Johansson’s legal representatives say that they were “shocked by the tone” of the response from Disney. The Disney statement read that Johansson’s lawsuit was “especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The company then stated that Johansson earned $20 million USD from the franchise and that “the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation.”
Johansson’s agent, Bryan Lourd, responded and called out Disney for what has been perceived as a low blow. Disney is “shamelessly and falsely accus[ing] 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.”