The #DisneyMustPay task force released a statement demanding that Disney pay Scarlett Johansson in full, per her current Black Widow lawsuit against the company.
According to #DisneyMustPay's statement, Disney can "respect [Johansson's] is to pay her properly and not use unethical contractual maneuvers to avoid payment." According to the "Task Force," this lawsuit is not Disney's first attempt at a "twisting of contractual language" to avoid paying creators (including writers, actors, illustrators and other artists) in full.
The #DisneyMustPay Task Force works "to ensure that contracts are honored for all creators," including writers, actors, illustrators and other artists. It claims that Disney exhibits a "pattern of behavior that forces creators to jump through unnecessary and tedious hoops to receive their agreed-upon payments. They continue finding new ways to avoid paying people for their creativity and honoring their contracts."
#DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force was initially formed by science fiction/fantasy, romance, crime and horror authors in an attempt to persuade Disney to pay creators outstanding royalties for content relating to their properties.
It was reported in July that Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney, alleging the company breached her contract for Black Widow, her ninth and final Marvel film, by releasing the film simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+. The lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court states that Disney and Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release for Black Widow and that part of Johansson's payment would be based on the film's box office performance, which was diminished due to its release on Disney+ Premier Access.
Disney's initial response to the filing called it not only "sad and distressing," but a "callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic." The company stated that the Disney+ release of Black Widow "significantly enhanced [Johansson's] ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date." Disney's first action since the filing was a demand that the lawsuit be moved out of the public eye and into arbitration, which prompted a response from Johansson's legal team.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek defended Black Widow's release strategy during an earnings call, citing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as a major reason. In an unprecedented move, Disney released the opening weekend streaming numbers for Black Widow in July, which earned over $60 million globally on Disney+ Premier Access. However, the National Association of Theatre Owners blamed this release strategy for Black Widow's dropoff at the box office in its second weekend.
Source: #DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force