Jewish Figures Defend Mark Ruffalo Amid Antisemitism Claims
Over 170 Jewish figures from entertainment, academia, and other fields have signed a letter supporting actor Mark Ruffalo against what they describe as a "smear campaign" targeting him. The signatories, including Joel Cohen, Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, and Israeli creators Einat Weizman and Udi Aloni, assert that Ruffalo has been subjected to "false accusations of antisemitism." The letter states, "Enough! Stop the false and dangerous weaponization of antisemitism accusations against those brave enough to state the obvious, the assault on the Palestinian people and the assault on our freedom here are linked, and there is nothing antisemitic about recognizing this fact."
The letter also addresses the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, suggesting it is part of a broader technological control project by Larry Ellison, rather than a standard corporate deal. The signatories argue that pointing out connections between events in Gaza and Hollywood is the "very essence of the Jewish moral imperative" and the opposite of antisemitism.
They reference a Washington Post poll indicating 61% of American Jews believe Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, questioning if these individuals would also be labeled antisemitic. This comes after Ruffalo, a vocal critic of the $111 billion deal where David Ellison's Skydance would acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, expanded his criticism beyond corporate issues to include his views on Israel and the war in Gaza.
Ruffalo had previously shared a video on Instagram from Shifra Katz, a former Oracle CEO and current Paramount board member, accusing the company of operating an "apartheid system of oppression" and being involved in "genocide." He labeled Larry Ellison, whose son is financing the acquisition, a "classic oligarch."
Paramount responded sharply, accusing Ruffalo of using "so-called antisemitic tropes in service of a business dispute" and calling the use of terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" in the context of a corporate deal a "line crossed." Ruffalo retorted that the accusation was "fundamentally shocking and dishonest," adding that criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, military technology contracts, or the executives providing them is not equivalent to criticizing Jewish people.
