Evans, Renner apologize for Black Widow comments

Kelly Lawler | USA TODAY

Update: Chris Evans' representative Molly Kawachi sent the following statement to USA TODAY via email:

"Yesterday we were asked about the rumors that Black Widow wanted to be in a relationship with both Hawkeye and Captain America. We answered in a juvenile and offensive way that rightfully angered some fans. I regret it and sincerely apologize."

Susan Patricola, a rep for Jeremy Renner, also sent this statement to USA TODAY:

"I am sorry that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyone. It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour."

Original story:

Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner are under fire for an interview they gave to Digital Spy where they called Scarlett Johansson's character from the film a "slut" and a "whore."

When an interviewer asked about fans' unrealized hopes that Johansson's Black Widow would get together with either of their characters in the new sequel (where she has a romantic plot with Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner), Renner said, "She's a slut." Evans laughed and agreed with him, saying, "I was going to say something along that line ... a complete whore." Renner then joked that "she has a prosthetic leg anyway," implying that was a bad thing.

The interview quickly drew backlash from fans, who were upset that the actors had "slut-shamed" Johansson's character.

Other fans defended the pair, saying the comments were a sarcastic joke.

This is the second time in the past few days that the Avengers press tour has caused a stir. Robert Downey, Jr. made headlines Wednesday when he walked out of an interview after the questions got personal.