George Clooney has publicly defended actor Mark Ruffalo, who faced accusations of antisemitism from Paramount Skydance over his remarks concerning the company's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Clooney, speaking at the Venice Film Festival, asserted his support for Ruffalo's freedom of expression, calling the accusations "ridiculous."
Paramount accused Ruffalo of using "antisemitic tropes" after he voiced opposition to the merger, stating his concerns were related to military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people. Ruffalo had previously described Israel's military actions as "genocide."
Clooney emphasized the importance of free speech in a democracy, stating, "I believe in free speech even when I completely disagree with it." He also added his personal regard for Ruffalo, calling him "a good man."
The actor also commented on the proposed merger itself, calling it a "complicated thing" and expressing concern that such large-scale consolidations often lead to job losses. He predicted the merger might not proceed due to its complexity.
Ruffalo's stance has also been supported by an open letter signed by over 170 Jewish entertainment figures. The letter argued against what it described as the "false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism" and reiterated Ruffalo's point about the connections between the Ellison family, who are central to Paramount's leadership, and Israel's actions in Gaza. The letter stated that "Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism. It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty."
Notable signatories of the open letter include Joel Coen, Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, James Schamus, Emma Seligman, Tony Kushner, Jane Schoenbrun, and Wallace Shawn. Actress Hannah Einbinder, who also defended Ruffalo, highlighted his concerns about the Ellisons' provision of military technology to Israel and their involvement in the media acquisition.
Einbinder stated that labeling Ruffalo antisemitic for questioning the merger was "ludicrous" and pointed to Oracle executive Safra Catz, who sits on Paramount's board and has spoken about providing "profoundly scary technology" to the Israel Defense Forces. Ruffalo himself has criticized the Ellisons, including Larry Ellison, the co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle, for what he described as "powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world."
Ruffalo has maintained that his criticism is directed at specific actions and business dealings, not at Jewish people. He noted that 12 Attorneys General are suing to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, citing concerns about job losses, consolidation of media power, and potential foreign influence. Paramount, in response to the controversy, stated that it is committed to all storytellers and does not tolerate prejudice, urging for understanding over rhetoric.