LOS ANGELES — Mark Ruffalo has rejected allegations that his criticism of Paramount and its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery was antisemitic, describing the accusation as “appalling and fundamentally dishonest.”
In a post on X on Saturday, August 22, the actor said criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, military technology contracts or corporate executives involved in supplying such technology should not be equated with hostility toward Jewish people.
“Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people,” Ruffalo wrote.
Ruffalo said his views stem from his own political beliefs and should not be interpreted as prejudice against Jewish people. He added that Jewish friends, colleagues and loved ones have had a profound influence on his life and work.
The dispute followed an Instagram post Ruffalo shared Friday featuring a video of Oracle executive vice chair Safra Catz discussing the company’s support for Israel during the Gaza war, according to Variety. In the clip, Catz said Oracle had technology it sought to make available for the Israeli military effort.
Ruffalo criticized those comments, warning that the technology could eventually be integrated into a major media conglomerate. He also criticized Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison and raised concerns about wealth concentration and corporate power.
Larry Ellison is the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison. Paramount is pursuing a proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal Ruffalo said could have consequences for workers, editorial independence and media ownership.
A Paramount spokesperson, quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, said the company was troubled by what it described as antisemitic tropes being used in a business dispute. The spokesperson also said terms such as “genocide” and “apartheid” should not be applied to a corporate transaction and reiterated that Paramount does not tolerate prejudice.
Ruffalo responded by saying scrutiny of the Ellison family, Oracle’s business interests and the planned merger was “fair and necessary.” He argued that the proposed $111 billion transaction could place CNN, HBO and Warner Bros. under the control of one family, while raising questions about the influence of foreign funding and potential editorial implications.
The actor’s remarks underscore broader debate over the relationship between corporate ownership, technology companies, media consolidation and the conflict in Gaza.
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