Scarlett Johansson taping her SodaStream commercial.
Ever since news broke about Scarlett Johansson’s Super Bowl TV commercial for SodaStream — the actress and “Her” star has been mired in a big controversy.
The issue: SodaStream is an Israeli company which maintains a big factory in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank — a location seen by many as illegal.
Along with generating a boycott of SodaStream, Johansson’s TV spot upset Oxfam International, the humanitarian group she has represented as an ambassador and fundraiser for the past eight years.
On Wednesday that relationship came to an end as Johansson’s publicist issued a statement to the Associated Press, claiming the actress, who happens to be Jewish, was stepping down from her Oxfam duties due to “a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.”
Oxfam for its part issued a statement insisting it is “opposed to all trade from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.”
In a related controversy, the Fox network (which is airing the Super Bowl) has refused to air the SodaStream commercial — because an uncut version of the ad includes Johansson dissing two SodaStream competitors: Coke and Pepsi.
