Scarlett Johansson: I don't regret SodaStream contract
Star says support for home carbonation brand is unchanged: 'I was aware of that particular factory before I signed. And it still doesn't seem like a problem.'
American Jewish actress Scarlett Johansson has no qualms about her decision to become a spokeswoman for the West Bank-based SodaStream company, even though it led to her resignation as an ambassador for the Oxfam non-profit organization, she told the Observer on Sunday.
A statement released by Johansson's spokesman in January said the 29-year-old actress has "a fundamental difference of opinion" with Oxfam International because the humanitarian group opposes all trade from Israeli settlements, saying they are illegal and deny Palestinian rights.
In an interview with the Observer about her new science-fiction thriller film Under the Skin, the star said that her support for the Israeli company is unchanged.
"No, I stand behind that decision," said Johansson. "I was aware of that particular factory before I signed (with SodaStream). And it still doesn't seem like a problem – at least not until someone comes up with a solution to the closing of that factory and leaving all those people destitute."
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Announcing its acceptance of Johansson's decision, the charity said: "Oxfam believes that businesses, such as SodaStream, that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support."
Johansson asserted that the international case against the factory was not clear-cut. "I think that's something that's very easily debatable … In that case, I was literally plunged into a conversation that's way grander and larger than this one particular issue. And there's no right side or wrong side leaning on this issue."
Johansson also told the Observer that the fact that the UN, the International Court of Justice and the Red Cross consider the settlement where the factory is based to be illegal under international law, did not change her opinion.
"Sure, I think that's the way you can look at it. But I also think for a non-governmental organization to be supporting something that's supporting a political cause … something feels not right about that to me. There's plenty of evidence that Oxfam does support and has funded a BDS movement in the past. It's something that can't really be denied."
Associated Press contributed to this report
