#the same vent

Hello to you too anon,

I don't even know how to unpack this. I'm so tired of having to answer to this fucking nonsensical narrative you guys have built. This is why if Scarlett ever went on social she'd just post a middle finger and then ghost all of you. Beyond that, it really pisses me off that you keep flooding my inbox with this bullshit. I don't come to your blog to tell you what to talk about anon. I see a lot of stupid things posted on here, but I don't go in people's spaces and say "you're stupid", because that's just not productive, and it's not nice.

But lets do this again anon, let's roll one last time, and then goodbye to you, have a nice life. Let's take it by subject:

Hi anon!

Listen, first of all, the block/unfollow button is there for a reason. You really don't have to read my stuff and I say this kindly. I know I don't like coming across content that doesn't sit well with me, and I personally use that block button liberally so, honestly, no hard feelings. The rest under the cut, because again, not everyone is interested in this type of rant.

Hey anon,

Here’s the thing anon, this is all part of the female experience. We are all made to fit into little boxes so that others can take appart our existence and explain it, or dismiss it, with a couple of words at most. When we leave the fictional world of media behind, we realise people are much more complex than that and that’s the only cure for this type of frustration but hey, I get it, I do.

It’s especially hard for women to be viewed as human beings with merit and flaws and hangups, and not as cardboard-cutouts of roles we make for them, “the preacher feminist”, “the whore”, and on and on. 

For Scarlett specifically, it’s easy to look at her and see a millionaire white woman, aka ultimate privilege. And that is an image that sells, both for glamour/ultimate lifestyle/late-capitalism dream when it suits the cause (ahem, and the targeted audience), and for taking her down a notch when necessary (again, for the targeted audience). Which is why it’s what you see on the internet most of the time. 

But if you take a closer look, perhaps you’ll see a woman who has been working, as in earning money for her family, since the age of 6, and who grew up on food stamps. A woman who has been through some tough stuff and might have some hangups. 

And here’s the thing anon, when I look in the mirror I also see a woman with hangups and issues to work through, I don’t see myself as some sort of “morality police” because that never works well, so I prefer not to judge other women, especially when they’re obviously good people just going through life figuring it out like the rest of us. I prefer to work on making myself better.

I am also aware that if I had a camera following me around, they’d definitely catch me in a couple of weak moments where I say things I don’t think through, or don’t express myself correctly, and I’d make plenty of bad headlines. Because that’s what the press does you know, find the best angle to sell a story.

We need to stop letting media outlets take up such a huge space in our lives, and in the way we view the world. It’s not black and white, and it’s easy to lose sight of humanity in that hipper-sensationalised space. 

The only way to save yourself for that type of exhaustion, is if you ignore the people/sources who choose to reduce people to caricatures of themselves. Because that will never change, it is what it is. 

I will say though that while I liked Scarlett’s work as an actress before the MCU, I wasn’t a fan until I saw the amount of hate she receives, which made me look closer and see a completely different human being than the one projected on a superficial level. So there’s that at least.

Oh, one last thing, Scarlett doesn’t need anybody to defend her, or speak for her, she’s perfectly capable of doing that herself, and has done so her entire life. There was no morality police protecting her when she was asked to do nude scenes when she was 17, and there certainly isn’t one to protect her now. 

She's been told her acting is wooden for years, voted as best boobs multiple times, never considered for serious roles because she was too hot and when she took the eye-candy roles she was belittled as talentless. She also almost got herself into a car accident years ago, because she was driving and panicked when she saw a billboard ad of herself where her breasts were enormous.

Do you think that woman gives a fuck about what people say about her? No. She doesn’t. She’s perfectly capable of making her own mind and bettering herself without the aid of nameless strangers looking for a way to use/abuse her words and her name for a good sell and patronisingly proclaim she needs to “educate herself”. 

It’s really not the first time she’s gone through that, it’s just that this time the sell has a different form.

Also, uh, I get the frustration with the tree jokes. I’d say the fact that she has actually literally been a USB drive in one of her films tops acting out a tree character, but I actually enjoyed her subtle dig at that more.

I would like to thank Digital Spy and the rest of the news media attached to this story, for proving me right. At the same time, I’d like them to take a long hard look at their writing teams.

They literally announce the revival of Rub & Tug by adding Scarlett's name to the title, and with her face on the article (and even an interview with her and Paul Rudd at the top!).

Listen, I’m really happy that this project will get made. I found the story interesting, it will definitely be much more engaging and true to life since the people involved will relate to the story and speak from the heart, and I can’t wait to see what Our Lady J comes up with, I’m sure it will be great.

But could the press please take a hike? 

First of all, they’re attracting the wrong crowd with titles like this. It’s like they want the trolls to attack this project and spam it with bigotry.

Second of all, why are they using celebrity status -Scarlett’s celebrity status- to promote a project they insisted didn’t need said celebrity? You literally still drag her out whenever it’s a slow week for celebrity news over this, and yet you attach her name to this project for clicks.

Finally, and most importantly, do they realise how insulting this is to the current team, that they’re a subtitle to their own fucking work?! 

Draw a comparison to this title that would have made me equally furious if it were real:

Russo bros’ lost opportunity with Black Widow is revived with female lead

Cate Shortland, who is a woman director, is also on board.

Do you see the problem now? They’re attracting the wrong attention, and they are insulting the team, by making them -and their identity- an afterthought to the 3 years old news about Scarlett Johansson.

Yeah, that’s how they prioritise the news: Headline: old celebrity gossip subtitle: creative minds of a marginalised group

Sincerely, fuck you Digital Spy.

P.S. don’t think this is a problem endemic to digital spy, check out the rest of them:

EntertainmentWeekly: After Scarlett Johansson backlash, Rub & Tug will now be TV series with trans writer and lead

PinkNews: Scarlett Johansson to be replaced by a trans actor after controversial Rub & Tug movie is revived as a TV show

Decider: ‘Rub & Tug’ to Be Recreated as TV Series Years After Scarlett Johansson Controversy

Dear anon, listen. 

This is the 3rd message along those lines I’ve received today. I know it’s annoying to see how awesome things could have been, and I know we’re all really worried and stressed, and the film getting postponed hasn’t helped at all. But there are issues here much greater than story arcs to be honest.

We need to discuss the reality of discrimination, racism and sexism in Hollywood and what it really means beyond the pointless twitter rage.

There are so, so many things that happen behind closed doors, and not even half of it reaches our ears. And even that is enough to allow me to tell you with absolute certainty that there is no way we would have gotten a Black Widow movie anytime before now, and that even now it’s a miracle that we’re getting it.

Let me start with who was the boss at Marvel HQ until 2015, a man who even up until last year had a great deal of creative influence at the studio even if he wasn’t calling the shots anymore. A man by the name of Isaac Perlmutter. 

Here are a select few headlines the man, and Disney’s gender and race politics in general, have made over the years.

“[...]The first movie featured an African-American actor, Terrence Howard, as Colonel Jim Rhodes. Don Cheadle, another African-American actor, was hired for the same part in the sequel at a cheaper price. Mr Perlmutter apparently told Mr Mooney the change cut costs. He allegedly added words to the effect that no one would notice because black people "look the same".

3 African American Female Executives fired from Marvel and seek legal settlements. Link 1 Link 2 Link 3. (You will notice that most of these articles forget to mention that the women were African American, which is significant given how big a racist Isaac Perlmutter is known to be. Plus, I had to dig really deep into google news to actually unearth these).

A Suit Against Disney Claims Unequal Pay for Women

Another woman joins gender pay lawsuit against Disney

Why Rich Ross Was Fired At Disney: What Does It Say About Bob Iger's Leadership? “He had an ‘awareness’ issue,” a Disney source explains to me. 

Marvel’s Trump Donor Ex-CEO Is the Reason There Was no Black Widow Merchandise 

Marvel CEO Says in Leaked Email That Female Superhero Movies Have Been a 'Disaster'

I know we all have our reasons, lots and lots of reasons, on why it would have made sense for a Black Widow solo film to have happened years ago. I’d like an origin story before Iron Man 2 for example. But that was never in the cards, ok?

It was never an option and it’s not like Scarlett didn’t try.

Why do you think she made Lucy in 2014? 

Or said yes to Ghost in the Shell around the same time Margot Robbie dropped the project due to scheduling issues (circa 2014-2015)? 

Because of the awesome script? 

Maybe because she wanted to steal roles from minorities? 

Hell no. She wanted to prove the simple fact that she -a woman- could star, alone, in a film and still bring in box office results, ok? 

Scarlett already told us just how shitty things were behind closed doors back in 2015 when they gave her that disgusting storyline in AoU, and were trying to block Captain Marvel from happening. 

Ok, phew.

Sorry about that anon, it’s getting a bit much reading all the crap that’s happening and all the shitty people that run away with being shitty people (and getting tons of money out of it too).

Lets move on to the storyline of the Black Widow film that we are miraculously getting now.

There is always the possibility that they will include some elements to push forward the MCU, but I think they’ll keep those for the end credits scene, mostly. From what I’ve seen in other MCU solo films, the do add these hints here and there, but there is always a dominant story at play, and you don’t want to lose the viewers by focusing too much on the sidelines of it. 

Finally, like I’ve said before, I truly, honestly believe, that after all the shit Scarlett has gone through in these past 10 years, I am absolutely certain that she wouldn’t put herself through this if it weren’t worth her while. I’m not saying that it’s a given that the film will be good, ok? Nobody can guarantee that. But we can hope. If it makes you too stressed, don’t watch it opening day, or opening weekend. Get some feedback from some trusted friends, ok?

Hey anon!

Sorry you’re having a tough time online anon, I know we’re supposed to find peace and quiet in places like these but, oh well.

From what I’ve gathered by rummaging through a lot of that rubbish (for science), there are two things these people have in common (most of the time):

a) They are not Black Widow fans

b) They have no idea what they’re talking about and are finding reasons to tell us they don’t like Scarlett Johansson.

The first fact is pretty easy to determine and, consequently, ignore and move on with your life. The second one is more complicated and I can’t offer any real reassurance, I get pissed off sometimes as well. I’m guessing you’re aware that mine is a Scarlett-friendly blog, which is why you felt comfortable enough leaving this ask here. I think it tells a lot about just how much I lack a sense of self-preservation that I didn’t even consider ignoring it.

I’ll try to unpack this, a bit, and hopefully next time you’ll think of these words and ignore these comments more easily. 

Lets start with the simple fact that Emily Blunt didn’t want the role. In 2012, she told Vulture that she's kind of glad she didn't get those parts. According to her, superhero movies tend to cast women as second fiddle to the guys.

So, these “fans” wish the role of Natasha had gone to an actress that didn’t find it appealing, instead of Scarlett who actually met with Favreau multiple times trying to persuade him that she could do a good job, and went through the process of transforming herself physically to fit the part before she was even cast?! OK.

I’m breezing right past any “she’s not good enough as an actress” comments, because Scarlett is a double Oscar nominee now.

By the way, I’m not blaming Emily Blunt for thinking the way she did. She wasn’t wrong, superhero movies tended -at the time- to cast women as second fiddle to the guys. And if it weren’t for actresses like Scarlett Johansson, and Natalie Portman and all these women who worked hard and tried to make things better, they still would. Marvel had to literally trick Natalie Portman into signing her contract for Thor 2 by lying to her, and telling her they had chosen Patty Jenkins to direct the film, and Scarlett refused to make a Black Widow movie without a female team (director, writer etc).

Emily Blunt simply didn’t think it was worth her while to go through all that nonsense and I say good for her, she saved herself from a lot of drama. But at the same time, I can’t help but admire the actresses who did take those parts and decided to make things better for themselves, and for women in show business in general. Both Scarlett and Natalie fought to get women to direct films for the MCU, to get better treatment, and to get more women on screen.

Anyone who can’t see the merit behind the actions of these people isn’t worth your while anon.

Let’s move to the real crust of the issue here, which is that the people making these comments don’t like (or say they don’t like) Scarlett Johansson and are finding all sorts of ways to express that dislike.

Not only is it’s ridiculously easy to hate on Scarlett online in any way imaginable and from all fronts, it also sells. Scarlett Johansson’s name generates traffic/likes/you name it.

if you googled Scarlett’s name last week, you’d get results like How Scarlett Johansson Actually Kicked Off Ryan Reynolds And Hugh Jackman's Famous 'Feud'  from all sorts of credible sources. Then you’d click on the article and it would of course be complete bullshit. Scarlett had absolutely nothing to do with it and the actual thing was a joke that Hugh Jackman made during an interview. 

Number of articles on it? More than a dozen. 

Let that sink in. A dozen articles from various sources on a joke Hugh Jackman made that contained the words Scarlett Johansson.

So, while some of the people who dislike her are genuinely hurt by things she has said over the years, I find that these honest people don’t roam the internet generating hate. Because this type of hate doesn’t makes any sort of sense.

There are countless other examples of actors, entertainers, singers, whatever, who have done ridiculously worse things than misspeak, or get cast in a role that some people considered inappropriate, who don’t generate anywhere near that amount of attention. 

And it’s not that we’re suddenly so progressive we can’t handle even the tiniest of missteps. Hell, as early as a few years ago you’d get quotes from directors saying “Oh, we didn’t cast her because when you see Scarlett Johansson on screen you’re just waiting for her to take her clothes off” and no one batted an eye.

So anon, try not to pay attention to it or, heaven forbid, actually engage these people in conversation. It’s completely pointless. At this point I’m convinced that on some level it’s plain old internalised misogyny, and then to a greater degree a marketing strategy, because we’ve seen literal criminals get more leeway than she ever did, and because it’s not something you’d argue with someone about in real life.

I know a lot of people out there have issues with ScarJo. I can respect the animosity to some degree even if I don’t necessarily agree with it all. But after an entire week of watching interviews of the MCU cast, I just feel really bad for the woman.

I mean, everyone is more or less relaxed most of the time, except for Scarlett.

Even Mark Ruffalo, a man who has gambled his luck with Disney execs more than once. But Scarlett Johasson is on edge in 9 out of 10 interviews that she does. She is painfully aware that anything she says, or does, will be sliced, diced, and probably criticised. She looks like she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop any moment. She wants to offer information, but she’s scared at the same time and just, puts “safe” words together and hopes for the best. She openly joked about this tour giving her PTSD and I don’t believe for a moment that it has anything to do with secret keeping.

I’m mentioning this without taking the controversies of the last few years into consideration by the way. The woman can’t even audition for a role without getting hate, even for Black Widow back in 2010. Remember when everyone was mad when she got the part for Iron Man 2 long before the film came out? Some of the other actresses had similar issues (Elizabeth Olsen included) but definitely not to this extent, and certainly not this long lasting. 

Keep in mind, I’m not talking about the controversial parts, not at all. I’m also not talking about the part where she has to worry about sexist questions, or people randomly grabbing her breasts, or fucking Renner saying he would like to be chocked to death by her thighs or whatever shit she has to listen to every single day. 

I’m not even talking about the sexist dudes who write “slut” in the comment section of youtube, or make it all about her looks (seriously, I dare you to go to the comment section of the Hot Ones interview and manage not to puke, It’s here). I’m talking about the fact that this woman is simply not allowed to just do her job because everyone, for whatever god awful reason, assume straight out that she won’t be good enough. A woman who has acted from the age of 6. Who’s been in some of the most defining films of the 21st century so far. Yes, that woman.

Anyway, I know there simply isn’t another actress who would have managed to pull off what she has. Her presence on film is so fucking first class she manages to make the most of even the most demeaning, or secondary of roles. 

I’m just very grateful that she’s decided to stick around for as long as she has, even though the process sometimes makes her anxiety skyrocket. Natalie Portman called it quits early on and I think, if anything, we can all agree ScarJo has guts. Putting up with our collective shit and getting a solo film for a character that started out as a “sexy/ninja secretary” at a time when the closest thing we had to a female superhero on film was the 2004 Catwoman.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk, here’s a Happier Times Avengers thank you gif: