--- description: Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner apologize after calling Black Widow a slut and whore in Digital Spy UK interview title: 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Stars Under Fire for Calling Scarlett Johansson's Character a 'Slut' and 'Whore' image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # _Avengers: Age of Ultron_ Stars Under Fire for Calling Scarlett Johansson's Character a 'Slut' and 'Whore'  by [Olivia B. Waxman](/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Staff Writer Updated: Dec 13, 2023 10:56 AM CUTPublished: Apr 23, 2015 3:32 PM CUT  by [Olivia B. Waxman](/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Staff Writer Updated: Dec 13, 2023 10:56 AM CUTPublished: Apr 23, 2015 3:32 PM CUT A _Digital Spy UK_ interview with _Avengers: Age of Ultron_ stars Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans has sparked controversy because the actors called Scarlett Johansson’s character Natasha Romanoff—aka spy/assassin/agent “the Black Widow” in the Marvel universe—a “slut” and a “complete whore” when the interviewer asked what they thought of fans’ expectation that she’d end up with one of them. Some fans have called the remarks sexist, while others maintain they were just being sarcastic. A glimpse of the Twitter reactions: The Chris Evans/Jeremy Renner joke about Natasha being a whore and just a flirty sidekick made me cringe. Gross. — Karena Fagan 💖💜💙 (@KarenaFagan) [April 23, 2015](https://twitter.com/KarenaFagan/status/591089681015578627?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw "undefined") 2 men calling a woman a slut and whore is sexist. Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans made a sexist joke. Intent does not erase impact! — @FangirlJeanne.bsky.social (@fangirlJeanne) [April 23, 2015](https://twitter.com/fangirlJeanne/status/591087716596482048?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw "undefined") here is my opinion on the chris evans/jeremy renner interview: all your white male faves will betray you eventually, nothing good can last — tantrum haver 69 (@helenin) [April 22, 2015](https://twitter.com/helenin/status/590977330119630848?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw "undefined") Chris Evans apologized for the remarks in a statement: “Yesterday we were asked about the rumors 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 apologize.” Jeremy Renner also [released a statement](http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/23/chris-evans-jeremy-renner-black-widow-slut "undefined"): “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.” (h/t [_BuzzFeed_](http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/chris-evans-and-jeremy-renner-called-black-widow-a-slut#.ecddYv2G9 "undefined")) _Read next:_ [_Under Armour ‘Avengers’ Gear Lets You Dress Up Like Iron Man or Black Widow_](http://time.com/money/3832075/under-armour-avengers-hulk-black-widow/?iid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") ### See All the Avengers: Age of Ultron Character Posters  Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man Marvel/Disney  Chris Evans as Captain America Marvel/Disney  Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk Marvel/Disney  Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow Marvel/Disney  Chris Hemsworth as Thor Marvel/Disney  Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye Marvel/Disney  Paul Bettany as Vision Marvel/Disney  Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury Marvel/Disney  Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch Marvel/Disney  Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Quicksilver Marvel/Disney  James Spader as the voice of Ultron Marvel/Disney [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/autoplay/?xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3832841/chris-evans-jeremy-renner-scarlett-johansson-black-widow/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3832841/chris-evans-jeremy-renner-scarlett-johansson-black-widow/"},"headline":"Avengers: Age of Ultron Stars Under Fire for Calling Scarlett Johansson's Character a 'Slut' and 'Whore'","datePublished":"2015-04-23T15:32:55.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T10:56:17.000Z","description":"Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner have since apologized, calling the comments \"juvenile\" and \"tasteless\"","url":"https://time.com/3832841/chris-evans-jeremy-renner-scarlett-johansson-black-widow/","keywords":["Newsfeed","celebrity"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Olivia B. 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