Actor Mark Ruffalo has pushed back against Paramount after the Hollywood studio accused him of invoking antisemitic tropes in his opposition to its proposed multi-billion-dollar merger with Warner Bros Discovery.
In an extended social media statement on Saturday, the Oscar-winning actor called the studio's remarks "appalling and fundamentally dishonest," maintaining that his criticism centered on military technology contracts and executive actions rather than Jewish people.
The public feud erupted after a Paramount spokesperson condemned Ruffalo's rhetoric, telling CNN media reporter Brian Stelter that applying terms such as "genocide" and "apartheid" to a corporate business transaction was a "bridge too far."
"The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest," Ruffalo wrote. "Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people."
Ruffalo added that his views stem from his own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom he expressed deep love and respect. "Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life," he stated.
Ruffalo, known for his roles in films including Dark Waters, has long been an active voice on political and social issues. At the 2026 Golden Globes ceremony in January, the actor wore an "ICE Out" badge on the red carpet.
Criticism of Oracle and Executive Ties
On Friday, Ruffalo launched a sharp critique of Paramount in a series of posts on Instagram Stories, targeting Paramount Chief Executive Officer David Ellison, 43, and his father, 82-year-old billionaire technology mogul Larry Ellison.
Larry Ellison is the co-founder and executive chairman of software company Oracle, which has provided technological assistance to Israel amid its assault on Gaza. Ruffalo accused the pair of "powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world."
Addressing his 20.5 million followers, Ruffalo shared a video of Israeli-American business executive Safra Catz, the former Oracle CEO who currently serves as executive vice chair of its board of directors. The clip was recorded at the Israeli-American Council National Summit in 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In the footage, Catz spoke about advancing "the agenda for the Israeli military" and highlighted "really profoundly scary technology at Oracle," saying company leaders "wanted to make sure that it was available for the effort" following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel. Ruffalo wrote alongside the clip: "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."
"This is the company that Larry Ellison is using to fund his son David's Warner Bros acquisition," Ruffalo wrote. He labeled Larry Ellison a "classic oligarch" who would control most of what he disparagingly termed "Para Bros," writing that executives "are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance."
Concerns Over $111 Billion Corporate Merger
In his follow-up post on Saturday, Ruffalo emphasized that the proposed $111 billion business deal carries wide-ranging ramifications for the public and media industry workers.
"Scrutinizing the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary," Ruffalo wrote.
The actor cautioned that the $111 billion deal would hand one family control over major media outlets including CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros., backed in part by foreign capital whose influence on editorial decisions has never been fully explained to the public.
He noted that lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have called for a serious national security review of the transaction. "Until they do, the merger shouldn’t move forward," Ruffalo wrote, urging regulators and the public to confront the issues boldly.
Paramount Defense and Industry Impact
The movement against the merger includes 12 state Attorneys General who are suing to block the deal between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery. The legal effort is led by California, whose entertainment sector has experienced economic challenges in recent times.
Concerns over employment were heightened by a report published by Los Angeles County on Tuesday, which indicated that the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros could cost LA County approximately 4,500 film and television jobs. Ruffalo warned the consolidation "will be catastrophic for our film industry," adding that deals of this scale are almost always detrimental to workers, consumers, and the broader industry.
Paramount responded to Ruffalo's criticism with a formal statement defending the transaction. A spokesperson for Paramount stated: "This doesn't deserve a response in kind, and to be clear, we don't tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone."
The studio emphasized that it was "a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it," expressing a preference to build rather than engage in such rhetoric. Paramount added that Ruffalo's statements "simply exposes the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction," referring to its proposed $110 billion merger with Warner Bros, and affirmed its commitment "to every story, every storyteller, and no blacklists, no exceptions, for anyone."
The company stated it expects the transaction to be judged based on legal merits rather than underlying bias, concluding with a call for "less rhetoric, more understanding." Representatives for Ruffalo and Paramount have been contacted for further comment.
