Jewish artists rally behind Mark Ruffalo as Paramount labels his criticism antisemitic
More than 150 Jewish creators and scholars signed an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo after Paramount accused his remarks about Oracle's role in the Israel-Gaza conflict of antisemitic tropes, linking the dispute to the stalled Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
A coalition of over 150 filmmakers, academics, writers and rabbis issued an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo, who was recently accused by Paramount of using "antisemitic tropes" in his criticism of Oracle Corp. The group described the accusation as a "false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism" and said pointing out links between the Gaza war and Hollywood is a matter of Jewish ethical duty.
Ruffalo, a vocal opponent of the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, posted on Instagram that Oracle provides technology used by the Israeli military in Gaza, which he characterized as a genocide built on an apartheid system of oppression. Paramount’s chief executive David Ellison has faced resistance to the merger, which is also challenged by an antitrust lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state officials.
The letter, signed by notable figures such as Joel Coen, Tony Kushner and Ilana Glazer, warned that the merger would consolidate media ownership, threaten jobs and limit competition. It also connected the deal to broader concerns about tech-driven domination and the Ellison family's business interests, including TikTok.
Paramount declined to comment on the letter. Leaders of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Anti-Defamation League have defended the company, while Ruffino maintains his criticism targets corporate actions, not Jewish people.