George Clooney Defends Mark Ruffalo Amid Paramount-Warner Merger Criticism

Actor and director George Clooney has publicly supported actor Mark Ruffalo, defending his right to criticize the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, valued at approximately $111 billion. Speaking at a press conference at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, ahead of receiving a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, Clooney expressed concern over increasing centralization in the entertainment industry.

Clooney stated his support for Ruffalo's "ability to speak freely" on the merger, while also voicing his own doubts about the deal. "I worry when a big company swallows another company," Clooney said. "The consolidation of large companies often leads to significant job losses."

Ruffalo has been a vocal critic of the merger and the Ellison family, which is behind Paramount. His criticism escalated last month when he accused the family of collaborating with Israel, using terms like "genocide" and "apartheid," and claiming Oracle's activities aid Israel's security apparatus. He highlighted Oracle's ties to the IDF and shared a video of Oracle's Vice Chair Safra Catz discussing technologies supplied to Israel after the October 7th attacks.

Paramount responded sharply to Ruffalo's remarks, accusing him of using antisemitic tropes. Ruffalo denied these accusations, and over 170 Jewish intellectuals and artists signed a letter supporting him, warning against attempts to silence criticism. Clooney addressed the controversy, stating, "I support Mark Ruffalo's ability to speak freely. The idea of silencing expression is ridiculous. I believe in freedom of speech even when I disagree with what is said. It is part of the democratic mechanism."

Regarding the financial aspects of the deal, Clooney added that he is not convinced the merger is financially sound, given its many complexities.