Scarlett Johansson Temporarily Stops the Madness, Turns Down Marine Ball Invite

Due to "prior commitments," actress declines invite from Marine sergeant, but sends a case of champagne and letter of thanks in her stead

By Gina Serpe Jul 28, 2011 3:34 PMTags

The few. The proud. The inordinately single. And the ever so slightly shameless.

We know that retreating isn't something Marines like to do, but, well, someone may need to call time on this incessant targeting propositioning of celebs for their respective ball dates.

And that person, apparently, is Scarlett Johansson.

The erstwhile Avenger became the latest star to nab an invite from a forward-approaching Marine, getting asked out to the Nov. 10 Marine Corps Ball in Albany, Ga., by Sgt. Dustin L. Williams in yet another YouTube video.

"Recently I noticed in the media that a lot of Marines have been asking celebrities to the ball. So I was thinking, if I could ever ask anybody to the ball, who would it be? I mean, obviously they need to be beautiful, classy…who would it be?"

Right on cue, the video cuts to a still shot of Scarlett Johansson, with strains of "When a Man Loves a Woman" playing in the background

"I got carried away. Anyways, Scarlett Johansson, it would be my pleasure to take you to the Marine Corps Ball."

Asked, and, unfortunately for Williams, answered. Just not in the way he was expecting.

Johansson denied the Marine's request, and, in doing so, became a member of the Betty White club. But, credit to her, she did so gently, respectfully, and (this part no doubt helped ease the sting a bit) with gifts of booze.

"I feel incredibly honored to have been invited to the Marine Corps Ball by Sgt. Dustin L. Williams," she said. "Not only does Sgt. Williams deserve recognition for his bravery, selflessness and dedication to the United States and its people, but he also displays a cheeky talent for filmmaking.

"Sgt. Williams unfortunately, due to prior commitments, I will not be able to attend the ball with you this year, but I am sending you a case of Moët and Chandon with gratitude. In my absence, I raise a glass to you and all the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps, past and present, in thanks for your continued commitment to preserving the safety of our nation."

Now that's a classy rejection. And see? Frankly, Scarlett does give a damn.

So far, while the invites have been flowing as freely as Scarlett's gifted Moët, only two stars have stepped forward to accept the offers, and even then not as definitively as the Marines would probably like.

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, the Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin of the group, have replied with the strongest and most hopeful commitments, though Betty White declined her invite.

Miley Cyrus, Hayden Panettiere and Mary-Kate Olsen have yet to RSVP to their requests (their invites can be seen herehere and here) and the Marine who got turned down by Betty hasn't yet publicly responded to Linda Hamilton's switcheroo proposition to take her place.

And, proving that the ladies are just as ballsy (or at least Ball-minded) as the fellas, Paul Walker has also been propositioned by a female Marine serving in Afghanistan, who also launched a Facebook campaign to get the actor's attention.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have worked.

"I tend to doubt he has seen this because he is out of the country filming at this time," his spokesman told E! News. "He will be out of the country working at the time of the ball."

As for who else was plucked out as Hollywood's most wanted bachelors and bachelorettes: Emma Stone, consider yourself invited; you, too, Jennifer Aniston; they didn't forget you, either, Taylor Swift. But our favorite invite has to go to Lance Cpl. Kent (aka, "Dragon") who manned up and prayed to sweet baby Jesus in his tuxedo T-shirt that the "most badass" celebrity of all, Willy G. Ferrell Will Ferrell, will join him at North Carolina's Marine Corps Ball.

Hey, don't ask, don't tell get an answer.