Actress and activist Jane Fonda has publicly defended actor Mark Ruffalo following accusations by Paramount that he used antisemitic tropes in his commentary on a proposed media merger. Fonda specifically called out Oracle executive Larry Ellison, accusing him of employing antisemitism as a tactic against Ruffalo's stance.
"Larry Ellison, because he doesn’t like Mark Ruffalo’s position on the merger, accuses him of antisemitism when he said nothing that isn’t within his constitutional right to say," Fonda stated in an interview at the DVF Awards, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "It’s a tactic they’re using. He should be ashamed of himself, Larry Ellison. But there’s a lot of support for Mark. A lot of people came forward."
Paramount had previously accused Ruffalo of invoking “antisemitic tropes” after the actor shared a video concerning Oracle's technology and its use in Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Ruffalo linked Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, to the financing of the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount merger, suggesting it would be used to advance oppression.
Ruffalo has strongly refuted the accusations, calling them "appalling and fundamentally dishonest." He clarified that his criticisms target the actions of the Israeli prime minister, military technology contracts, and executives involved, distinguishing this from criticism of Jewish people. "To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect," Ruffalo said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Supporting Ruffalo, over 180 Jewish entertainers and artists signed a letter expressing solidarity, stating, "Enough with the false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism against those who are brave enough to point out the obvious: that the assault on the Palestinian people and the assault on our liberties at home are deeply interconnected, and there is nothing antisemitic about recognizing that fact."
Fonda also voiced her concerns about the potential merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. She cited the companies' debt, the potential negative impact on consumers through increased prices, and job losses. As a creative professional, she argued that fewer studios mean reduced bargaining power for artists and unions.
“They’re carrying so much debt. The Ellisons are carrying so much debt, and it’s being postponed now, so that they have to pay these huge sums. The merger would be terrible for consumers. Prices would go up. Thousands and thousands of people would lose their jobs, and as a creative, the fewer studios there are, the fewer places that we can take our products. We lose bargaining power. Unions lose their power,” Fonda explained. She noted that while she has a positive personal relationship with David Ellison, the business implications are paramount.
Christian Toto, editor of Hollywood in Toto, commented that Fonda's defense might involve misdirection, suggesting that Ruffalo's comments explicitly linked the merger to Israel's foreign policy and described Israel as a "genocidal state," which is what drew criticism. Toto stated, "Fonda either is unaware of this or wants to fool anyone foolish enough to take her seriously."
In a separate statement during the DVF Awards interview, Fonda also addressed her stance on former President Donald Trump, asserting she is not afraid of him. She noted a growing movement against issues like data center placement in communities, suggesting a shift in public sentiment across the political spectrum, including among MAGA members who she believes are increasingly critical of leaders profiting from perceived misery and cruelty.