Actor Mark Ruffalo responded to accusations of antisemitism from Paramount Skydance after he publicly opposed the media company’s proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery. Ruffalo had shared social media posts highlighting connections between Paramount Skydance’s CEO David Ellison and his father Larry Ellison, who runs Oracle Corporation.
Ruffalo focused his criticism on Oracle’s long-standing business relationship with Israeli government and military entities. The actor cited statements from Oracle executives describing technology provided to Israel, particularly following the October 2023 Hamas attack. He argued that allowing such technology to be integrated into a major media conglomerate posed risks and urged his followers to oppose the deal on grounds that it would concentrate media power while reducing industry competition and eliminating jobs.
Paramount Skydance issued a rare public statement characterizing Ruffalo’s language as invoking “antisemitic tropes,” specifically objecting to his use of terms like “genocide” and “apartheid” when describing a corporate transaction. The company stated such characterizations were inappropriate and cheapened the meaning of those terms.
Ruffalo subsequently clarified his position in a written response, distinguishing between criticism of Israeli government military actions and technology contracts versus criticism of Jewish people. He emphasized that his opposition to the merger stemmed from concerns about media consolidation, editorial freedom, and employment impacts rather than any animus toward Jewish communities. He noted his close personal and professional relationships with Jewish colleagues and friends.
The federal government had approved the merger in June, though it remains under legal challenge from 12 states pursuing antitrust claims. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization, backed Paramount’s response to Ruffalo.
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