SAG President Says ‘Disney Should Be Ashamed’ Over Lawsuit Response

Things have gone sour between actor Scarlett Johansson and Walt Disney Studios. The actor filed a lawsuit last week claiming that the company had breached her contract by releasing Black Widow on Disney+ at the same time it was released in theaters.

Disney released a statement blaming the suit for showing a ‘callous disregard’ to the Covid-19 pandemic. The statement also revealed that Johansson has so far received $20 million from Black Widow’s release.

Organizations like Women In Film, ReFrame and Time’s Up criticized Disney for trying ‘to characterize Johansson as insensitive or selfish for defending her contractual business rights.’ On Friday, SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris reflected similar sentiments.

Disney should be ashamed of themselves for resorting to tired tactics of gender-shaming and bullying. Actors must be compensated for their work according to their contracts. Scarlett Johansson is shining a white-hot spotlight on the improper shifts in compensation that companies are attempting to slip by talent as distribution models change.

Gabrielle Carteris

Carteris added that a giant corporate such as Disney can surely afford to ‘live up to their obligations to compensate the performers whose art and artistry are responsible for the corporation’s profits.’

She further called out Disney for using a gendered tone in their statement when they criticized Johansson as being ‘callous.’

Women are not ‘callous’ when they stand up and fight for fair pay – they are leaders and champions for economic justice. Women have been victimized by pay inequity for decades, and they have been further victimized by comments like those in Disney’s press statements. These sorts of attacks have no place in our society and SAG-AFTRA will continue to defend our members from all forms of bias.

Gabrielle Carteris

As reported by CNBC, Johansson’s agent Bryan Lourd also slammed Disney for the company’s statement. Lourd said Disney’s response was ‘an attempt to make her appear to be someone they and I know she isn’t.’

Disney’s long-time attorney Daniel Petrocelli spoke to Variety, calling the lawsuit ‘a highly orchestrated PR campaign to achieve an outcome that is not obtainable in the lawsuit.’

The streaming release of the film massively affected box-office profits and has reported cost Johansson around $50 million. Disney reported Black Widow earned $60 million from sales on Disney+ during its opening weekend.

The company has not shared additional information about its VOD earnings. However, experts have also blamed piracy of the film for its box office drop, which occurred due to the simultaneous theatrical with day-and-date release.