Scarlett Johansson's Agency Defends Her After Disney's Response to Her Lawsuit

We found out recently that Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over Marvel’s Black Widow being released on Disney+ at the same time as it was released in theaters.

Black Widow

The actress is claiming breach of contract in her lawsuit, saying that Disney’s Marvel Entertainment guaranteed her an exclusively theatrical release of the film. The lawsuit claims that due to her salary being based in large part on the box-office performance of the film, Johansson will lose out on $50 million. After the news broke yesterday, Disney reportedly released a statement as a response to the lawsuit. Now, Johansson’s agency is coming to her defense.

CNN reporter Frank Pallotta tweeted the statement that Disney reportedly made, which you can read below:

https://twitter.com/frankpallotta/status/1420853767940022283

Today, Creative Artists Agency co-chairman Bryan Lourd is backing up Scarlett Johansson, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Johansson is a client of the talent agency CAA.

©Disney

He is quoted saying “They have shamelessly and falsely accused Ms. Johansson of being insensitive to the global COVID pandemic, in an attempt to make her appear to be someone they and I know she isn’t.”

©Walt Disney Studios

Lourd went on to say that Johansson has done 9 movies with Disney, “which have earned Disney and its shareholders billions.”

Black Widow ©Marvel

This is the full statement from CAA co-chairman Bryan Lourd, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

“I want to address the Walt Disney Company’s statement that was issued in response to the lawsuit filed against them yesterday by our client Scarlett Johansson. They have shamelessly and falsely accused Ms. Johansson of being insensitive to the global COVID pandemic, in an attempt to make her appear to be someone they and I know she isn’t.

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. 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.

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.”

Johansson’s lawsuit also claims that Disney, “intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement,” in order to keep the actress, “from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.”

Other Disney movies have also been released on Disney+ instead of or in addition to in theaters, like the live-action Mulan, Raya and the Last Dragon, Cruella, Jungle Cruise, and both Pixar’s Soul and Luca (which were released without Premier Access, meaning it was free for all subscribers).