Actor Mark Ruffalo addressed accusations from Paramount that his criticism of the Ellison family's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery was antisemitic. In a statement, Ruffalo described the accusation as 'appalling and fundamentally dishonest,' emphasizing that criticizing the Israeli government or military contracts does not equate to hostility towards Jewish people. He stated, 'My views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people.'
The controversy arose after a Paramount spokesperson claimed Ruffalo was invoking 'antisemitic tropes' in the context of a corporate dispute. This followed Ruffalo's reposting of remarks from Safra Catz, a Paramount board member, regarding technologies used by Oracle, a company co-founded by Larry Ellison, in military applications. Ruffalo criticized the merger, stating that it could lead to significant media control and potential threats to editorial freedom.
Paramount's spokesperson reiterated the company's stance against prejudice, stating that terms like 'genocide' and 'apartheid' should not be used in corporate contexts. The merger is currently facing legal challenges from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, and the companies have agreed to delay the deal until at least June 1, 2027, pending court decisions.