‘Black Widow’ lawsuit: CAA hits Disney in Scarlett Johansson statement

[ad_1]

The legal and public relations battle between Scarlett Johansson and The Walt Disney Company escalated on Friday morning as the actress’ talent agency rose to her defense and criticized the media group for leaking her salary in an “attempt to weaponize her success as an artist and businesswoman…”

The move comes less than 24 hours after Johansson surprised Hollywood by filing a contract violation lawsuit against Disney over the company’s decision to release “Black Widow” simultaneously in Disney Plus and in theaters.

“I want to speak about the Walt Disney Company’s statement issued in response to the lawsuit brought against them yesterday by our client Scarlett Johansson,” Brian Lord, co-chair of Creative Artists Agency, said in a statement. The agent, one of the film industry’s most important power brokers, was furious that Disney had hinted that the actress was ignoring the impact of a global pandemic on the entertainment business.

“They have shamelessly and wrongly accused Ms. Johansson of being insensitive to the global COVID pandemic, in an attempt to make her look like someone they know that I know she is not,” Lord said.

Lord continued that Johansson has appeared in nine Disney and Marvel films, which he said have earned the company billions of dollars in ticket sales.

Lord added, “The company included her salary in its press release in an effort to weaponize her success as an artist and businesswoman, as if that’s something she should be ashamed of.” “Scarlett is so proud of the work she’s been involved in and all of the actors, writers, directors, producers, and Marvel creative team she’s been in for over a decade.”

Lord added, “Disney’s direct attack on her character and all that he points to is Don the company so many of us in the creative community have worked with so successfully for decades.”

Johansson has earned $20 million to appear in “Black Widow,” part of the lucrative Avengers franchise, according to a statement released by Disney Thursday. However, the actress’s legal team argues that the company’s decision to make the film available for rent for $30 on Disney Plus resulted in lower overall box office results, costing the actress tens of millions in potential rewards that were tied to ticket sales. They claim that Johansson included an exclusive theatrical release in her contract, which Disney violated when it introduced a hybrid distribution plan. Disney responded in unusually personal terms Thursday, saying the actress’ allegations were “unfounded.”

“The lawsuit is particularly distressing and troubling in its callous disregard for the horrific and protracted global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Disney’s statement read.

Johansson’s lawsuit could inspire other Disney movie actors to engage in similar legal action against the company for sending films to Disney Plus and abandoning a traditional release in theaters.

Optional screen reader Read more about:

[ad_2]