The Daily Valet. - 7/30/21, Friday

✔️ Scarlett Johansson Gets Litigious

July 30, 2021

Friday, July 30th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

As if I wasn’t already scheming to get a new Land Rover Defender.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney

And the lawsuit may have ramifications throughout Hollywood

You could say Black Widow has a new enemy. Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the simultaneous streaming release of Black Widow, which debuted the same day in theaters and on Disney Plus through its Premier Access service.

The suit was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court and alleges that Johansson’s contract with Marvel Entertainment (which is owned by Disney), ensured a “wide theatrical release” of the film. The suit says it’s “well understood” that the agreement meant an exclusive release that would not include streaming.

Johansson’s salary was, in part, based on the box office performance of the film. So the suit alleges she could lose $50 million because of the altered release plans.

Deadline reports that the Walt Disney Co. has fired back with a biting statement in which it said that the litigation showed a “callous disregard” to the pandemic and even revealed that she has so far received $20 million from the project.

But the legal action comes as multiple major motion pictures have been released on streaming during the pandemic. The Wall Street Journal says it “could be a bellwether for the entertainment industry.” More and more actors are expecting a change in pay when streaming is involved.

Things are changing. And this could just be the beginning. Veteran journalist Gregg Kilday cleverly compared Johansson’s stand regarding streaming pay with Olivia de Havilland taking on the studio system back in the 1950s.

↦ STreaming Woes: It’s not just you, streaming the Olympics is definitely a mess.

The U.S. GDP Rose 6.5% Last Quarter

The economy’s prospects looked bright, until the Delta variant surged

The U.S. gross domestic product rose 6.5% last quarter, with the economy now larger than it was before the pandemic. The growth rate was lower than the 8.4% annual rate expected by economists, largely due to supply shortages and bottlenecks.

However, the economy rebounded significantly from April to June, driven by businesses reopening, government aid and a large portion of Americans getting vaccinated.

Much of the increase came thanks to increasing personal expenditures, which rose 11.8% as consumers accounted for 69% of all activity, reports CNBC. And financial experts forecast that weekly job gains and increased spending will continue to fuel growth.

Of course, the Wall Street Journal says that the outlook has suddenly turned cloudier due to the fast-spreading Delta coronavirus variant.

↦ Meanwhile: Consumer confidence rose to its highest level in July since the start of the pandemic, reports Bloomberg.

Partner

Need a confidence boost? Try one of these good-for-you fragrances that help feed your skin while making you smell great.

The Adventure-Ready Defender

And each comes with its own entry into an off-road competition event

Land Rover's latest special edition Defender pays tribute to a legendary off-road competition. And while so many automakers try to harken back to “the good ol’ days of motoring,” this is no marketing gimmick.

The new Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition—a U.S.-exclusive, limited-edition model announced on Thursday—takes inspiration from the mythical Camel Trophy off-road competition that ran from 1980 to 2000. According to InsideHook, that's obvious from the vehicles' color scheme, evoking the Sandglow yellow that signified Camel Trophy entrants, even if Land Rover doesn't mention Camel, the cigarette sponsor of the original competition, by name.

Road & Track reports you get a tow hitch receiver, air suspension, cold climate package, and both off-road packages available on the truck as standard. You also get a roof rack, extra underbody protection, a deployable ladder, an integrated air compressor, and deep-sided rubber floor mats. You can even option a winch if you plan to do some serious off-road trekking.

Even cooler, every SUV will come with a two-person entry to a one-day Land Rover U.S. Trophy Competition off-roading event. Owners will compete in on- and off-road challenges with the help of professional coaches, and the winning team, determined by a panel of judges, will get invited to the the Land Rover Trophy Competition at Eastnor Castle in England early next year.

↦ Buy It: It's imited to just 220 examples and orders open next month starting at $91,350.

A Weekend Pairing

Dr. Death + an Angel of Death Cocktail

If you, like me, got Peacock for the Olympics, then you should check out Dr. Death. It's based on the infamous case of Dr. Christopher Duntsch—a spinal surgeon who's either a drug-addled screw-up, a conniving misanthrope with a God complex, or (more likely) some combo of the two. But as star Joshua Jackson told Vanity Fair, the American healthcare system is the real villain of this tale.

The show is clearly made for the legion of true crime devotees. But, if you're intrigued, the San Francisco Chronicle issues this warning: No show has ever made you as terrified of doctors as Dr. Death will.

↦ Your Pairing:What better to pair with this macabre show than a tipple dangerously named the Angel of Death. The negroni-esque drink has two kinds of bitters, Angostura and orange, which give it a wonderful complexity. Food & Wine has the recipe.

In Other News

↦ Vaccine Mandates Are Getting Pushback. But They Are Legal, Experts Say.

↦ Why So Many Millennials Are Obsessed With Dogs

↦ The Flowers for Olympic Medalists Carry Deep Meaning in Japan

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The invention of the ICEE

Lessons from Armani

World vs. Olympic champs

Partner

A Fresh Take on Cologne

These aren’t your average fragrances. They’re better in a myriad of ways.

There's a lot to be said for smelling good. You get a boost of confidence and who doesn't like the compliments? But a lot of fragrances these days can feel a little, well, heavy-handed. Personally, I like smelling fresh but not like I'm trying to smell like a noxious cologne ad in a magazine.

You could say I want something a bit more subtle and sophisticated. Which is what I really appreciate about Pheroe. They've created a range of colognes that are designed specifically for daily wear, cleverly packaged for guys on the go. Lighter and more approachable than standard spritzes, Pheroe's rollerballs make targeted applications easy—no overdoing here.

What's more, the formula's utilizes natural oils such as nutrient-rich jojoba and skin-soothing marula to literally feed your skin. But what does it smell like, right? Well, my favorite is the Ocean—a shower-fresh clean scent that's warmed with sandalwood but balanced out with a light grassy touch of lavender and crisp citrus. But the Savannah, with its darker, earthy notes is particularly nice for late-night adventures.

↦ Get It: $28 / $23.80 (with code VALET15) at Pheroe