Hollywood Figures Back Mark Ruffalo Against Allegations of Anti-Semitism Following Merger Criticism

More than 180 prominent Jewish figures, primarily from the entertainment industry, have rallied in strong support of Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo. The backing comes in response to accusations of anti-Semitism he faced after opposing a controversial merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery.

Ruffalo, known for his roles in Marvel’s The Hulk and Avengers franchise, had linked Paramount’s proposed $111bn acquisition of Warner Bros to Larry Ellison—cofounder of tech giant Oracle and whose family owns Paramount—along with his support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Oracle’s work with the Israeli military. Paramount responded by accusing Ruffalo of invoking anti-Semitic tropes, arguing that references to genocide and apartheid in connection with a corporate transaction crossed a line. Ruffalo rejected the allegation as dishonest, maintaining that criticism of Israeli government policy, military technology contracts, and the executives involved is distinct from criticism of Jewish people.

Experts note that this controversy reflects a broader, longstanding issue where accusations of anti-Semitism are increasingly utilized to discredit criticism of Israel, particularly as public opinion in the US grows more critical of the country's conduct in Gaza.

The controversy began on August 21 when Ruffalo shared an old clip on his Instagram story featuring Oracle executive vice chair Safra Catz highlighting the company's support for Israel following the October 2023 attack. Ruffalo criticized Catz over these remarks, prompting strong condemnation from figures such as Simon Wiesenthal Center CEO Jim Berk and Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt. Ruffalo later clarified that his political convictions should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people.

The Avengers star is among many industry figures opposing the merger. In April, more than 1,400 film industry figures, including Ben Stiller and Emma Thompson, signed a letter opposing the transaction between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery.

Historian Zachary Foster described the anti-Semitism accusations against Ruffalo as an irrational double standard, noting that similar criticism directed at other nations does not draw bigotry allegations. Meanwhile, legal experts and analysts like Jenin Younes and Yousef Munayyer pointed out a long history of using such allegations to suppress pro-Palestinian voices and silence critics.

Despite these pressures, support for Ruffalo continues to grow among Hollywood peers like Jane Fonda, John Cusack, and Hannah Einbinder, alongside the letter signed by more than 180 Jewish figures. Concurrently, experts suggest that shifting public opinion and falling approval for Israel indicate that efforts to control the narrative are increasingly facing pushback.