Actress Jane Fonda defended actor Mark Ruffalo on Thursday following accusations from Paramount that he invoked antisemitic tropes. Fonda criticized Larry Ellison, stating, "Larry Ellison, because he doesn’t like Mark Ruffalo’s position on the merger, accuses him of antisemitism when he said nothing that isn’t within his constitutional right to say. It’s a tactic they’re using. He should be ashamed of himself, Larry Ellison. But there’s a lot of support for Mark. A lot of people came forward," as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Paramount did not respond to a request for comment. The accusations against Ruffalo arose after he shared a video featuring Safra Catz, an Oracle executive and Paramount board member, discussing technology used by Oracle to assist Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Ruffalo linked Larry Ellison, Oracle's co-founder, to the financing of a proposed merger and suggested it could be used to promote oppression.
Ruffalo stated, "These ‘really profoundly scary technologies’ will most likely be merged into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used on you. Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle."
In response to the accusations, Ruffalo described them as appalling and fundamentally dishonest. He emphasized that criticizing Israeli government actions or military technology contracts does not equate to antisemitism. He expressed his respect for Jewish people and clarified that his views stem from personal political convictions.
Over 180 Jewish entertainers and artists signed a letter supporting Ruffalo, stating, "We are Jewish artists, writers, creative professionals, faith leaders and thinkers who have, in response to the outrageous smear campaign against our respected colleague Mark Ruffalo, a simple message to share with the world: Enough!" The letter criticized the weaponization of antisemitism charges against those who highlight the connection between the assault on Palestinian people and the erosion of liberties.
Fonda also criticized the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, citing concerns about debt, job losses, and consumer prices. She stated, "There’s a very robust and growing movement to stop the mergers. It’s sad for me because I like David Ellison very much. David’s Skydance financed ‘Grace and Frankie,’ my 7-year-long run for Netflix. I got to know him, and I like him, but that doesn’t change things. This is not a personal thing."
Christian Toto, editor of Hollywood in Toto, commented that Fonda's defense of Ruffalo might distract from the implications of his comments regarding Israel. He noted that Ruffalo's remarks connected the merger to Israel’s foreign policy, which drew criticism.
Fonda also expressed her views on political issues, stating she is not afraid of former President Donald Trump and highlighted a shift in public sentiment regarding data centers in communities, noting that both Republicans and Democrats are opposing such developments.