Actor Mark Ruffalo has responded to accusations that he is antisemitic after criticizing a proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Ruffalo has been vocal in his opposition to the $111 billion deal, warning about the potential negative effects of media consolidation. The controversy began after he shared a clip of Safra Catz, a board member at Paramount, discussing technology provided by Oracle to the Israeli military.
Catz described the technology as ‘really profoundly scary’ and noted its use by Israel following the October 7, 2023 attacks, according to theweek.in. Ruffalo commented that the technology mentioned could end up in one of the largest media companies in the world, according to a report from commondreams.org. Paramount quickly responded, calling the actor’s remarks antisemitic and saying such language cheapens real suffering.
In his response, Ruffalo said the accusations were ‘appalling and fundamentally dishonest.’ He emphasized that criticizing Israeli military contracts or executives is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. Ruffalo also said his criticism comes from personal political beliefs, not hostility toward Jewish people.
He went on to argue that examining the Ellisons’ business practices and their influence on media is necessary. The deal would give control over major media outlets including CNN, HBO and Warner Bros. Ellison is also a major shareholder in Paramount Skydance, which formed from the merger of Paramount and Skydance.
The proposed deal has drawn criticism from state attorneys general who say it would harm competition and workers. New York is among the states suing to block the merger. The lawsuit claims the deal would reduce competition, raise consumer prices and hurt workers in the entertainment industry.
Ruffalo is currently starring in the box-office hit Spider-Man: Brand New Day as the Hulk. He also criticized the potential influence of foreign money on editorial decisions in media companies. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for a national security review of the merger.
Ruffalo concluded by saying that the merger should not proceed until more is known about its implications. He added that it is important to confront these issues directly rather than avoid them. The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s CEO, Jim Berk, supported Ruffalo’s position, calling it a necessary moral clarity.
Critics of the merger argue that it would concentrate too much power in the hands of a few individuals and companies. Ruffalo’s stance has sparked debate about how to balance free speech with concerns about antisemitism in public discourse. Paramount officials have maintained that they do not tolerate any form of prejudice.
The company’s statement emphasized that applying terms like genocide and apartheid to a business deal is inappropriate. Ruffalo’s response has been supported by some entertainment industry figures. He reiterated that his criticism is about corporate behavior, not religious identity.
The debate over the merger continues as state officials prepare to meet about a potential settlement.
IMAGE: Retired U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter, right, poses for a photo with Mark Ruffalo at the David Letterman studio in New York City, N.Y., June 25, 2014. The visit is part of a media tour after he was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House on June 19, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael C. Guinto/Released). Photo: Cpl. Michael C. Guinto / Wikimedia, taken 2014-06-25, Public domain