Actor Mark Ruffalo has strongly refuted Paramount's accusations of antisemitism, stating that his criticisms were directed at the business practices and potential media consolidation associated with tech billionaire Larry Ellison and Oracle, rather than any religious group. The controversy ignited when Ruffalo voiced concerns over Oracle's involvement in the proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, highlighting comments by Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra Catz about possessing "profoundly scary technology" that could be used by the Israeli military. Paramount issued a statement condemning Ruffalo's use of terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" as antisemitic tropes within a business context. Ruffalo, however, clarified his position, asserting that critiquing specific business dealings and military technology contracts does not equate to antisemitism and that the focus should remain on the potential negative impacts of such a large media merger on editorial freedom and employment. This dispute unfolds against the backdrop of several state attorneys general challenging the acquisition on antitrust grounds, raising further concerns about market monopolization and its consequences for consumers and the industry.

Actor Mark Ruffalo has strongly refuted Paramount's accusations of antisemitism, stating that his criticisms were directed at the business practices and potential media consolidation associated with tech billionaire Larry Ellison and Oracle, rather than any religious group. The controversy ignited when Ruffalo voiced concerns over Oracle's involvement in the proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, highlighting comments by Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra Catz about possessing "profoundly scary technology" that could be used by the Israeli military. Paramount issued a statement condemning Ruffalo's use of terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" as antisemitic tropes within a business context. Ruffalo, however, clarified his position, asserting that critiquing specific business dealings and military technology contracts does not equate to antisemitism and that the focus should remain on the potential negative impacts of such a large media merger on editorial freedom and employment. This dispute unfolds against the backdrop of several state attorneys general challenging the acquisition on antitrust grounds, raising further concerns about market monopolization and its consequences for consumers and the industry.

Actor Mark Ruffalo has strongly refuted Paramount's accusations of antisemitism, stating that his criticisms were directed at the business practices and potential media consolidation associated with tech billionaire Larry Ellison and Oracle, rather than any religious group. The controversy ignited when Ruffalo voiced concerns over Oracle's involvement in the proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, highlighting comments by Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra Catz about possessing "profoundly scary technology" that could be used by the Israeli military. Paramount issued a statement condemning Ruffalo's use of terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" as antisemitic tropes within a business context. Ruffalo, however, clarified his position, asserting that critiquing specific business dealings and military technology contracts does not equate to antisemitism and that the focus should remain on the potential negative impacts of such a large media merger on editorial freedom and employment. This dispute unfolds against the backdrop of several state attorneys general challenging the acquisition on antitrust grounds, raising further concerns about market monopolization and its consequences for consumers and the industry.

Oscar-winning actor Mark Ruffalo has hit back at Paramount’s claim that his comments on Oracle and tech billionaire Larry Ellison were ‘anti-semitic.’

In a post on X, he explained that the he found the accusation “appalling and fundamentally” dishonest.

The back-and-forth began after Ruffalo slammed the Ellison family, led by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, who founded Oracle.

Ellison’s Oracle is funding Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Sources say that Paramount and California state officials are set to meet ​on Monday to discuss a ‌potential settlement path of the State's ​lawsuit aimed at stopping Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the New York Times.

Ellison also owns 50 per cent of media giant Paramount Skydance, which formed after the the merger of Paramount and media company Skydance, which was owned by his son David Ellison, who is also a Trump donor.

The acquisition would mean that Paramount would own all of CNN, HBO and Warner Bros.

The actor shared a video of Israeli-American Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra Catz discussing the assistance Oracle provided to Israel after the attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. In the video, Catz said that Oracle possessed “really profoundly scary technology” that the company wanted to make available to the Israeli military.

Ruffalo said the scary technology the company possesses would be part of one of the world's largest media companies and would one day be “used on you.”

“Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle,” he continued.

He also called Oracle founder Ellison a “classic oligarch” and accused powerful people of “consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance.”

Paramount immediately condemned the remarks and called Ruffalo anti-semitic.

A representative for the company said, “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,” the statement read.

Ruffalo responded by rejecting the claim that he was anti-semitic and rebuked the criticism. “Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel.” he said.

Ruffalo then doubled down on his stance and wrote about how the $111 deal could have real consequences for the entire country and real people.

“Scrutinising the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary. The $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.

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, he added.

The Paramount-Warner Bros merger is currently being challenged by a dozen state attorneys general in the USA.

In July, California and 11 U.S. states sued to ​block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging the deal would lessen competition ​in film distribution and cable television, ​harming theaters and pay TV distributors, Reuters reported.

Officials warn that it could create a massive conglomerate that would put Larry Ellison in charge of the biggest Hollywood studio as well as CNN, the Daily Beast reported. It would also cost about 4500 jobs and, by association, another 10,000 other jobs.

New York, Arizona and Minnesota argued the deal would harm theaters ​and television distributors, raise prices ​for consumers and make wages less competitive for workers.

Ruffalo is currently starring in the box-office hit Spider-Man: Brand New Day as the Hulk.

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