Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans apologize for "juvenile" Black Widow jokes

Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans have apologized for what they called their "tasteless" joking about the sole female Avenger, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow.

The actors both issued apologies Thursday after teasing the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" character with derogatory slurs during an interview about the film. When asked about the possibility of a romance between the Black Widow and Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner, Renner called her "a slut" and Evans added that she's "a complete whore," as they both laughed.

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

Renner, who plays Hawkeye, said he was sorry "that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyway."

Renner added: "It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour."

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" opens in theaters on May 1.