Fans outraged by Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner calling Black Widow a ‘slut’ and ‘whore’

Here’s an interview of Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner promoting Avengers: Age of Ultron for Digital Spy. It caught wave and now the nerd community is fighting each other, with one side defending the actors and the other criticizing their comments. The two actors were clearly joking and being sarcastic about Black Widow being a “slut” and a “whore”, but some didn’t think the joke was funny and thought it was hurtful.

In response to a question about fans wanting to ship Black Widow to characters like Captain America and Hawkeye, Renner said, “She’s a slut.” This had Evans laughing, who then added, “She’s a complete whore.”

Well, Renner jokes that Black Widow “has a prosthetic leg anyway,” implying that she didn’t meet his character’s criteria.

Check out the interview and the fan reactions below.

Here are the critics:

https://twitter.com/applecidermage/status/591053204449800192

The Chris Evans/Jeremy Renner joke about Natasha being a whore and just a flirty sidekick made me cringe. Gross.

— Karena Fagan (@KarenaFagan) April 23, 2015

ok wow i'm upset fuck you chris evans and jeremy renner?

— reed (@tyIIerjoseph) April 23, 2015

I'm actually really fucking appalled and disappointed with jeremy renner and chris evans in that interview with the ableism and slut-shaming

— evan | 05 ; 98 (@jetpackbleu) April 23, 2015

2 men calling a woman a slut and whore is sexist. Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans made a sexist joke. Intent does not erase impact!

— Jeanne (@fangirlJeanne) April 23, 2015

And here are the defenders:

Everybody is taking what Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans said WAY out of context. It's so obvious they were being sarcastic. Lighten up ppl

— Stella (@HausOfSP) April 22, 2015

So Chris Evans is problematic because he was being sarcastic and joking about a fictional character? Get a grip, pls.

— McKeni Franklin (@xoMcKeni) April 22, 2015

Update: Evans and Renner have responded in a statement to Entertainment Weekly:

Evans: “Yesterday we were asked about the rumors that Black Widow wanted to be in a relationship with both Hawkeye and Captain America. We answered in a very juvenile and offensive way that rightfully angered some fans. I regret it and sincerely apologize.”

Renner: “I am sorry that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyone. It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour.”

Via Buzzfeed