Three organizations, Women In Film, ReFrame and Time's Up, have released a joint statement in defense of Scarlett Johansson, who is suing Disney over the release strategy for Black Widow.
"While we take no position on the business issues in the litigation between Scarlett Johansson and the Walt Disney Company, we stand firmly against Disney's recent statement which attempts to characterize Johansson as insensitive or selfish for defending her contractual business rights," the statement said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "This gendered character attack has no place in a business dispute and contributes to an environment in which women and girls are perceived as less able than men to protect their own interests without facing ad hominem criticism."
Johansson, who stars as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, is currently suing Disney over an alleged breach in her contract when Black Widow was released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ Premier access. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, states Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release for Black Widow and that part of Johansson's compensation would be based on the film's box office performance, which was diminished due to its release on Disney+ Premier Access.
Disney responded to the filing with a statement, calling the lawsuit "sad and distressing," noting it as a "callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic." The company also stated that "the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced [Johansson's] ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date." Johansson is reportedly projected to lose $50 million due to the dual release of her ninth and final Marvel film.
Disney previously released the opening weekend streaming numbers for Black Widow, which revealed the film earned over $60 million globally on Disney+ Premier Access. However, the National Association of Theatre Owners blamed the dual release strategy for Black Widow's dropoff at the box office on its second weekend. IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond also blamed the Marvel film's poor performance on piracy as well as the dual release.
Disney's statement prompted a response from Bryan Lourd, co-chairman of the Creative Arts Agency and Johansson's agent, who made a similar observation as Time's Up, Women in Film and ReFrame, saying Disney's response was not only a "direct attack on her character," but "beneath the company that many of us in the creative community have worked with successfully for decades."
"Scarlett has been Disney's partner on nine movies, which have earned Disney and its shareholders billions. The company included her salary in their press statement in an attempt to weaponize her success as an artist and businesswoman, as if that were something she should be ashamed of," Lourd said. "Scarlett is extremely proud of the work that she and all of the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the Marvel creative team have been a part of for well over a decade."
Black Widow is currently available to watch in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access.
Source: THR