Jane Fonda Defends Mark Ruffalo Against Paramount’s Antisemitism Claims Over Israel Criticism

Jane Fonda has publicly defended actor Mark Ruffalo after Paramount accused him of using antisemitic imagery in his criticism of the Allison family’s ties to Israel and the planned merger with Warner Bros. Fonda, an American Jewish actress and activist, expressed concern over what she called false accusations of antisemitism being used to silence legitimate political criticism. Speaking to Variety on August 26, 2026, she emphasized that antisemitism is a real and dangerous issue but should not be weaponized against those expressing dissenting political views.

Fonda, who works alongside Ruffalo in the Committee for the First Amendment, accused Paramount of trying to divert attention from the merger debate by labeling Ruffalo’s critique as antisemitic. She defended Ruffalo’s First Amendment right to speak out against powerful corporations and the potentially harmful media consolidation represented by the merger.

The controversy began after Ruffalo shared a video featuring Safra Catz, a Paramount board member and Oracle executive, discussing the company’s provision of advanced technology to the Israel Defense Forces following the October 7 attacks. Oracle was co-founded by Larry Ellison, father of Paramount CEO David Ellison. Ruffalo linked the technological support to Israel with the growing media influence of the Allison family, calling Larry Ellison a "classic oligarch" and using terms like "genocide" and "apartheid." Paramount responded that such language in a corporate context crosses a line and expressed concern over antisemitic imagery being used in a business dispute.

Actress Hannah Einbinder also voiced support for Ruffalo, praising his connection between the Allison family’s technology dealings with Israel and their media dominance, and dismissed claims that his criticism was antisemitic as "ridiculous." This incident has sparked a broader Hollywood debate on Israel, antisemitism, and media concentration beyond the initial clash between Ruffalo and Paramount.