Scarlett Johansson Vs Disney: Who gets fans’ support

Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit demanding $50 million or more compensation for her recently released film “Black Widow” over Disney, for its release on Disney+ while it being played in theatres.

The legal clash between the entertainment giant Disney and Scarlett Johansson is far from a ceasefire.

The legal suit filed by Ms Johansson claims that Disney breached her contract with Marvel regarding Black Widow’s release.

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Scarlett Johansson says that according to her contract with Marvel she was entitled to her earnings based on box office receipts. But since Disney, Marvel’s parent company released a movie on Disney+, it harmed her earnings.

Entertainment companies are morally required to release movies in theatres and on streaming platforms with a window of at least three months. But in this case, Disney released the film simultaneously in theatres and on Disney+ causing Johansson to come forward.

“Why would Disney forgo hundreds of millions of dollars box office receipts by releasing the picture in theatres at the time it knew the theatrical market was ‘weak’?”

“Disney saw the opportunity to promote its flagship subscription service using the picture and Ms Johansson thereby attracting new monthly subscriptions, retaining existing ones and establishing Disney+ as a must-have service in the increasingly competitive market” as filed in Los Angeles Superior Court filing”.

To which Disney responded by saying “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing” and that the lawsuit is “especially sad and callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

This sparked a conversation among the public, whether this lawsuit is greedy from Scarlett Johansson’s side to ask for compensation of $50 million when she already earns enough or Disney is being misogynistic by saying that Scarlett is being callous since many people have lost jobs in pandemic and aren’t earning that much.

Fans wondered if this lawsuit was filed by a male actor like Robert Downey Jr. than whether Disney would have dared to call their action callous.

“Disney attempts to characterize Johansson as insensitive or selfish for defending her contractual business rights and this gendered character attack has no place in business dispute…” says Women in Film, Reframe and Time’s up.

One fan commented, “She’s right. It doesn’t matter how much she was paid for completing the film, Disney knowingly went against her contract. Simple as that”. To which another fan chimed and said “she isn’t greedy. She was employed by them. Wouldn’t you fight for what is rightfully yours? They breached her contract. They played her dirty”. Since Scarlett recently gave birth to a baby boy, a tweet said ” Not now baby, mommy is busy suing Disney”

The battle between Disney and Scarlett is still going on, and through fan reactions, it seems they are tipping to her side. But by now Disney has proposed an arbitration while the actor’s attorney has denied any forward towards arbitration or mediation.