Scarlett Johansson has refused to back down after Oxfam criticised her endorsement of a fizzy drinks company said to exploit workers in the West Bank.
The 29-year-old actress’s deal with Israeli drink-maker SodaStream International has caused controversy because the company runs a factory in a settlement claimed by Palestinians.
Johansson, who appears in a Super Bowl ad for the company next Sunday, said she ‘never intended on being the face of any social or political movement, distinction, separation or stance’.
Oxfam International criticised Johansson – one of its global ambassadors – because it opposes trade from Israeli settlements, saying they are illegal and deny Palestinian rights.
Johansson, who has represented the charity since 2005, said: ‘I remain a supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine.
‘SodaStream is not only committed to the environment but to building a bridge to peace between Israel and Palestine, supporting neighbours working alongside each other, receiving equal pay, equal benefits and equal rights.’
She also stood by her Oxfam work.
