Actor Mark Ruffalo has publicly pushed back against accusations of antisemitism, labeling the claims as “appalling and fundamentally dishonest.” The 58-year-old “Avengers” star issued his response on August 22 following a statement from Paramount that accused him of invoking “antisemitic tropes” while criticizing a corporate business deal.
The conflict stems from Ruffalo’s vocal opposition to the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, a merger currently facing antitrust scrutiny ahead of a trial scheduled for March 2, 2027. In an Instagram post on August 21, the actor shared a resurfaced 2024 clip featuring Oracle executive vice chair Safra Catz, who sits on the Paramount Skydance board. In the video, Catz discussed Oracle’s support for the Israeli military following the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel. Oracle was co-founded by Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.
In his social media commentary, Ruffalo alleged that the “profoundly scary technologies” mentioned by Catz could be integrated into a massive media conglomerate. He further described the situation as a “genocide” built on an “apartheid system of oppression” powered by Oracle, arguing that the merger would consolidate dangerous levels of creative control. He also characterized the deal as “catastrophic” for the film industry.
Paramount responded to these remarks in a statement, asserting that it is “troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute.” The company stated that using terms like “genocide” and “apartheid” in the context of a corporate transaction is “a bridge too far” and diminishes the severity of the suffering those words represent. Paramount added that it does not tolerate prejudice and called for a “moment to lower the temperature” rather than engaging in further rhetoric.
Ruffalo defended his position on August 22, maintaining that his criticism of Israeli government actions, military technology contracts, or the executives involved does not equate to hostility toward Jewish people. He stated, “My views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect.” He further argued that his attempts to engage in dialogue are being “dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel.”
The actor’s comments drew sharp criticism from several organizations. Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, supported Paramount’s stance, stating that “words matter” and that the organization commends the company for refusing to allow prejudice to masquerade as corporate criticism. Berk added that invoking Israel in an unrelated business issue is a “textbook case of obsession and demonization.”
On August 23, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, also weighed in, describing Ruffalo’s remarks as “cynical and sickening.” Greenblatt accused the actor of engaging in “antisemitic rhetoric,” arguing that bringing up the Jewish state in an unrelated context and then attempting to deflect accountability is a form of “gaslighting.”
As of now, representatives for both Oracle and Ruffalo have been contacted for comment regarding the ongoing dispute. The acquisition deal itself remains on hold while facing challenges from various state attorneys general. The report also notes that we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone, this doesn’t deserve a response in kind − and to be clear. The report also notes that the statement came after Ruffalo took to Instagram on Aug. The report also notes that in his since-expired Instagram Story, Ruffalo alleged, “These ‘really profoundly scary technologies’ will most likely be merged into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used on you. The report also notes that which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle,” he added, also alleging “one of the biggest tech companies in the world” was “powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world, look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide. The report also notes that this simply exposes the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction. The report also notes that rationalized or repackaged in more socially acceptable language, this kind of moral clarity matters, at a time when antisemitism is too often minimized. The report also notes that paramount was right to call it out.