Scarlett Johansson denies auditioning to date Tom Cruise: 'The very idea is so demeaning'

'I refuse for anyone to spread the idea that I lack the integrity to choose my own relationships'

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Scarlett Johansson has denied a claim she auditioned to date Tom Cruise.

The Black Widow star released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter criticising such suggestion as “demeaning.”

“The very idea of any person auditioning to be in a relationship is so demeaning,” Johansson said.

THR explains that Johansson's statement arrived after the appearance of Brendan Tighe on NBC's Megyn Kelly Today. He reportedly claimed that he saw her name among reports of women who auditioned to date Cruise when he was a part of the actor's Scientology security unit following his divorce from Nicole Kidman.

“I refuse for anyone to spread the idea that I lack the integrity to choose my own relationships,” Johansson continued. “Only a man aka Brendan Tighe would come up with a crazy story like that.”

The Church of Scientology has since denied Tighe's claims.

“Brendan Tighe was a Church of Scientology Flag Service Organisation security guard/night watchman from 2002 to 2009,” Church of Scientology International's Karin Pouw told NBC. “The 'access' he boasts of having was largely limited to viewing security cameras from a guard booth. He was removed from that position for dereliction of duty.”

In 2012, Vanity Fair published an article in which it alleged that Scientologists auditioned to date Cruise undertaking tasks to see if they were a suitable match to the Oscar-winner. According to the report, Iranian star Nazanin Boniadi (Homeland) was selected and had a three-month relationship with Cruise.