Disney has responded to Scarlett Johansson's $50 million lawsuit over the release of Black Widow on Disney+, calling it "sad and distressing" and asserting that it has "no merit whatsoever." Johansson filed her lawsuit claiming that the simultaneous theatrical and streaming release resulted in her losing out on substantial box office revenue. Disney countered by stating that they fully complied with Johansson's contract and that the streaming release actually benefited her financially. The lawsuit raises concerns about compensation for major stars in the wake of the pandemic's impact on cinema releases.