In a surprising move, Scarlett Johansson has sued Disney, claiming that her contract was breached when the company simultaneously released Black Widow on its streaming service and in theaters.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the star argues that “her agreement with Disney’s Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release, and her salary was based in large part on the box-office performance of the film.”
The suit said, “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.”
Sources say the decision to put Black Widow on Disney Plus likely cost ScarJo more than $50 million.
In a statement, Disney fired back, saying there was “no merit” to her suit, and that it “is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The company added that it has fully complied with her contract and that the release of Black Widow on Disney Plus “significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20 million she has received to date.”
Simon Cowell’s other singing competition series, The X-Factor, has been canceled after 17 years, according to Page Six.
The British channel ITV confirmed the news and said “there are no current plans for the next series of The X Factor at this stage.”
The last season aired in 2018.
The series has launched the careers of such acts as One Direction, Leona Lewis and Little Mix.
Jean-Claude Van Damme helped a thief get away with millions of dollars worth of jewelry — because of his fame.
According to TMZ, a man held up a high-end store in Paris earlier this week. He allegedly pulled a knife and made off with a “monumental haul” — estimated between $2.4 and $3.5 million — in jewels and gemstones. Then he fled the scene on an electric scooter without a problem.
His clean getaway, officials say, was possible because everyone on the street was distracted by the Bloodsport star, who was inside a nearby optometrist’s office.
Police did get surveillance footage of the getaway and two suspects were eventually arrested.
