Scarlett Johansson "Embarrassed" About Obama Emails, Talks Lesbian Kiss

NEW YORK — Scarlett Johansson can laugh about it now, but the actress says she was embarrassed by the media coverage of her so-called "e-mail relationship" with Barack Obama.

"It seemed to me to be like a product of extreme sexism, and I kept thinking to myself, 'God, if this was just, like, Kal Penn or George Clooney or any of the other (Obama) surrogates or supporters ... there wouldn't be (any) question about it. Nobody would even talk about it," she said.

Johansson, a vocal supporter of Obama, told the Web site Politico.com in June that she and the Democratic presidential hopeful had been trading e-mails. Obama later told reporters that Johansson doesn't have his personal e-mail address, and that his assistant forwarded one message from Johansson to which he replied.

"I was merely trying to express my delight at Obama's commitment to his campaign in every aspect and his interest and his support (in) his surrogates and his staff and his fellows, and how wonderful and refreshing that is. And it was manipulated into such an unfortunate media frenzy of kind of a nonstory," the 23-year-old actress said Tuesday in an interview from Los Angeles, where she was promoting her new Woody Allen film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

The romantic comedy set against the bohemian backdrop of Barcelona, Spain, has its share of buzz over Johansson's much-hyped kiss with Penelope Cruz.

"It's just silly because ... the way people are talking about it you'd think it was ... a Bertolucci movie or something," Johansson said, laughing. "People are saying, `It's Woody Allen's steamiest movie.' I'm thinking, 'Woody Allen's steamiest WHAT?'"

It was the actress' third time working with Allen, who directed her in "Match Point" and "Scoop." She and actor-beau Ryan Reynolds had been snapped by paparazzi on the set of the movie last summer; she confirmed the couple's engagement in early May.

Have they set a date?

"We're just enjoying our time," she said. "We're just recently _ very recently _ engaged. So, you know, we're just taking it easy. And no big plan yet. But it's a good time and we're just ... enjoying our time to be young and engaged.

"I mean, I'm 23. There's no reason to rush into it. Everything feels very natural and relaxed."

Comments

[BigMike75]

She could "stump" for me anytime!

[learnsomething]

Perhaps she should stump for you, and leave the real politicians alone. She is too childish.

[weatherplay1]

She is a actress that happens to a politician,whats wrong with that.Since we have to mention Senator,s Obama race lets get it straight,as we say in America .Senator Obama is a mixture of white and black what is so hard to understand about that.When elected he will reflect what America has been ashamed of,we are a nation of mixed people and you may not find this fact in a history book but in the history of our nation you can always find a person that was born with parents of different countrys.DNA testing would put a lot of people to shame.

America needs to be truly honest with it,s self!

[Lib2daBone]

C'mon Weather.. she's an Actress! And she's 23 years old. ( I've got sneakers older than that) Let her have her opinion. You Republicans are so focused on Brownshirt Fascism, you can't stand it when anyone has an "Opinion".

[lunchbag]

Sideshow bob......err shade of red.

Has she stopped talking now and when does the video come out........

[malachhamovess]

Scarlett Johannsen may look to make a video with the other vacuous blonds, Paris Hilton & Briney Spears. They could do it as an R-rated shoot, which would be tame for Hilton, but on the edge for Ms. Wholesome.

They really need some Woody Allen input to pull it off.

[Cakey4814]

I understand what you're saying about George Clooney, et al but if you're really an Obama supporter you will not bring this up again. Please note that Obama; having to already mention Britney and Paris; should not have to explain himself again about you and the e-mails..enuff of linking Obama to blondes..

[sftbreeze1970]

If I'm not mistaken, she was the one going on and on about the involved back and forth emailing in the first place. So when Obama tore her lil' playhouse down, she comes out talking about sexism. Obama said one email was forwarded to him and he responded with, basically, "thanks for your help". According to her she was emailing him personally, discussing all manner of things. Now, after Obama has told it how it is, she's hollering sexism. Then she wants to talk about how "she's" spoken for". Please. As if she would ever have a chance. Michelle Obama is the epitomy of sophistication, style, and razor sharp intelligence and she's a WOMAN W-O-M-A-N. If you want to talk about sexism Scarlette here's lesson one: Big t*ts, blonde hair, and fame do not a woman make. Do they make a female, definitely; but a woman? Come again darlin'. You ain't dealing with Bill Clinton. Now you know.

[lunchbag]

hmm flashback, Kennedy and Marilyn

[lady49]

such a dumb--statement...
stupid people do and say STUPID things!

[lady49]

First, YOU ARE MISTAKEN!!!

The email was set to Senator Obama's assisant Reggie.
I guess the age of "low information" voters is still with us......

EEESH!

[sftbreeze1970]

First, YOU ARE MISTAKEN!!!!

Scarlett did not say that the email was sent to the assistant. She said that Obama emailed her and they discussed several issues and she did not mention anything about an assistant. OBAMA said that ONE email was sent to his assistant and then forwarded to him and he answered that email. So the sexist hoopla that Scarlett was complaining about is her own fault. She's the one giving the wrong impressions, by saying she is "engaged" to Obama. My point is Obama had to put the issue in it's proper context because Scarlett surely didn't.

I guess the age of "wrong information" people is also still with us.

[icemilkcoffee]

Why oh why is the Obama campaign not utilizing Scarlett Johanssen at every turn? She's got a dozen cameras trained on her every move- no amount of money can buy publicity like this! She should be all over the country shaking people's hands, introducing Obama, and drawing people out to the rallies. Just establish a ground rule- under no circumstances should any part of Scarlett's anatomy come within 2 ft of Obama's anatomy.... we all know how the good folks in this country feel about black men/young pretty white women.

[ms.understood]

I'm sure you meant well, but who says that Obama wants her? Afterall, he's married and it just may be that he's into his wife, even though I know that's hard for you to believe. And besides, not all black women want what some consider to be "pretty white women."

[LeftLeanWing]

No wedding date was ever announced. "We're just really enjoying this (engagement) phase," Morissette told PEOPLE.com last year.

Sound Familiar ?

The Runaway Groom

[RobertAndropolis]

At a time now when this non-story had long since died a quick death, she drags it back to life again in order to promote her latest film, made by the emotionally stunted Woody Allen, one of which nobody cares anything about except for the heterosexual fantasy scene of a kiss between her and Ms. Cruz. If Ms. Johannson really wanted to support Senator Obama, she would join forces with Heidi Montag and support McCain. I can see it now: two Hollywood sirens, one on each side of McCain, propping him up, each whispering into his ear to correct his chronic errors on domestic and foreign policies while McCain's super-vampire wife prepares his cocktail of medications that allows him to just barely get through each day.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

If BO actually was scoring with SJ, then that just might be his first accomplishment!

[crossoverwriter]

Scarlet J is a lame butt. She stole Alanis Morisette's boyfriend, and she should be embarrassed. I've lost any respect I had for her (which wasn't much).

[Phidippides]

I'm sure she regrets that she has lost your support, and I'm sure Alanis (can I call her Alanis?) is grateful for your friendship and support in this difficult time.

[Phidippides]

But I disagree on one point: SJ's butt is anything but lame.

[liberalloons]

This should be a huffpo pick

[cBc]

IIRC, she went on & on about it in that original interview, so part of the "spin" falls in her court.
But regardless, you go gurl!

[bryansmith]

The story was silly, Jo is hot, and smart. Nuf said.

[middleoftheroad]

It an example of the danger with Hollywood getting to close in a National election. Sure she's embarrassed. She was one of the few little fires this campaign had to deal with. Michelle does not like her and it creates issues. She may have been joking, but the following quotes can be taken and spun, and put on talk radio...S.J: "I am engaged ... to Barack Obama," Johansson, 23, announced to Associated Press reporters as she returned from a her USO tour to the Persian Gulf. "My heart belongs to Barack, and that is who I am currently, finally, engaged to. Yes." George Clooney was smartest when he told the campaign "he would do whatever it takes to help win", INCLUDING STAYING AWAY! Hollywood are all ego driven people. Even when they give to charity, its covered by flacks, they count their TIME as a donation, and make the organizers jump through hoops. Scarlett should stay away and not forget to vote...THAT'S IT!

[lady49]

Huffpo.....
You let the LOONIES out on this one......

I know you screened this before posting....
Help me understand your logic..........?
This person, Doesn't know Michelle, Doesn't know Senator Obama and has ABSOLUTELY
NO IDEA WHAT HE/SHE/or IT is talking about!!!!

[spiderbucket]

Who cares ? She's a goddess.

[newszombie]

If O doesnt want her...she could email me all night long. I mean damn, whats the problem here

[harriscrl3]

I understand what Scarlett is saying and she has a point. I'm so disgusted by the media's attempt to make eveyrthing seem sordid when its innocent and simple. In retrospect and in regards to those stupid Paris Hilton Britney speas ad I can see why Obama cleared it up Quickly. I suspect he knew something like this was coming. The Rethuglicans are NOTHING if not predictable.

Carol

[learnsomething]

Carol, Scarlet is the one who started all of this school-girl schytt. She is the one who said " I am engaged to Obama", she is the one who said "Obama emails me", which was not the truth. Obama's campaign manager passed one email to him, and he cordially answered it. So Scarlet is at fault here. She is acting like a grade school child.