Considering Scarlett Johansson is in the middle of both a divorce and custody battle, one would assume her private life would be the main topic of conversation off the table in her dealings with the media.
And while Johansson does perhaps keep those cards much closer to her chest, there’s another work-related question she’s not interested in indulging: the white-washing of Hollywood.
Johansson is currently on the press tour for her newest film Ghost in the Shell, which is a Hollywood remake of an ultra-famous Japanese anime story, and since her casting was announced, critics have called the film out for “white-washing”.
And according to Fairfax Reporter Andrew Taylor, it was a topic of conversation journalists were told not to raise during a press conference in New Zealand, after he claims a publicist said they did not want to “offend her and create any animosity”.
So was it a publicist trying to protect the actress, or Johansson giving those direct orders?
It’s hard to tell. Since her casting was announced, Johansson has been rather quiet on the topic.
In fact, incessant criticism has circulated since the end of 2015, when a petition called for the dismissal of Johansson in the place of someone of Asian descent, so it’s a long time to keep relatively mum.
The petition questioned why the studio didn’t choose an ethnically appropriate actor as the film’s lead, while lamenting the lack of diversity on the big screen.
The Binge interviewed Miranda Tapsell about the need for diversity on Australian television and her struggle to get work as an indigenous actress.