Over 170 Jewish Artists Sign Letter Defending Mark Ruffalo Amid Antisemitism Allegations
More than 170 Jewish artists and scholars have signed an open letter supporting actor Mark Ruffalo, rejecting accusations that his criticism of a Paramount-Skydance merger was antisemitic.
A coalition of over 170 Jewish artists, writers, academics and faith leaders, including filmmakers Todd Haynes and Joel Coen, actress Miranda July and activist Naomi Klein, signed an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo. The letter, titled “Enough!”, rejects recent accusations that Ruffalo’s criticism of the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery was antisemitic, describing the claims as a smear campaign.
Ruffalo had warned that the $111 billion merger, backed by billionaire Larry Ellison, would combine a major media conglomerate with technology used by the Israeli military. He shared a video of former Oracle CEO Safra Catz describing the “really profoundly scary technology” supplied to Israel after the October 7 attacks, and argued that the merger could extend those capabilities into the entertainment sector. Paramount responded that it was “troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute.”
In a statement, comedian Ilana Glazer said, “Calling Mark Ruffalo antisemitic because he is questioning a massive corporate merger is not only absurd – it’s a dangerous way to shut down legitimate criticism.” The letter asserts that pointing out links between the Gaza conflict and the media merger is “the very essence of Jewish ethical duty” and not antisemitic. It also warns that the merger could consolidate media ownership, threaten jobs and stifle creative competition.
Ruffalo reiterated that criticizing Israeli government actions or the companies supplying technology to its military is distinct from criticizing Jewish people, and urged the public to oppose the merger, which he described as “catastrophic” for the entertainment industry.