Scarlett Johansson Turns Childhood Struggle Into a Fight for America’s Hungry

In June 2025, Scarlett Johansson stepped beyond the bright lights of Hollywood to shine a spotlight on a cause close to her heart: protecting the federal programs that once kept her and her family afloat. Joining more than 30 entertainers in an open letter to Congress—organized by the nonprofit Feeding America—Johansson urged lawmakers to reject proposed cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid, programs she personally relied on as a child.

The plea was more than a celebrity endorsement. For Johansson, it was a deeply personal stand against policies she believes would strip away the very lifeline that nourished her dreams. “With those meals, my brother and I had the nourishment and energy to get through our day… and do all the things healthy kids get to do,” she recalled in a 2023 essay for Feeding America, reflecting on her school lunches funded by SNAP. Those meals, she said, eased her parents’ worries and allowed her to pursue theater and arts—the stepping stones to an award-winning acting career.

Empathy Born From Experience

Johansson’s advocacy stems from lived reality. Growing up in a family that depended on public assistance, she understands the uncertainty of not knowing if there will be enough to eat. That empathy now fuels her commitment to millions of others—15.5 million children and 7.2 million seniors—who could be impacted if the proposed cuts move forward.

Her message to Congress, signed alongside names like Matt Damon, Zayn Malik, and Sheryl Crow, frames food not as a partisan issue but as a universal human right. Behind every statistic, Johansson argues, is a story like hers—a reminder that dignity and opportunity begin with a full stomach.

Courage in the Political Arena

Speaking out on contentious federal spending debates comes with risk, but Johansson has never been one to shy away from difficult conversations. The letter she co-signed calls potential cuts “unacceptable and wrong,” warning that they would undermine the health, stability, and futures of millions of Americans.

By openly linking her success to the support she received from programs like SNAP, Johansson challenges the stigma often associated with public assistance. Her advocacy reframes the conversation: these programs, she insists, are investments in human potential.

Humility in Action

Despite her superstar status, Johansson approaches the issue with striking humility. She doesn’t center herself in the narrative, instead directing attention to today’s struggling families and to organizations like Feeding America that are working to help them. Her tone—both in her 2023 essay and in the 2025 letter—is one of gratitude and solidarity, not grandstanding.

“I can only imagine the relief my parents felt,” she has said, extending that empathy to parents now facing the same worries. In choosing to share her story, Johansson makes the stakes personal for lawmakers and the public alike.

Scarlett Johansson’s fight to preserve SNAP and Medicaid is, at its core, a full-circle moment: a woman who once relied on school lunches to fuel her creativity now leveraging her global platform to ensure the next generation can do the same. It is advocacy rooted in empathy, fortified by courage, and carried out with humility—proving that even in Hollywood, the most powerful roles can be played off-screen.