Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Glazer Lead 180 Jewish Artists Defending Mark Ruffalo

More than 180 Jewish cultural figures, including actors Joaquin Phoenix and Jonathan Glazer, have signed an open letter supporting actor Mark Ruffalo against accusations of antisemitism. The letter, published Tuesday, also includes signatories like Joel Cohen, Todd Haynes, Miranda July, and Hannah Einbinder, and was reported by Variety.

The signatories reject the claims against Ruffalo, asserting they are an attempt to silence criticism of the war in Gaza and the concentration of power within the media industry. They argue that Ruffalo's connection between the activities of the Ellison family in Israel and the proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is not antisemitic, but stems from a sense of Jewish moral responsibility. The letter also warns of potential negative impacts on jobs, competition, and creative freedom due to the business deal.

The controversy began when Ruffalo criticized the merger and David Ellison, head of Paramount, and his father Larry, a co-founder of Oracle. Ruffalo shared a video featuring Safra Catz, a senior executive at Oracle and a Paramount board member, discussing technological assistance to Israel following the October 7th attacks. Ruffalo linked the company's actions to what he termed genocide and apartheid.

Paramount responded by accusing Ruffalo of using antisemitic tropes in a business dispute, stating that applying these terms to the deal trivializes the suffering they represent. A spokesperson for Catz clarified that the technologies discussed were intended to aid in the rescue of hostages taken on October 7th. The Simon Wiesenthal Center and industry figures like Haim Saban also condemned Ruffalo's remarks.

Ruffalo himself denied the accusations, stating that criticism of the Israeli Prime Minister, military technology contracts, or company executives is not equivalent to criticism of Jewish people. He emphasized that his views are based on his political outlook, not animosity towards Jews, and highlighted the significant presence of Jewish friends and colleagues in his life.