in our products.&#8221;
In ending her statement about the voice controversy, Johansson also called for more work to be done to address issues associated with advancing technologies beyond just artificial intelligence.
&#8220;In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected,&#8221; Johansson concluded.

House Panel Invites Scarlett Johansson To Testify About Deepfakes After OpenAI Voice Controversy

Nancy Mace

U.S.

U.S. House of Representatives

Actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/scarlett-johansson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scarlett Johansson</a> accused <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/openai-unleashes-new-ai-model-gpt-4-which-can-pass-academic-exams-program-software-and-even-do-taxes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OpenAI</a> of using a voice for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-reveals-what-we-really-need-to-fear-about-ai-chatbots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ChatGPT</a> that sounded &#8220;eerily similar&#8221; to her own after turning down an offer from the tech company.
In a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/technology/scarlett-johansson-openai-statement.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> released on Monday, Johansson said <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/openai-reaches-deal-to-reinstate-sam-altman-as-ceo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman</a> asked her to provide a voice for his popular AI system last fall because he felt it would be &#8220;comforting,&#8221; but she declined.
With the recent unveiling of &#8220;Sky,&#8221; a voice option for ChatGPT, Johansson said friends, family, and the public all noted that it sounded like her.
&#8220;I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference,&#8221; Johansson said.
Johansson said Altman even &#8220;insinuated&#8221; an intentional similarity because he posted <a href="https://x.com/sama/status/1790075827666796666" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;her&#8221;</a> on X in an apparent reference to her role voicing an AI chat system in the 2013 film &#8220;Her.&#8221;
In the days leading up to a ChatGPT demo, Johansson said Altman reached out to her agent, asking the actress to reconsider.
&#8220;Before we could connect, the system was out there,&#8221; Johansson said. &#8220;As a result of their actions, I was forced to hire legal counsel.&#8221;
Lawyers wrote to Altman and OpenAI seeking details on the process by which the &#8220;Sky&#8221; voice was created, leading to OpenAI &#8220;reluctantly&#8221; agreeing to take it down, she added.
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OpenAI <a href="https://openai.com/index/how-the-voices-for-chatgpt-were-chosen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denied</a> &#8220;Sky&#8221; was an imitation of Johansson&#8217;s voice, insisting it was instead developed with a different professional actress using her &#8220;own natural speaking voice.&#8221;
Voice actors helped create four <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uM8jhcqDP0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other voices</a> named &#8220;Breeze,&#8221; &#8220;Cove,&#8221; Ember,&#8221; and &#8220;Juniper,&#8221; and other voices are expected to be introduced over time, according to OpenAI.
Altman also claimed the voice for &#8220;Sky&#8221; was not Johansson&#8217;s and was &#8220;never intended&#8221; to resemble the actress&#8217;s voice. He said OpenAI cast the &#8220;Sky&#8221; voice actor before any outreach to Johansson.
&#8220;Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky&#8217;s voice in our products,&#8221; Altman said in a <a href="https://x.com/haydenfield/status/1792748249272795348" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didn’t communicate better.&#8221;
Johansson ended her statement by calling for more work to be done to address issues associated with advancing technologies beyond just AI.
&#8220;In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected,&#8221; Johansson concluded.

Scarlett Johansson Accuses OpenAI Of Using Voice That Sounds ‘Eerily Similar To Mine’

Scarlett Johansson Accuses OpenAI Of Using Voice That Sounds 'Eerily Similar To Mine'

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/scarlett-johansson">Scarlett Johansson</a>’s legal team confirmed they&#8217;d be taking legal action against an AI app that used her likeness without permission.
The actress was featured in a 22-second ad posted on X by the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence</a> image-generating app, Lisa AI: 90s Yearbook &amp; Avatar. The ad was seen on October 28 but is no longer being promoted, per <a href="https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/scarlett-johansson-legal-action-ai-app-ad-likeness-1235773489/">Variety</a>.
The outlet noted that the ad showed an old clip of Johansson in a behind-the-scenes clip from Marvel’s “Black Widow.” The actress can be heard saying, “What’s up guys? It’s Scarlett and I want you to come with me…” 
Then, a graphic covers Johansson’s mouth as the screen morphs into AI-generated photos meant to look like her. The ad next portrays an AI version of the actress’s voice, which says, “It’s not limited to avatars only. You can also create images with texts and even your AI videos. I think you shouldn’t miss it.” 
The ad included fine print that said, “Images produced by Lisa AI. It has nothing to do with this person.”
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Representatives for the actress confirmed to Variety that Johansson did not give the app creators permission to use her likeness. Johansson’s attorney, Kevin Yorn, said they are pursuing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lawsuit">legal action</a>. 
“We do not take these things lightly. Per our usual course of action in these circumstances, we will deal with it with all legal remedies that we will have,” Yorn told the outlet.
The use of AI in the entertainment industry has been top of mind for some time now and was a key negotiating point during both the recent WGA strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors union strike. Celebrities are prime targets for unlawful use of their images.
In October, Tom Hanks warned fans, saying he never agreed for a company on Instagram to use his likeness to promote dental plans.
“BEWARE!! There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it,” Hanks wrote on the social media platform. He accompanied his message with the AI-generated photo of himself, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-tom-hanks-warns-fans-about-ai-image-of-him-promoting-dental-plan">reported</a>.

Scarlett Johansson Will Take Legal Action Against AI App Using Her Likeness Without Permission

Lawsuit

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/matt-damon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Damon</a> talked about locking lips with actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarlett-johansson-slams-nasty-outrageous-rumor-about-where-shes-reportedly-had-sex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scarlett Johansson</a> on the set of their 2011 movie &#8220;We Bought a Zoo&#8221; and why it was &#8220;hell.&#8221;
During the 52-year-old actor&#8217;s recent interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ujKZGgP8o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LADbible TV</a>, Damon and actress Emily Blunt answered the question about whether a person should be told they have stinky breath. The &#8220;Air&#8221; star revealed that he could forgive a costar some halitosis, but a smelly sandwich was possibly going too far.
&#8220;I had to kiss Scarlett Johansson — can you imagine how horrible that was for me?&#8221; Damon said. &#8220;It was hell!&#8221;
&#8220;No, what happened was, we did a shot before lunch and it was this nice little two-shot that ended in the kiss. And it was really good,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And we went to lunch, and she and I both thought it was over. She ate, like, an onion sandwich.&#8221;
After lunch, &#8220;The Martian&#8221; star said the director Cameron Crowe &#8220;had set the camera up, and it was like a tight shot of the kiss.&#8221;
Damon said when [Johansson] came in she saw this and &#8220;goes, &#8216;Ah sh*t! I literally just had an onion sandwich!'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Matt Damon says ‘it was hell’ kissing Scarlett Johansson <a href="https://t.co/KkwgethH3U">https://t.co/KkwgethH3U</a> <a href="https://t.co/c3q1lQZSeb">pic.twitter.com/c3q1lQZSeb</a>
&mdash; New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1683874622385664004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I thought we did this,&#8221; the actress added, according to Damon.
The &#8220;Oppenheimer&#8221; star said he was not pleased about it and was &#8220;making fun of her the entire time about her onion breath.&#8221;
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The segment ended with Damon saying he didn&#8217;t actually smell &#8220;her onion breath&#8221; because her &#8220;breath smells like roses,&#8221; as he busted up laughing with Blunt.
The &#8220;Jason Bourne&#8221; star later mocked Blunt when it came to the question about whether or not British food was better than American food.
While the &#8220;Mary Poppins Returns&#8221; star strongly agreed, Damon replied no and told the actress &#8220;Do you know you [British] are known for having horrible food?&#8221;
Blunt then took a dig at classic American food like &#8220;cheeseburgers and nuggets.&#8221; Damon reminded her that in America we are a melting pot and get all the best food the world has to offer right here, not just &#8220;fried&#8221; food.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/matt-damon-says-he-fell-into-a-depression-while-filming-a-movie-what-have-i-done" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Damon Says He &#8216;Fell Into A Depression&#8217; While Filming A Movie: &#8216;What Have I Done?&#8217;</a>

Scarlett Johansson, Matt Damon-1

Matt Damon Reveals Why Kissing Scarlett Johansson Was ‘Hell’

Matt Damon On Why Kissing Scarlett Johansson Was ‘Hell’

Matt Damon

Movies

Actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/scarlett-johansson">Scarlett Johansson</a> said she was typecast and pushed into provocative <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">roles</a> from a young age. 
The 38-year-old “Black Widow” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/celebrities">star</a> made the remarks during a recent interview on the iHeartRadio podcast “Table for Two.” She told host Bruce Bozzi that she had been “objectified” by Hollywood early in her acting career and was offered roles that matched their perception of her as a sex symbol.
“I kind of became, like, an ingénue,” Johansson recalled of her early career. “Young girls like that are really objectified, and that’s just a fact, so I think whatever box they’re put into, it sort of sets you on this trajectory for how your life will go. Now, obviously women really are able more now to choose their own path.”
She recalled how during her early teens, she started to embrace her own “desirability and sexuality,” which influenced her entire career, per <a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/12/13/scarlett-johansson-i-was-groomed-to-play-provocative-roles/">Page Six</a>. 
“I think because of that trajectory that I had been sort of launched towards, I really got stuck in this,” Johansson explained.
“I was kind of being groomed in a way to be this what you call this bombshell type of actor. I was playing the other woman and this object of desire and, you know, I suddenly found myself cornered in this place, like, I couldn’t get out of it.”
She went on, “I think for that kind of bombshell [role] that burns bright and quick, and then you don’t have much opportunity beyond that, and I just felt like I was burning out so quickly.” 
The actress said working on “Lost in Translation” with Bill Murray when she was just 17 was a particularly challenging time. 
“Our characters have this … profound relationship and that was hard for me &#8230; I struggled with that for different reasons,” she said of the role. “When I came out of it, it was like this weird fever dream.”
The “Lucy” star said time and experience had changed her perspective and that having kids has made her more discerning with the kind of movie roles she’s willing to accept.
“I think that’s an important lesson to teach girls and boys — to pursue work that is satisfying,” she said of her current outlook.
Johansson had previously complained about being sexualized in her role in “Black Widow.”
“All of that is related to that move away from the kind of hyper-sexualization of this character and, I mean, you look back at ‘Iron Man 2’ and while it was really fun and had a lot of great moments in it, the character is so sexualized, you know?” she said, per <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/like-a-piece-of-a-scarlett-johansson-on-how-black-widow-was-hypersexualized">The Daily Wire</a>. 
“Really talked about like she’s a piece of something, like a possession or a thing or whatever — like a piece of a**, really.”

World Premiere Of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures “Avengers: Endgame” – Red Carpet

Scarlett Johansson Claims She Was ‘Groomed’ For ‘Bombshell’ Roles Early On

Scarlett Johansson Claims She Was 'Groomed' For 'Bombshell' Roles Early On

Scarlett Johansson slammed an &#8220;outrageous&#8221; rumor about where she&#8217;s reportedly had sex, and said it used to be more &#8220;acceptable&#8221; to write &#8220;nasty&#8221; things like that about young actresses.
While the 37-year-old actress never named actor Benicio del Toro during her appearance on the &#8220;9 to 5ish with theSkimm&#8221; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scarlett-johansson-on-the-power-of-perspective/id1345547675?i=1000557415376">podcast</a> Tuesday, it is her &#8220;Avengers: Infinity War&#8221; castmate who she&#8217;d been rumored in the past to have been involved with intimately in an elevator in 2004, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10713045/Scarlett-Johansson-DENIES-absurd-rumor-sex-elevator-Benicio-del-Toro.html">reported</a> the Daily Mail.
&#8220;There was a rumor that went around for a very long time that said that I had sex in an elevator,&#8221; Johansson explained during the interview.
&#8220;They probably still write those things about people, maybe, but I felt like when I was younger, it was more acceptable to write really nasty, slutty things about young actresses,&#8221; she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Scarlett Johansson slams &#39;nasty&#39; sex rumor: &#39;Outrageous&#39; <a href="https://t.co/C8W8P4tUFu">https://t.co/C8W8P4tUFu</a>
&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1514703756541243401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;That was a story that followed me for a long time, but I always thought that was outrageous,&#8221; the Marvel star continued. &#8220;And also, I always was, like, thinking to myself, &#8216;Oh, that would be tough.&#8217; The very short period of … the logistics of that seem so unappealing to me. I&#8217;m the person who&#8217;s terrified of being caught doing something I&#8217;m not supposed to be doing. So, that made the story even that much more absurd to me, if you know me personally.&#8221;
The original rumor about the &#8220;Black Widow&#8221; star and del Toro hooking up in a Chateau Marmont elevator reportedly started after the 55-year-old Oscar-winning actor played coy about the rumor during an interview in 2005 for Esquire magazine, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/scarlett-johansson-elevator-sex-rumor">reported</a> Fox News.
&#8220;Did I ever have sex in an elevator with Scarlett Johansson after an awards show?&#8221; Benicio repeated. &#8220;I kind of like, you know, I, well. I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;
&#8220;Let&#8217;s leave that to somebody&#8217;s imagination,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Let&#8217;s not promote it. I&#8217;m sure it has happened before. It might not be the last time either.&#8221;
As previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/like-a-piece-of-a-scarlett-johansson-on-how-black-widow-was-hypersexualized">reported</a> by The Daily Wire, Johansson previously talked about the initial &#8220;hyper-sexualization&#8221; of her character in the Marvel franchise and how that has since changed:
<blockquote>“All of that is related to that move away from the kind of hyper-sexualization of this character and, I mean, you look back at Iron Man 2 and while it was really fun and had a lot of great moments in it, the character is so sexualized, you know?” she continued. “Really talked about like she’s a piece of something, like a possession or a thing or whatever — like a piece of a**, really. And Tony (Stark, the character of Iron Man) even refers to her as something like that at one point. What does he say?”
“I want some,” Collider informed her.
“‘I want some,’ Johannson agreed. “Yeah and at one point calls her a piece of meat and maybe at that time that actually felt like a compliment. You know what I mean? Because my thinking was different. Maybe I even would have, you know, my own self-worth was probably measured against that type of comment or, like a lot of young women, you come into your own and you understand your own self-worth. It’s changing now. Now people, young girls, are getting a much more positive message, but it’s been incredible to be a part of that shift and be able to come out the other side and be a part of that old story, but also progress. Evolve. I think it’s pretty cool.”</blockquote>

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-CINEMA-AVENGERS

Scarlett Johansson Slams ‘Nasty,’ ‘Outrageous’ Rumor About Where She’s Reportedly Had Sex

Marvel

Robert Downey Jr.

Actress Scarlett Johansson says Disney’s response to her July 29 breach-of-contract lawsuit was “misogynistic,” and she’s accusing the company of trying to move talks “behind closed doors” to salvage its image.
As The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarlett-johansson-sues-disney-over-black-widow-release">reported</a>, Johansson is suing the studio over its decision to release her latest Marvel film, “Black Widow,” to its streaming platform, Disney Plus, at the same time as theaters. Her team claims she had assurances from Marvel executives that the movie would receive a theatrical-only rollout. By shifting to a hybrid model, she claims the studio undercut the film’s box office earnings, depriving her of compensation she should have received based on the deal she negotiated to receive a percentage of ticket sales.
“Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel,” Johansson’s complaint asserted.
In response, Disney called the suit “sad and distressing,” claiming Johansson showed “callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Then, late Friday night, the company filed a motion in a Los Angeles Superior Court to force Johansson’s suit into private arbitration.
“The plain and expansive language of the arbitration agreement easily encompasses [Johansson’s] Complaint,&#8221; the motion stated. “In a futile effort to evade this unavoidable result (and generate publicity through a public filing), Johansson’ excluded Marvel as a party to this lawsuit––substituting instead its parent company Disney under contract-interference theories. But longstanding principles do not permit such gamesmanship.”
The midnight filing also emphasized the pandemic and not a desire to attract new subscribers to Disney’s streaming platform as the reason behind “Black Widow’s” simultaneous release approach.
Said the motion:
<blockquote>“While [Johansson] tries to call that unambiguous contract language into question by citing a pre-pandemic, 2019 e-mail by a Marvel executive the communication merely confirmed Marvel’s intent to stand by the contract’s ‘wide theatrical release’ provision –– which Marvel ultimately did, notwithstanding the dramatically changed circumstances of a 2020-2021 global pandemic.”</blockquote>
Now Johansson’s team is firing back.
Her lead attorney, John Berlinski, said in a statement released to <a href="https://deadline.com/2021/08/scalett-johansson-disney-lawsuit-black-widow-response-arbitration-1234819262/">Deadline</a> Saturday that Disney’s comments represented a “misogynistic attack” against the highest-earning actress in the world. He added, “<a href="https://deadline.com/tag/disney/">Disney</a> is now, predictably, trying to hide its misconduct in a confidential arbitration.”
Berlinski’s statement continued:
<blockquote>“After initially responding to this litigation with a misogynistic attack against Scarlett Johansson, Disney is now, predictably, trying to hide its misconduct in a confidential arbitration. Why is Disney so afraid of litigating this case in public? Because it knows that Marvel’s promises to give Black Widow a typical theatrical release ‘like its other films’ had everything to do with guaranteeing that Disney wouldn’t cannibalize box office receipts in order to boost Disney+ subscriptions. Yet that is exactly what happened – and we look forward to presenting the overwhelming evidence that proves it.”</blockquote>

Scarlett Johansson Fires Back At Disney, Says Response To Lawsuit Was ‘Misogynistic’

Disney

Sexism

Scarlett Johansson may have broken the seal on celebrity lawsuits in the streaming age. Rumors are now developing that “Cruella” lead Emma Stone may follow her example and sue Disney over its decision to dual debut her tentpole film.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarlett-johansson-sues-disney-over-black-widow-release">reported</a> on Friday, Johansson is suing Disney for releasing “Black Widow” to its streaming service, Disney Plus, at the same time as theaters. According to the Marvel star’s breach-of-contract suit, studio executives had promised her the film would have a theaters-only roll out, and a significant portion of her compensation was based on its performance at the box office. By simultaneously premiering the film on the video-on-demand platform, she claims Disney undercut her potential earnings.
Disney released Emma Stone’s most recent movie, “Cruella,” with the same hybrid approach even though it, too, was originally only intended for a theatrical release, meaning Stone may have the same grounds for a complaint.
Former Hollywood Reporter staffer and entertainment lawyer Matt Belloni revealed in his <a href="https://whatimhearing.news/matt-belloni/">newsletter</a>, “What I’m Hearing,” that inside sources are telling him the actress is speaking to her lawyers and “weighing her options.”
Johansson said in her suit that when she tried to renegotiate her contract to address the dual debut shift, Marvel and Disney were “unresponsive.” Belloni’s report seems to support that as he said sources tell him stars have found Disney “notoriously difficult to deal with” as the company made plans to redirect tentpole films to streaming.
Belloni claims Johansson is receiving an outpouring of support from other performers in her industry, saying, &#8220;There is an unusually high amount of cheering going on today in the talent community, which indicates these issues aren&#8217;t going away anytime soon,&#8221; he said.
<a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/news/black-widow-scarlett-johansson-disney-fallout-1235031315/">Variety </a>echoed this view in a report that quoted an unnamed agent who said, &#8220;A lot of other actors are cheering for Scarlett and rooting her on. She has a lot of power and that makes this a visible conversation that puts Disney on the spot. By doing all of this in public, she might be able to change the rulebook.&#8221;
Belloni speculated that “Jungle Cruise” actress Emily Blunt could soon add her voice to the chorus supporting Johansson. Just like “Black Widow” and “Cruella,” “Jungle Cruise” was originally destined for theaters alone and ended up with less-than-stellar earnings under the hybrid approach. The film took in a mediocre $34 million at the box office this weekend, meaning it may struggle to recoup Disney’s $200 million investment.
That may not bother Disney, as it is benefitting from additional subscribers who want to watch these new movies from the comfort of their homes. But there’s no benefit to the hybrid model for celebrities whose salaries are based on box office performance, something Johansson’s filing notes.
“To maximize these receipts, and thereby protect her financial interests, Ms. Johansson extracted a promise from Marvel that the release of the picture would be a ‘theatrical release,” her suit states. “As Ms. Johansson, Disney, Marvel, and most everyone else in Hollywood knows, a ‘theatrical release’ is a release that is exclusive to movie theatres. Disney was well aware of this promise, but nonetheless directed Marvel to violate its pledge and instead release the picture on the Disney+ streaming service the very same day it was released in movie theatres.”
She then went on to point out that Disney’s top executives scored big bonuses based on the streaming platform’s success.
Disney responded that there is “no merit whatsoever to [Johansson&#8217;s] filing.” The company added, “It is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 19: General view of a billboard above the El Capitan Entertainment Centre promoting Walt Disney Pictures ‘Cruella’ in theaters and Disney+ on April 19, 2021 in Hollywood, California.

Report: Emma Stone Considering Following Scarlett Johansson’s Footsteps By Suing Disney

Emma Stone

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the company’s decision to release her latest Marvel film, “Black Widow,” to its streaming platform and theaters simultaneously.
The actress’ lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims the studio breached her contract because her compensation was based in part on box office revenue. By making the film available on the Disney+ platform, she says the company severely undercut her potential earnings. “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel,” the complaint said.
Johansson also claims Marvel executives promised her that the movie would only receive a theatrical release. According to the suit:
<blockquote>&#8220;To maximize these receipts, and thereby protect her financial interests, Ms. Johansson extracted a promise from Marvel that the release of the picture would be a &#8216;theatrical release. As Ms. Johansson, Disney, Marvel, and most everyone else in Hollywood knows, a &#8216;theatrical release&#8217; is a release that is exclusive to movie theatres. Disney was well aware of this promise, but nonetheless directed Marvel to violate its pledge and instead release the picture on the Disney+ streaming service the very same day it was released in movie theatres.&#8221;</blockquote>
Disney responded immediately, saying, there is “no merit whatsoever to this filing.” The company implied that Johansson’s complaint shows a lack of empathy on the actress’ part. “It is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the company said in a statement reported by <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/scarlett-johansson-sues-disney-over-black-widow-streaming-release-11627579278">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
The Disney spokesperson continued. “Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson&#8217;s contract and furthermore, the release of &#8216;Black Widow&#8217; on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20 million she has received to date,&#8221;
The suit comes at a time that studios are often facing off with creative talent who are unhappy with their decisions to release valuable properties on streaming platforms in a bid to attract new subscribers. Notably, high-profile directors like Christopher Nolan and stars like Denzel Washington <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/christopher-nolan-rips-warner-bros-for-hbo-max-distribution-deal">were angry</a> with Warner Bros. last year for its decision to release all of its films on HBO Max as well as theaters.
Johansson’s filing also notes that Disney Chairman Robert Iger and Chief Executive Bob Chapek’s annual bonuses are based on the performance of Disney+. She claims that this further motivated them to release “Black Widow” to streaming in order to maximize their own earnings while undercutting hers. “In short, the message to—and from— Disney’s top management was clear: increase Disney+ subscribers, never mind your contractual promises, and you will be rewarded,” the suit said.
As the Journal reports, “Disney disclosed in its 2021 proxy that Messrs. Iger and Chapek both received bonuses for the success of Disney+.”
&#8220;Black Widow&#8221; took in around $80 million stateside and $78 million internationally in its opening weekend. But the subsequent weekend broke box office records for the worst ticket sales collapse in Marvel history.

Hollywood Exteriors And Landmarks – 2021

Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney Over Black Widow Release

In a recent interview with <a href="https://youtu.be/DEpTYrQrmp0">Glamour Magazine</a>, “Black Widow” star Scarlett Johansson said women aren’t paid what they are worth in Hollywood.
The outlet asked the actress and her co-star Florence Pugh to describe ways they have been their “own allies.”
Johansson, who topped <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2019/08/23/highest-paid-actresses-scarlett-johansson/?sh=42d5517a4b4d">Forbes’</a> list of highest-paid actresses, earning $56 million in 2019, said, “As a woman, you have to be [your own ally] all the time. Because we are underminded, and underserved, and under-appreciated, and underpaid – you have to be your own ally.”
The 36-year-old said her mother taught her when she was young to advocate for herself because she didn’t want her to experience gender discrimination. “Equal pay is a huge part of that fight,” Johansson said. “Even when I was a teenager in the industry or a young woman, I should say, my mom would have those conversations. Like, ‘why is she not getting (paid the same)?’”
One explanation for the pay discrepancy between actors of different genders could be because male-led blockbusters tend to outperform their female-led counterparts at the box office. For instance, the two most recent films led by new superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe were &#8220;Black Panther&#8221; (2018) and &#8220;Captain Marvel&#8221; (2019). The former <a href="https://time.com/5523398/highest-grossing-marvel-movies/">earned</a> more than $700 million domestically compared to the latter’s $427 million.
But Johansson dismissed this idea, saying, “There was always these little key terms, like, ‘bankability,’ and ‘box office draw.’ Those are all terms that are basically masquerading as sexism. It never had anything to do with those things. And if there ever was, it was also part of this systemic issue that a woman could not be as bankable or have a box office draw.”
She then added, “My mom refused that and instilled in me, ‘No, you have to fight that. You’re desirable because of your work and that’s where your value is. It’s in your talent. It has nothing to do with your gender and don’t let anybody make you feel that way.’”
Johansson concluded her argument that by saying she is still in a “constant fight” to get paid what she is worth. “We all are,” she said, referring to women in the entertainment business in general.
This isn’t the first time Johansson has claimed there’s a Hollywood pay gap. In 2016, she told <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/news/a56300/scarlett-johansson-may-2016/">Cosmopolitan</a>, &#8220;I think every woman has (been underpaid). But unless I’m addressing it as a larger problem, for me to talk about my own personal experience with it feels a little obnoxious. It’s part of a larger conversation about feminism in general.&#8221;
She continued: &#8220;I am very fortunate, I make a really good living, and I’m proud to be an actress who’s making as much as many of my male peers at this stage.&#8221;
Johansson did not comment on whether it is similarly unfair that some of the male actors in “The Avengers,” like Robert Downey Jr., reportedly <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/avengers-endgame-salaries-how-much-chris-hemsworth-downey-jr-scarlett-johansson-chris-evans-a9003181.html">made</a> considerably more than other male stars, like Paul Rudd or Chris Evans.

Scarlett Johansson, Highest-Earning Woman In Hollywood, Says Female Stars Are Underpaid

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