Racism, sexism and no Black Widow dolls: The Avengers: Age of Ultron tour

Robert Downey Jr. intended to be complimentary with a statement about Mexican-born director Alejandro Inarritu that some have interpreted as racist, the actor's publicist said Wednesday.

Inarritu, while promoting Birdman in October, likened superhero movies to a "cultural genocide."

Downey Jr. said in a video interview last week that "for a man whose native tongue is Spanish, to be able to put together a phrase like `cultural genocide' just speaks to how bright he is."

Can't see the video? Watch it here.

Various Twitter users accused Downey Jr. of being racist in his remarks. One woman wrote that she "loved" him until this and hashtagged the word "racist." Another user tweeted at the actor to "keep your racist opinions to yourself."

Taken in the proper context of the interview, it is intended to be, and is, complimentary."- Downey Jr.'s publicist Alan Nierob responding to the actor's comments

Downey Jr. also said that he respects "the heck" out of Inarritu in the interview with The Guardian. Later, he remarked, too, that "a certain level of scrutiny is good," when making films that are so popular — especially among children — even if it's critical.

"You want to be responsible to the opportunity you've been given," he said.

The reporter also asked Downey Jr.'s Avengers: Age of Ultron co-stars similar questions about the glut of superhero movies on the market, though none of their responses were as inflammatory.

"Taken in the proper context of the interview, it is intended to be, and is, complimentary," said Downey Jr.'s publicist Alan Nierob.

Inarritu's issue with superheroes 

Inarritu's Birdman, which won Oscars for best picture and best director, takes a darkly satirical look at blockbuster culture in its examination of a past-his-prime superhero actor grasping for artistic authenticity.

In an interview with trade publication Deadline in October, Inarritu said that although he "sometimes" enjoys superhero movies, he takes issue when they try to be too profound.

"They have been poison, this cultural genocide, because the audience is so overexposed to plot and explosions and [expletive] that doesn't mean nothing about the experience of being human," Inarritu said.

A representative for Inarritu did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Troubled Avengers tour

Downey Jr.'s comments weren't the only controversy to come from the lengthy the Avengers: Age of Ultron promotional tour.  

The outspoken actor made headlines last week after walking out of an interview with Channel 4 News journalist, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who asked the Iron Man actor some personal questions.

He further expressed his distaste for Guru-Murthy this week, by calling him "a bottom-feeding muckraker" in an interview with American radio shock jock Howard Stern.

Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner were forced to issue an apology last Wednesday after calling co-star Scarlett Johansson's character, Black Widow, a "whore" during an interview with the British media.

Renner said they were "Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour."

More Black Widow 'please'

Not all of the headlines came from the press tour.

Mark Ruffalo, who plays Hulk in the movie, expressed personal disappointment with the merchandise Marvel turned out for the film.

The actor took to Twitter to point out the studio's lack of kid-friendly merchandise featuring Black Widow.​

But Ruffalo wasn't the only one to notice the lack of kid-friendly toys featuring the lone female Avenger, whose alter ego is Natasha Romanoff.

Out of the 251 Avengers-related items available for purchase on the official Marvel's shopping site only a handful feature Black Widow prominently.

Those include a coffee mug, a mouse pad, and a woman's T-shirt. 

Fans of the super-spy character are using the hashtag "WhereIsNatasha" to unite their displeasure online.

Despite the backlash, and the media missteps, the controversies have served to create more publicity for the highly anticipated sequel.

Avengers: Age of Ultron goes into wide release on May 1.