Well, it looks like Scarlett Johansson and her lawsuit are finding out that there’s no low Disney won’t stoop to. The hard way.
Disney has finally responded to Scarlett Johansson and her entirely reasonable lawsuit over them releasing Black Widow in both theaters and Disney+. You know, the one for a breach of contract on Disney’s part? Well, Disney’s response is not only that they didn’t breach the contract, but they also included an entirely inappropriate ad hominem attack on Johansson’s character. Shocking, ain’t it? Their exact words. according to Comic Book, were:
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.
Scarlett Johansson Lawsuit: Big David vs. Even Bigger Goliath
The response from Scarlett Johansson was fairly predictable. Specifically, the response came from Johansson’s agent and CAA co-chairman Bryan Lourd and the rest of her legal team. Presumably because Johansson herself was too livid for a reply, which anyone would be after an attack like that. Especially since it proves that Disney are willing to be as scummy as possible in this legal battle. The exact words, according to Deadline, were:
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.
Conclusion
Disney has made their response to that Black Widow lawsuit from Scarlett Johansson. It was not a pretty response. Disney basically denied everything and stooped to attacking her character. Johansson‘s legal team’s reply to that was pretty predictable. They’re angry that Disney would stoop this low, and are definitely taking this to court. Let the legal David vs. Goliath battle begin. It really says something about how rich Disney is when Johansson is David, and Disney is Goliath.
Source: Comic Book, Deadline
