Scarlett Johansson’s lawyer accuses Disney of ‘misogynistic attack’ on actress and trying to ‘hide misconduct’ with arbitration

Scarlett Johansson has starred as Natasha Romanoff since 2010 (Picture: Marvel)

Scarlett Johansson’s lawyer has again slammed Disney amid the actress’s lawsuit, accusing the company of trying to ‘hide misconduct’.

The Black Widow actress is suing Disney, alleging the company breached its contract with her by releasing the film on its streaming platform rather than having an exclusive theatrical release.

Disney most recently filed a motion to force Scarlett Johansson into a private arbitration.

In the documents, the company’s lawyer,  Daniel Petrocelli, argued that Disney lived up to its obligation to give Black Widow a ‘wide theatrical release’ and that a streaming release was not ruled out in her contract.

In response, Johansson’s lawyer John Berlinski said: ‘After initially responding to this litigation with a misogynistic attack against Scarlett Johansson, Disney is now, predictably, trying to hide its misconduct in a confidential arbitration.’

Johansson, who plays the superhero also known as Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, filed a suit alleging Disney was in breach of her contract by allowing for a simultaneous theatrical and streaming release of Black Widow, which she claims damaged her earning potential as a large part of her salary is based on the film’s box office performance, which dropped 67% after the film’s opening weekend.

Black Widow was released on Disney+ as well as in cinemas (Picture: AP)

Following her lawsuit, Disney issued a statement, saying there was ‘no merit whatsoever’ to it and that the company had ‘fully complied’ with her contract.

The company also labelled the action ‘sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic’, which prompted Johansson’s agent Bryan Lourd to hit back at Disney’s response to the actress’s lawsuit, branding it a ‘direct attack’ on her character.

Scarlett filed a lawsuit against Disney (Picture: Getty Images)

A spokesperson for the Walt Disney Company had said in regards to the suit: ‘There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.’

Of the response, Johansson’s agent added: ‘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.’

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Johansson first appeared as Romanoff in 2010’s Iron Man 2, and went on to star in The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame.

Her character was killed in Endgame, with Black Widow – on which she was also an executive producer – acting as a prequel.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Disney for comment.

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