One of the commercials that will play during the Super Bowl will feature the famous actress Scarlett Johansson sponsoring SodaStream, a company that sells products that allow you to make your own soda at home. But who knew cause a boycott on SodaStream and opposition to Johansson herself.
Scarlett Johansson used to be an ambassador for Oxfam, an international humanitarian aid organization, but stepped down after she announced her relationship with SodaStream. The reason she stepped down was because of where SodaStream is based. SodaStream is an Israeli owned company and has a large factory located in the West Bank, land claimed by Palestine. Oxfam does not conduct business with Israeli settlements because of Israeli-Palestine conflict. Oxfam told Johansson to cut her relationship with the soda company, but instead Johansson cut her relationship with Oxfam, who she was an ambassador for. Johansson said she left because the two have a difference in opinion.
Now a boycott is happening against SodaStream, but the Palestinian workers who work at SodaStream support Scarlett Johansson's move to support SodaStream. For many of them it is the best job they can get paying well and the company providing free transportation, breakfast, and lunch. The workers say by supporting the boycott they will be hurting Palestinian workers.
Regardless, its fascinating how much an actress and soda company can cause so much controversy.
Sources
http://mondoweiss.net/2014/01/johansson-relationship-sodastream.html
http://www.680news.com/2014/01/29/scarlett-johansson-stepping-down-as-oxfam-ambassador-over-sodastream-deal/
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/2014/0130/Palestinian-workers-back-Scarlett-Johansson-s-opposition-to-SodaStream-boycott-video
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