Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans have apologised for being "juvenile and offensive" after receiving backlash from Avengers fans for calling Scarlett Johnasson's character a "slut" and a "whore".
The actors - who play Hawkeye and Captain America respectively - were asked by Digital Spy about their thoughts on Black Widow being with Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner, after many believed she would have a romance with one of the characters they play.
"She's a slut," Renner said, deadpan, and the two stars immediately burst out laughing.
Evans added: "I was going to say something along that line. She's a complete whore."
Renner got into more hot water for adding: "She's got a prosthetic leg anyway," and Evans concluded: "She's leading everybody on."
The pair quickly apologised. Evans said in a statement: "Yesterday we were asked about the rumours that Black Widow wanted to be in a relationship with both Hawkeye and Captain America.
"We answered in a very juvenile and offensive way that rightfully angered some fans. I regret it and sincerely apologise."
Renner said in his own statement: "I am sorry that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyone. It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour."
The pair, who were promoting the latest Avengers movie Age Of Ultron ahead of its May 1 release, had been the subject of furious posts on Twitter for using the derogatory terms.
While some dismissed the comments as just a joke and pointed out that Black Widow is not real, others branded Renner and Evans "sexist" and "misogynists".
Twitter user @caldeonia wrote: "I didn't spend 8 hours of my life yesterday watching a marvel marathon for chris evans and jeremy renner to be problematic misogynists."
User @Artist_Ali echoed the same sentiments. "Look, all I want Jeremy Renner & Chris Evans to do is apologize. You said something gross & sexist. Say yer sorry. I'm not asking4 the moon."
Also on Twitter, @kristinamonllos said the actors were contributing to a bigger problem.
"Hopefully this whole Chris Evans/Jeremy Renner debacle teaches Avengers fans that sl**-shaming someone--even a character--is not okay."
Lots of young girls look up to Black Widow's character as a strong female protagonist - slut shaming her is awful.
— This Machine Kills Fascists (@RoyalHoeliness) April 23, 2015
But many jumped to the stars' defence and suggested that those offended by the remarks were overreacting.
"Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner made a joke. This is about context, people. Move on," @Ethan_Anderton tweeted.
"All the people calling for Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner to apologize to Black Widow. You do know she's not real right? Right?" @mousie77539 agreed.
Johansson told MailOnline earlier this week that gender politics didn't play a part in her decision to take on the role of Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanova.
"I'm looking for [scripts] as an actor looking for material that's substantial, not a female actor looking for substantial work," she said at a London press conference.
"What's great about playing this character is that she's based in something deep and something that I can hold onto.
"She's grounded and very real; she has experienced a lot of trauma and never been able to make active choices for herself and now she finally is, and she's ready for it but unfortunately, it's bad timing."
Johansson portrays one of the most prominent female characters in the male-dominated Marvel Universe, and is joined in the latest film by newcomer Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Scarlet Witch.
Marvel Studios will see its first female-led superhero movie with the upcoming Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel) film, which was announced last year.
