Disney Accused Of ‘Gendered’ Attack On Scarlett Johansson Amid 'Black Widow' Lawsuit

The Scarlett Johansson vs. Disney lawsuit is getting uglier by the day amid all the back and forth of statements from both parties. It appears Disney's recent statement may have hit the wrong nerve with some female-led groups of Hollywood, who are now calling it a 'gendered character attack' against Johansson.

In response to the 36-year-old actress' lawsuit, Disney released a statement on July 30, that read "There is no merit whatsoever to this filming, the lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."

This statement surely agitated not only just Scarlett and her agent but also some female-led groups of Hollywood.

TIME’S UP, Women In Film, Los Angeles, and ReFrame blasted the movie giants in a joint statement released last week. They refused to take any sides regarding the lawsuit and focused on Disney’s remarks against the "Lucy" actress.

The statement read, "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. 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’s agent Bryan Lourd also did not hold back from calling out Disney for “shamelessly and falsely” accusing the actress of being insensitive to the COVID-19 pandemic in a statement released in People.

He further explained “This suit was filed as a result of Disney's decision to knowingly violate Scarlett's contract, they have very deliberately moved the revenue stream and profits to the Disney+ side of the company, leaving artistic and financial partners out of their new equation. That's it, pure and simple. Disney's direct attack on her character and all else they implied is beneath the company that many of us in the creative community have worked with successfully for decades."

"Black Widow" was first released on the 9th of July and went on to earn $80 million at the U.S. box office on its opening weekend and $78 million worldwide box office.