Alright, folks, let’s talk about Scarlett Johansson—Hollywood’s golden girl, Marvel superstar, and now, the latest celebrity to open up about the double-edged sword of fame. In her new “InStyle” cover story, Johansson got real about the struggles of maintaining personal boundaries while living under a microscope, especially as a mother. And let me tell you, she’s got some “thoughts”.
Now, on the surface, the idea of being rich and famous sounds like a dream. But as Scarlett puts it, once you’re in it, you can’t exactly put the genie back in the bottle. There’s no off switch for public attention, and that’s something she’s had to navigate carefully—especially when it comes to her two kids.
She makes it clear that she’s fiercely protective of their privacy, saying, ““The anonymity of children is very precious to me.”” That’s why you won’t catch little Cosmo (3) or Rose (10) plastered all over Instagram or being paraded down a red carpet. In an era where celebrity kids are practically growing up as influencers before they hit middle school, Johansson is taking a hard pass.
And speaking of boundaries, she also explained why she doesn’t take selfies with fans when she’s out and about. It’s not that she’s ungrateful, she insists—it’s just that she doesn’t want to be “identified as being in this time and place with you.” Translation? When she’s off the clock, she wants to be “off the clock”. She’ll pose for pictures at premieres and events, but if she’s just trying to buy her own toothpaste at Duane Reade, maybe don’t shove a camera in her face. Fair enough, right?
But let’s be real—setting boundaries as a celeb doesn’t always go over well. She admitted that declining fan photos “really” rubs some people the wrong way, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. In an era where celebrities are more accessible than ever—thanks to social media, Cameo, and endless red carpet live streams—fans almost expect their favorite stars to always be “on.” But Johansson? She’s not playing that game.
And here’s where it gets interesting—despite being one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, she “hates” social media. She doesn’t have an Instagram or Twitter, and she’s not planning on getting one anytime soon.
In fact, she said she’s come “close” to joining, but only got as far as discussing it with her therapist. And the verdict? Hard pass. It’s just too addictive, too performative, and, in her words, completely “against her core values”.
Of course, it’s not just about personal preference—there’s also a lot of industry pressure. Studios want actors to be on social media to promote their projects, and even her skincare brand, “The Outset”, has encouraged her to get in on the action. But even after experimenting with running an Instagram account for a few days, she quickly realized it wasn’t for her. It made her feel like she needed to change her life in ways that just felt “bad”, so she shut it down.
And that’s the thing—Johansson might be a massive star, but she’s not interested in “branding” herself. She’s politically vocal, she’s open about the things she cares about, but when it comes to her personal life, she’d rather keep things “private”. Even back in 2011, she said she didn’t understand why actors needed to be on Twitter, and over a decade later, she’s still holding firm on that stance.
Now, don’t get it twisted—Scarlett knows fame comes with the territory. She’s been in this game since she was nine years old, and she gets that the public is curious. But as she puts it, there comes a time when you have to put your foot down and say, ““Wait, I’m taking it back.”” And honestly? In an era where oversharing is practically a currency, that’s a pretty refreshing take.
