Scarlett Johansson is sticking up for John Travolta.
Although the actress wasn’t smiling as Travolta leaned in for a smooch on the Oscars red carpet, she tells the Associated Press she hadn’t “seen John in some years and it is always a pleasure to be greeted by him.”
“The image that is circulating is an unfortunate still-frame from a live-action encounter that was very sweet and totally welcome,” Johansson said. “That still photo does not reflect what preceded and followed if you see the moment live.”
Johansson, 30, also called him “a class act” and said “there is nothing strange, creepy or inappropriate about John Travolta.”
Later in the night, Travolta poked fun of himself during the Oscar’s broadcast for his infamous flub of Idina Menzel’s name with a rehearsed bit in which he caressed the singer’s face.
“I loved finishing it. It came full circle,” he told Vanity Fair of the Oscars moment.”I loved it because it means I come back [to the Oscars] next year.”
This article originally appeared on People.com.
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