Scarlett Johansson responds to backlash over diversity comments, says she was "taken out of context"

Scarlett Johansson has said that comments she made on the “authentic casting” debate were taken out of context and that she supports diversity in movie casting.

The Black Widow movie and Ghost in the Shell actress was under fire over the weekend after saying she should be “allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job.”

Johansson has since said the As If report was edited for “click bait”, saying in a statement: “An interview that was recently published has been edited for click bait and is widely taken out of context. The question I was answering in my conversation with the contemporary artist, David Salle, was about the confrontation between political correctness and art.

“I personally feel that, in an ideal world, any actor should be able to play anybody and Art, in all forms, should be immune to political correctness.

“I recognize that in reality, there is a wide spread discrepancy amongst my industry that favors Caucasian, cisgender actors and that not every actor has been given the same opportunities that I have been privileged to.”

The actress was previously criticised for taking a leading role in Hollywood's live-action remake of the Japanese manga Ghost in the Shell. She told Marie Clare: “I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person. Diversity is important in Hollywood, and I would never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive.”

The Black Widow movie is expected to be officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con this week. Find out more about Marvel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019.

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.