It seems that Jeremy Renner can’t really decide whether or not he’s sorry for calling Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character a sl*t. Two weeks ago, just shortly after 44-year-old Renner made the comment about Ms. Johansson’s character that sent internet users and Marvel fans into an uproar, Jeremy did apologize.
The Black Widow remark was first brought about when both Renner and Chris Evans were interviewed prior to the release of the Avengers film in which they both co-star. Ultimately, Jeremy and Evans were asked about Scarlett Johansson’s love interest in the film. It was observed that Black Widow had held supposed romantic interests in both Hawkeye and Captain America in earlier Marvel films, so Renner and Evans were asked to comment on Black Widow’s sudden interest in The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in Avengers: Age Of Ultron .
“She’s a sl*t,” was Jeremy Renner’s immediate response, prompting laughter from Evans.
“I was going to say something along that line, she’s a complete wh*re,” Chris added in the interview. “She’ll flirt with everybody, leading everybody on.”
The ensuing whirlwind of criticism prompted immediate apologies from both actors by the following day, but it turns out that Renner’s remorse was less than genuine.
“We answered in a very juvenile and offensive way that rightfully angered some fans,” was Chris Evans’ response. “I regret it and sincerely apologize.”
Even at the time his original apology was issued, Jeremy seemed to take the situation less seriously than fans might have expected. He spoke with the same frivolity seen on Monday’s Conan episode .
“I am sorry that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyone,” Renner’s statement read. “It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour.”
The issue of Black Widow’s morality meter might have been dropped if Mr. Renner hadn’t again broached the subject on Conan , Monday night.
“We are talking about a fictional character and fictional behaviour,” Jeremy said, laughing.
That wasn’t all Jeremy had to say on the matter. Mr. Renner felt compelled to delve deeper into Black Widow’s character .
“Conan, if you slept with four of the six Avengers, no matter how much fun you had, you’d be a sl*t,” Jeremy continued. “I’d be a sl*t. Just saying.”
Even amid the controversy surrounding the statements made by Jeremy and Chris, Avengers: Age of Ultron earned the second-highest opening ever, bringing in $191 million in North American ticket sales. The first Avengers film still holds that number one slot.
[Featured image: Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner; Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]