Statement From SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris on Scarlett Johansson Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES — SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris released the following statement on Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit alleging that Disney violated her contract for her role in Black Widow.

“Disney should be ashamed of themselves for resorting to tired tactics of gender-shaming and bullying,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “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. Nobody in any field of work should fall victim to surprise reductions in expected compensation. It is unreasonable and unjust. Disney and other content companies are doing very well and can certainly live up to their obligations to compensate the performers whose art and artistry are responsible for the corporation's profits."

“Additionally, we are deeply concerned by the gendered tone of Disney’s criticism of Ms. Johansson. 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."

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.