Scarlett Johansson learned self defense due to 'misogynistic journalist' Published By Tribute on Mar 30, 2017

Scarlett Johansson recently told Seth Myers during an interview on Late Night that she decided to take self-defense classes after an uncomfortable interview with an interviewer whom she called a "misogynistic journalist."

The Ghost in the Shell star explained that during the interview it had come up whether she could overpower her interviewer: "I actually started recently taking a self-defense class because I was giving an interview and the interviewers asked if I could beat him up in the interview."

Scarlett goes on to say, "It was such a weird interview, and I was like, 'Right now?' And he was like, 'Yeah, could you beat me up?' And I was like, 'I want to but I don't know if I can!' And then on my walk home I was like, 'I gotta do something about this.' Just so I could kick the ass of some misogynistic journalist."

In addition to consistently taking on characters who are serious butt-kickers (think Avengers' Black Widow and her title character in Lucy), it seems the 32-year-old actress felt she should be skilled in delivering those moves herself: "I should not just look like I know how to kick ass, I probably should know.”

Now let's just hope she'll never have to use her skills. ~Alexa Caruso

Back to News

Comments & Discussion

Susan - 3/30/2017 9:17:10 AM

This reminds me of that interview Vin Diesel did with a female reporter and totally made inappropriate advances toward her. What makes some men (celebrities or otherwise) think they can get away with crude, sexist comments?!
Teedee - 3/30/2017 12:25:02 PM

I'll bet that interviewer would never ask a male if he could beat him up--what a jerk! When will we be able to leave the dark ages behind?
Tharsos - 3/30/2017 1:06:00 PM

Sometimes the enemy doesnâ€™t exist until you go looking for one.
Murphy - 3/30/2017 1:39:36 PM

Teedee: I wish he asked a male if he could beat him up! Or Ronda Rousey, that'd teach him. lol
Tharsos - 3/30/2017 2:11:00 PM

You all realise that there is ZERO context giving in the situation. The Interviewer could have asked her this as a playful question (Which happens to both men and women) seeing as she becoming known for action heavy films and characters like Black Widow in the MCU and Ghost in the Shell, both martial arts centric Characters. This question would make a lot of sense seeing as before she took these role, she was known mostly for Dramas and RomComs. Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer and celebs say things cause saying nothing doesnâ€™t sell papers. You are normalizing Misogyny and Sexism so that when actual Misogyny and Sexism occur, you wont recognize it. And yes, men also get these awkward questions asked all the time. It's filler questions. Itâ€™s just that, no one pays attention or makes a big deal of it because they are men.
Seth - 3/30/2017 11:48:50 PM

This is so confusing. Asking her if she could beat him up is misogynistic? But how?!
Colin - 3/31/2017 8:27:47 AM

Um, probably because she beats up a lot of males in her movies?!?
Vegeta - 4/3/2017 8:32:11 PM

@first two comments-Please, to make out girls don't do this to hot guys is just being ignorant.
Bill - 5/22/2017 11:50:33 AM

I can see why the question was asked. Her characters have been shown to be ass kickers. Does the actress know these skills or is a stunt double used? Scarlett immediately went to characterizing the interviewer as a misogynist for an innocent question. I could characterize her as becoming a crazy, fearful cat lady but I know that's not correct.

Join The Conversation:

Please provide us with your information (*Required)