Paramount Condemns Mark Ruffalo's Comments as Antisemitic Over Israel Criticism

Hollywood studio Paramount sharply criticized actor Mark Ruffalo over his recent remarks opposing the $111 billion merger deal between Paramount and Warner Bros. On Friday, Ruffalo posted on Instagram a critique targeting Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, whose estimated net worth is around $200 billion. Ellison is the financial backer of Paramount CEO David Ellison, who is facilitating the merger. Ruffalo highlighted Oracle's ties to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), sharing a video from the Israeli-American Community (IAC) featuring Oracle's former CEO Safra Katz praising the company's technology in the context of Israel's military efforts in Gaza. Katz described Oracle's "very frightening" technologies that can be deployed in warfare. Ruffalo accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza, supported by an "apartheid system" operated by Oracle. He also criticized billionaires for exploiting workers and consolidating global wealth and control.

In response, a Paramount spokesperson labeled Ruffalo's statements as "antisemitic." The spokesperson condemned the use of terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" in the context of a corporate merger, calling them not only inaccurate but also offensive and diminishing the real suffering those words represent. This public dispute highlights tensions around the merger and the broader political implications of corporate involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.