Actor Mark Ruffalo Urges California AG Not to Settle Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Lawsuit
Mark Ruffalo called on California Attorney General Rob Bonta to reject a proposed settlement of the antitrust case against Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros., while Paramount accused him of using antisemitic language.
Actor Mark Ruffalo posted on X urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta not to concede to a settlement in the antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 state attorneys general over Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Ruffalo cited a petition signed by more than 75,000 people and warned that the merger could harm the public.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount and the states are in advanced negotiations to resolve the case. Ruffalo, who testified against the merger at a Senate hearing and signed an open letter with other actors, also linked the petition to his social-media post.
Paramount issued a statement calling Ruffalo's remarks about "genocide" and "apartheid" antisemitic, saying such language "cheapen the very real suffering" those terms describe and that the company does not tolerate prejudice. Ruffalo responded on X that the accusation of antisemitism was "appalling and fundamentally dishonest."
The lawsuit, filed on July 13, alleges that combining two of Hollywood's top studios would raise prices, reduce the number of movies shown in theaters, and diminish the variety and quality of content. California Attorney General Bonta said the merger would "snuff out competition, drive up prices, diminish content quality, and produce fewer movies and shows each year."