Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and the rest of the Avengers: Age of Ultron cast are out promoting the upcoming film with a barrage of interviews and late-night appearances, but this latest one might land two of the film's stars in hot water.
Talking with Digital Spy about how Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow is now romantically involved with Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner (a.k.a. the Hulk), the two stars had some harsh words.
"She's a slut," Renner says flatly, after which Evans bursts into laughter, saying he was just about to say something similar. Then Evans calls Black Widow a "complete whore."
The two continue to chuckle about the whole scenario, digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole. "She'll just flirt with everybody," Evans said about Black Widow's role in future films.
Then the interview takes a turn for the worse. Renner goes on to say "she has a prosthetic leg anyways." This gets a chuckle from Evans, who then says Black Widow is "leading everybody on."
It's obvious the two are joking in a somewhat sarcastic manner. The original question involved how in the first Avengers film it seemed like Black Widow and Renner's Hawkeye might be romantically involved. Black Widow also had a large role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier aside Evans, which led many fans to want/believe the two might be an on-screen couple.
As Avengers: Age of Ultron has shown in trailers and clips, that isn't the case. Black Widow has moved on to Bruce Banner. Still, Evans and Renner should know better than to slut-shame the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most prominent female hero. And the whole prosthetic thing? That makes it 100 times worse. Below is just a small sampling of some upset fans on Twitter:
Hopefully this whole Chris Evans/Jeremy Renner debacle teaches Avengers fans that slut-shaming someone--even a character--is not okay
— kristina monllos (@kristinamonllos) April 23, 2015
I'd like to think Chris Evans is just dumb and drunk in that interview and Jeremy Renner is just a bulldog-faced dickhead — Ian Carlos Crawford (@ianxcarlos) April 23, 2015
I didn't spend 8 hours of my life yesterday watching a marvel marathon for chris evans and jeremy renner to be problematic misogynists — claire (@caIedonia) April 23, 2015
The two actors have released statements on the controversy. "Yesterday we were asked about the rumors that Black Widow wanted to be in a relationship with both Hawkeye and Captain America," Evans tells EW in a statement. "We answered in a very juvenile and offensive way that rightfully angered some fans. I regret it and sincerely apologize."
Renner too made an apology. "I am sorry that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyone," Renner says. "It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour."
This wouldn't be the first time for Black Widow to be treated as a lesser hero. It's near impossible to find merchandise based on the super-spy.
Renner and Evans join their co-star Robert Downey Jr. in interview infamy, as the Iron Man actor recently walked out on a promotional interview when the questions took a turn for the personal.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is in theaters May 1.
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