1 week ago
Mark Ruffalo Rejects Paramount’s Antisemitism Claim Over Merger
Mark Ruffalo criticized a proposed deal between Paramount and Warner Bros.
Discovery.
He also discussed Oracle technology and its alleged connection to the Israel-Gaza war.
Paramount said some of his words used antisemitic ideas.
Ruffalo strongly disagreed with that accusation.
He said criticizing a government, a business contract or company executives is different from criticizing Jewish people.
He said he respects Jewish people and has been influenced by Jewish friends and colleagues.
Paramount said words such as “genocide” and “apartheid” should not be used in a business argument.
Ruffalo also said the merger could affect workers, media ownership and editorial freedom.
The two sides therefore disagree about both his language and the proposed transaction.
Mark Ruffalo called Paramount’s description of his remarks antisemitic “appalling and fundamentally dishonest.”
Ruffalo said criticizing Israeli government actions, military contracts and executives is not hostility toward Jewish people.
He linked Oracle technology and the Israel-Gaza war to his opposition to Paramount’s proposed $111 billion Warner Bros. deal.
Paramount said references to “genocide” and “apartheid” were inappropriate in a corporate dispute and invoked antisemitic tropes.
The dispute also involves concerns about workers, media consolidation, editorial freedom, national security review and an antitrust lawsuit.
- Who
- Actor Mark Ruffalo and Paramount are disputing Ruffalo’s comments; Oracle, Safra Catz and the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery transaction are central to the controversy.
- What
- Ruffalo rejected Paramount’s claim that his criticism of Oracle, Israel-related military technology and the merger was antisemitic.
- Where
- Ruffalo posted his response on X, while Paramount issued a statement through a spokesperson quoted by Variety.
- When
- The exchange occurred recently; the reports differ on whether Ruffalo’s response was posted Saturday or Sunday.
- Why
- Ruffalo was criticizing Oracle’s alleged role in the Israel-Gaza war and opposing the proposed merger, while Paramount objected to his use of terms including “genocide” and “apartheid.”
Ruffalo’s Position
Paramount’s Position
Antisemitism accusation
Ruffalo’s Position
Ruffalo said criticizing Israeli leaders, military technology contracts or business executives is distinct from hostility toward Jewish people, and called Paramount’s accusation dishonest.
Paramount’s Position
Paramount said Ruffalo invoked antisemitic tropes in the context of a business dispute and said it does not tolerate prejudice against anyone.
Use of “genocide” and “apartheid”
Ruffalo’s Position
Ruffalo used those terms while criticizing the Israel-Gaza war and describing its relationship to Oracle-powered technology.
Paramount’s Position
Paramount said applying those terms to a corporate transaction was wrong and diminished the suffering they are intended to describe.
Proposed merger
Ruffalo’s Position
Ruffalo said the $111 billion deal could concentrate control of major media assets, threaten editorial freedom, affect workers and require further national-security scrutiny.
Paramount’s Position
Paramount has defended the transaction as a way to create a stronger entertainment competitor and pointed to global regulatory clearance, while identifying an antitrust lawsuit as the remaining obstacle.
Key facts
- Proposed deal
- Paramount’s proposed transaction with Warner Bros. Discovery is described as worth $111 billion.
- Ruffalo’s position
- He said criticism of Israeli government actions, military technology contracts and executives is not criticism of Jewish people.
- Paramount’s position
- The company called Ruffalo’s remarks antisemitic and said “genocide” and “apartheid” were inappropriate terms for a corporate transaction.
- Oracle reference
- Ruffalo shared a 2024 clip of former Oracle chief Safra Catz discussing “profoundly scary technologies.”
- Merger concerns
- Ruffalo raised concerns about media consolidation, workers, editorial freedom, national security and control of CNN, HBO and Warner Bros. assets.
- Legal obstacle
- Paramount said an antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 attorneys general was the only remaining obstacle to completing the deal.
- Regulatory status
- One report said the transaction had received clearance from global regulators.
Quotes
Paramount spokesperson
Representative of Paramount responding to Ruffalo’s remarks
“The USD 111 billion deal would hand one family control over CNN, HBO and Warner Bros., backed in part by foreign money whose influence on editorial decisions has never been fully explained to the public. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for serious national security review, and regulators still haven’t given the public a real answer. Until they do, the merger shouldn’t move forward. Now is the time to dive boldly into all these issues, not step back or concede”
telegraphindia.com
“We are, as always, troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute. Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong — they’re a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe. This doesn’t deserve a response in kind — and to be clear, we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone.”
telegraphindia.com
Paramount representative
Paramount spokesperson quoted by Variety in response to Ruffalo’s comments.
“We are, as always, troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute. Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong — they’re a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe.”
livemint.com
Sources
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