Scarlett Johansson Denies NYC Mayor Snub  5/17/06

Stunning actress Scarlett Johansson was publicly embarrassed last week (ends12MAY06) when she was portrayed as having 'stood up' the Mayor of New York at a press conference.

Johansson was too busy filming her latest movie The Nanny Diaries to attend Mayor Mike Bloomberg's conference in Manhattan, which highlighted the city's plans to offer tax breaks to Hollywood studios in a bid to bring film and TV companies back to the Big Apple.

At the conference, Bloomberg told reporters he was excited about standing "next to a real beauty, Scarlett Johansson... Now she's not here yet".

When Johansson failed to show, the media were quick to assume it was the actress' fault.

However, the Lost in Translation star insists she declined the invitation prior to the event, telling the New York Daily News, "We were never supposed to be part of the press conference.

"I am filming The Nanny Diaries and production will always comes first."