<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

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

Artificial Intelligence

Celebrities

Entertainment

Lawsuit

U.S.

<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’

Hollywood

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

Actress Scarlett Johansson, speaking of the character “Black Widow” that she has played in films for over ten years, said the character has been “hyper-sexualized” and talked about like she is “a piece of a**.”
Johannson was interviewed by <a href="https://collider.com/black-widow-movie-scarlett-johansson-interview-sexualization/">Collider</a> in 2019 on the set of the film “Black Widow,” but because the film’s 2020 release was delayed until early next month, the interview was held for release until this week.
Collider asked Johannson, “There is a sort of sexualization of superheroes. How did that affect Black Widow?”
“Yeah. It definitely has changed and I think part of that change has probably — it’s hard because I’m inside it, but probably a lot of that is actually from me too,” Johannson answered. “I’ll be 35 years old and I’m a mom and my life is different. Obviously, 10 years have passed and things have happened and I have a much different, more evolved understanding of myself. As a woman, I’m in a different place in my life, you know? And I felt more forgiving of myself, as a woman, and not — sometimes probably not enough. I’m more accepting of myself, I think.”
“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.
“&#8217;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.”
When Collider asked how Johansson felt about the Black Widow’s “empowerment” had changed over the years, Johannson answered, “Well, I think that actually goes back to the other question about this hyper-sexualization thing because I think actually Natasha uses her sexuality as a means to feel, to sort of manipulate a situation and then be coquettish and sly and then she’s going to take your legs out, right? She’s going to be seductive in this way, and that’s her power. Her power’s in her sexuality, and then that changed over time, right? Her strength was actually her vulnerability.&#8221;
&#8220;That’s the kind of place that we’re in now and then in Endgame she sacrifices herself out of love,&#8221; she concluded. &#8220;She saves her friend. She saves everyone. And I think that just being in that kind of headspace and being able to make that decision, that selfless act is so incredibly powerful. It’s amazing that she could be in that place to do that.”

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-MARRIAGE STORY

Like A ‘Piece Of A**’: Scarlett Johansson On How ‘Black Widow’ Was ‘Hypersexualized’

Actress Scarlett Johansson urged actors to refrain from giving their political opinions during a recent interview in which she also likened President Joe Biden&#8217;s electoral victory to &#8220;the end of a war.&#8221;
Speaking to British magazine <a href="https://thegentlewoman.co.uk/library/scarlett-johansson-" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Gentlewoman</a>, Johansson said the role of actors is to act and not necessarily opine on political issues.
“I don’t think actors have obligations to have a public role in society,” she said. “Some people want to, but the idea that you’re obligated to because you’re in the public eye is unfair. You didn’t choose to be a politician, you’re an actor. Your job is to reflect our experience to ourselves; your job is to be a mirror for an audience, to be able to have an empathetic experience through art. That is what your job is.&#8221;
&#8220;Whatever my political views are, all that stuff, I feel most successful when people can sit in a theatre or at home and disappear into a story or a performance and see pieces of themselves, or are able to connect with themselves through this experience of watching this performance or story or interaction between actors or whatever it is,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;And they’re affected by it and they’re thinking about it, and they feel something. You know? They have an emotional reaction to it – good, bad, uncomfortable, validating, whatever. That’s my job. The other stuff is not my job.”
Scarlett patrols her boundaries carefully, and one way she limits her public persona is by having zero presence on social media. She remains doubtful about the possibilities of digital life. “I’m already anxious, I already have tons of friend guilt, I can’t ever stay in touch with people! How can I be more connected?” She’s seen friends disappear down social media sinkholes, becoming obsessed with how people respond to them, entranced by the reflected image of themselves they get from their followers, good or bad. “It creates this unrealistic sort of sense of ego,” she says.
Later in the interview, Johansson remembered being so upset when it appeared former President Donald Trump had won re-election on Election Night that she couldn&#8217;t sleep. “You could hear people losing their minds outside, and I just cried,&#8221; she said of when the numbers changed and major networks declared Biden&#8217;s victory later that week. &#8220;It was a pretty crazy reaction. Oh my God, it’s over. It felt like the end of a war, you know?”
As The Gentlewoman wrote:
<blockquote>So what comes after the war? At the very least, the presence of a reassuring grown-up in the White House. “I said to Colin, it feels like when your life is falling apart and an older person, your parent’s friend or your uncle, is like, ‘It’s going to be OK.’ And you’re like, ‘Aaargh!’” Scarlett melts into a comedically grateful collapse at her imagined avuncular version of Joe Biden.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sharon-stone-cancel-culture-is-the-stupidest-thing-i-have-ever-seen-happen" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sharon Stone: ‘Cancel Culture Is The Stupidest Thing I Have Ever Seen Happen’</a>

Scarlett Johansson Says Giving Political Opinions Is Not An Actor’s Job, Goes On To Say Biden Win ‘Felt Like The End Of A War’

Joe Biden

In a recent episode of Variety’s “Actors on Actors,” Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson came to the defense of Marvel movies in light of the ongoing back and forth about “cinema” that all began with legendary director Martin Scorsese.
As the name implies, “Actors on Actors” is a YouTube series in which two actors interview each other about recent projects in a casual setting.
Johansson first brought up the Marvel versus “cinema” debate, saying that several people have mentioned that “a couple of extremely esteemed directors” have been “really vocal” about blockbuster Marvel movies:
<blockquote>At first I thought, “That seems kind of old-fashioned.” Somebody sort of had to explain it to me because it seemed so, kind of, disappointing and sad in a way – and then they said, “No, I think that what these people are saying is that in the actual theater, there&#8217;s not a lot of room for different kinds of movies, or smaller movies, or independent movies because the theater is actually just taken up by these huge blockbuster movies, and there’s actually no space for these movies.”</blockquote>
Johansson added that she then contemplated the consumption of media, especially in light of streaming services and technology, and that the “cinematic experience &#8230; has changed for people.”
Evans then offered his take on the issue, first noting that “original content inspires original content,” and that television is where such content is blossoming at the moment.
He then spoke directly to the issue:
<blockquote>I just believe there’s room at the table for all of it, you know what I mean? Like, it&#8217;s like trying to say a certain type of music isn&#8217;t music. Well, why bother? Who are you to say that? It just feels like a strange, you know – same team, same team.</blockquote>
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In October, director Martin Scorsese spoke with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/samuel-l-jackson-responds-to-scorsese-everybody-doesnt-like-his-stuff-either-its-okay">Empire Magazine</a>, and compared Marvel movies to “theme parks.”
“I don’t see them. I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema,” Scorsese said. “Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”
His remarks have been met with backlash from Marvel fans, as well as actors and directors who have participated in various Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. Other notable individuals have sided with Scorsese.
Paul Rudd, who plays Scott Lang in the MCU, offered perhaps the most robust <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/benedict-cumberbatch-and-paul-rudd-offer-different-opinions-on-the-marvel-as-cinema-debate">defense</a> of Marvel as “cinema,” telling Howard Stern:
<blockquote>Ultimately, you really care about relationships with people. It isn’t all just special effects-driven action – whatever genre it falls into – you want to see people in human behavior and talking to each other. I know that when we’re working on these things, we care about the characters. In “Ant-Man,” I have a whole relationship with my daughter, and the human struggles of being a superhero. I think we’re trying to deal with human issues and things that are relatable, that are not just rides.</blockquote>
Scorsese later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/benedict-cumberbatch-and-paul-rudd-offer-different-opinions-on-the-marvel-as-cinema-debate">doubled down</a> on his opinion, telling an audience at the London Film Festival: “What has to be protected is the singular experience of experiencing a picture, ideally with an audience. But there’s room for so many others now, and so many other ways. &#8230; The value of a film that’s like a theme park film, for example, the Marvel-type pictures, where the theaters become amusement parks, that’s a different experience. I was saying earlier, it’s not cinema, it’s something else.”

Chris Evans.

WATCH: Chris Evans Dives Into The Marvel As ‘Cinema’ Debate

Chris Evans

Martin Scorsese

After helping to turn herself into a sex symbol, actress Scarlett Johansson now regrets ever being &#8220;hyper-sexualized.&#8221;
Speaking at a Hollywood Reporter actress roundtable with Jennifer Lopez, Renée Zellweger, Lupita Nyong&#8217;o, Laura Dern, and Awkwafina, Johansson reflected upon the variety of roles women can now play compared to yesteryears, when they were allegedly just sex symbols.
&#8220;It&#8217;s so different now, the climate is so different now,&#8221; Johansson said, as reported by <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/scarlett-johansson-talks-being-typecast-as-hyper-sexualized-watch-1254559">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
The actress went on to blames this sexualized image of her on a &#8220;bunch of dudes.&#8221;
&#8220;I feel when I was working in my early 20s and even in my late teens/early 20s, I felt that I sort of got, somehow, typecast. I was very hyper-sexualized,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;Which was, I guess, at the time, seemed OK to everyone. It was another time. Even though it wasn&#8217;t a part of my own narrative, it was, kind of, crafted for me by probably a bunch of dudes in the industry. And I guess that worked then, but it was really difficult for me to try to figure out how to get out of being an ingenue or the other woman because it was never anything that I had intended.&#8221;
After all this sexualization, Scarlett Johansson said she thought of pursuing a different career in Hollywood that would &#8220;be more fulling [because] there seemed like there was nowhere to go.&#8221;
Johannsson changed her opinion after starring in the Broadway production of Arthur Miller’s &#8220;A View From the Bridge&#8221; in 2009, which she claims &#8220;totally reset my whole way of thinking about how I could work and the different kind of opportunities that could be available to me.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s amazing how theater is limitless,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Even though it was terrifying, it was liberating because I actually felt that every night I had the opportunity to change the narrative.&#8221;
While Scarlett Johansson may now lament her previous sex symbol status with regard to being typecast, she has recently spoken out on how political correctness has harmed the casting process, as evidenced by the backlash she received after agreeing to play a transgender man in the movie &#8220;Rub &amp; Tug.&#8221;
“You know, as an actor I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarjo-accepting-trans-role-i-should-be-allowed-paul-bois">she told</a> As If magazine earlier this year. “I feel like it’s a trend in my business and it needs to happen for various social reasons, yet there are times it does get uncomfortable when it affects the art because I feel art should be free of restrictions.”
Johansson added that people should be allowed to have their own feelings and not be forced into conformity. “I think society would be more connected if we just allowed others to have their own feelings and not expect everyone to feel the way we do,” she said.
Though not outrightly endorsing Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for president in 2020, she did say that the openly socialist politician has a tangible strategy for success.
“It’s not like her campaign is making these crazy, outlandish promises that seem impossible to reach. There’s a strategy there,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scarlett-johansson-backs-elizabeth-warren-2020-paul-bois">said Johansson</a>.

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