Scarlett Johansson, one of the core members of the original Avengers lineup, became an unintended symbol of the sexism faced by female actors in Hollywood when she was repeatedly subjected to reductive and inappropriate questions about her appearance and costume. One instance, which occurred during the promotional tour for Marvel’s The Avengers in 2012, saw the star completely shut down a male reporter’s indecent line of questioning about her costume, leaving the entire audience silent.
The Question That Crossed the Line
The interview, conducted by Extra reporter Jerry Penacoli, featured Johansson alongside her co-star Jeremy Renner (who played Hawkeye). The conversation quickly turned from the merits of the film to the skin-tight nature of Johansson’s iconic Black Widow catsuit.
Penacoli then asked the question that crossed the professional line: “Now, were you able to wear undergarments?” referring to the black leather suit worn for her role as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow.
Johansson’s immediate reaction was a mix of frustration and disbelief, as she recognized the recurring pattern of sexist questioning directed only at her:
“You’re like the fifth person that’s asked me that today. What is going on?” she questioned aloud. “Since when did people start asking each other in interviews about their underwear?”
The reporter attempted to justify the question by pointing out the “skin-tight” nature of the costume, but Johansson cut him off with a perfect, sarcastic rebuttal, refusing to give him the soundbite he was angling for:
“I’ll leave it up to your imagination. Whatever you feel like I should be wearing or not wearing under that costume.”
The entire exchange left co-star Jeremy Renner visibly cringing beside her and the room temporarily silent due to the awkward tension of the moment.
Data Points and The Double Standard
The incident resonated widely because it highlighted the stark double standard often present in superhero movie press junkets:
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The Contrast: Fans and critics were quick to point out that male co-stars like Chris Evans (Captain America) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor), whose costumes were equally skin-tight, were rarely, if ever, asked about their underwear or diet. (Johansson was also famously once asked a “rabbit food question” about her diet while Robert Downey Jr. received an “interesting existential question” in the same junket.)
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The Black Widow Role: The question trivialized her demanding role as a highly skilled espionage agent and martial artist—a character that required intensive physical training—by focusing purely on her sexualized image. The Avengers went on to earn over $1.5 billion worldwide, yet the press often focused on the details of her attire over her contribution to the massive box office success.
The Final Word: When the interviewer finally, awkwardly asked Johansson if she found the question “inappropriate,” she delivered the final, blunt mic-drop: “To ask somebody what kind of underpants they wear? What kind of interview is this?”
Johansson’s refusal to indulge the indecent curiosity became a celebrated moment of defiance, validating the frustrations of female actors who are often diminished by questions that have nothing to do with their craft or the film they are promoting.
That interview clip is a powerful reminder of the double standard in Hollywood press tours.