Actress Scarlett Johansson gained unparalleled fame and success on the back of her stint as Black Widow in the MCU and strong performances in critically acclaimed films such as Marriage Story. However, like most other celebs, Johansson hasn’t been immune to controversies and has often found herself in hot waters over her acting choices, comments, and opinions.
In an interview, Johansson addressed the various controversies that have plagued her career and admitted to using them to help her grow her career. As a result, fans of the actress must be curious to learn more about Johansson’s statement with respect to the controversies that have shaped her as a major force in Hollywood. Here is what Johansson said about her relationship with controversies.
Scarlett Johansson Admits to Building Her Career Out of Controversies
Actress Scarlett Johansson started her career as a child actor before making her breakthrough as an adult in 2003’s Lost in Translation. Johansson gained wider recognition for her collaborations with director Woody Allen, before starring as Black Widow in the MCU.
Over time, Johansson became the highest-grossing female actor of all time, ranking just behind former co-star Robert Downey Jr. Thus, Johansson, who has an estimated net worth of $165 million, is easily one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood.
However, Johansson’s success came with the caveat of controversies that stars often have to face. In a 2021 interview with The Gentlewoman, Johansson opened up about the controversies she has faced in her career. She said:
“I’ve made a career out of it.”
At the same time, Johansson admitted that sometimes her opinions about certain issues could be wrong. While Johansson accepted that she could be reactive and impatient sometimes, she refused the notion that actors are poised to have a political or social responsibility.
“You didn’t choose to be a politician, you’re an actor.”
Johansson made the above statement explaining how it was unfair that actors are expected to have social or public roles because most of their personal lives are in the public eye. Meanwhile, Johansson also stated that she wanted to keep her political views separate from her work as an artist.
Scarlett Johansson’s Career Has Been Plagued With Several Controversies
In 2015, Johansson was accused of whitewashing after she was cast in the lead role in the live-action adaptation of the Japanese manga series Ghost in the Shell. In a 2017 interview ahead of the film’s release, Johansson addressed the whitewashing claims.
Johansson stated that she would never presume to play a person of another race. Meanwhile, Johansson supported the idea of diversity in Hollywood while implying that playing a female lead in a major franchise was the reason behind accepting the role.
In 2018, Johansson, a vocal supporter of the #MeToo movement, was criticized for wearing clothes from the brand founded by Georgina Chapman, the ex-wife of producer Harvey Weinstein, who was at the time accused and later convicted on sexual assault charges. Johansson later defended her action by stating the brand empowered women and she also showed support for Chapman.
The same year, Johansson faced backlash for accepting the role of a transgender man in the film Rub & Tug before she dropped out of the project. Similarly, Johansson landed in controversy for defending director Woody Allen amidst sexual misconduct allegations in 2019. As a result, it is evident that Johansson has never been afraid to voice her opinions even if they land her in controversies. Thus, it is easy to understand why the actress admitted to building a career out of them.
