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Your support makes all the difference.The girl with the pearl earring?
And the Louis Vuitton handbag, Dolce & Gabbana perfume, L’Oréal make-up, Moet & Chandon champagne and, more to the point, a SodaStream machine.
How’s that?
While perhaps not as glamorous as her other endorsements, her appointment as first global ambassador for the liquid-carbonating-machine-cum-apogee-of-1970s-kitchen- gadgetry, has landed her in hot (bubbly?) water. Oxfam International – another brand for which she is the rather exquisite face, has criticised the partnership, claiming SodaStream’s factory in the West Bank is “illegal” under international law.
So what’s she done?
Johansson has ended her link with the charity. A statement released by the actress cited “a fundamental difference of opinion” with the humanitarian group, which opposes all trade from Israeli settlements, claiming that they “deny Palestinian rights”.
What else do they say?
“Oxfam has accepted Scarlett Johansson’s decision to step down after eight years and we are grateful for her many contributions,” the charity said. “While Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors, Ms Johansson’s role promoting the company SodaStream is incompatible with her role as an Oxfam Global Ambassador.”
And in their defence?
SodaStream say their West Bank factory employs about 550 Palestinians and gives them equal benefits to Israeli workers. Johansson said: “I remain a supporter of economic co-operation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine.”
So will this fizzle away?
Campaign groups have been pumping up the pressure and the issue may yet bubble over. Meanwhile, Johansson’s first ad for the company will be shown in the US during the Super Bowl on Sunday. Having had a sneak peak, I can confirm it seems to be a lot more about the interplay between a straw and those lips than anything to do with homemade fizzy beverages...
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