Actress and activist Jane Fonda has publicly defended actor Mark Ruffalo against accusations of antisemitism, leveled by Paramount Pictures in relation to his comments on the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Fonda specifically called out Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, stating he should be ashamed of using such tactics.
Ruffalo's remarks, which he denies were antisemitic, stemmed from his sharing of a video by Oracle executive vice chair Safra Catz discussing the company's technology used to assist Israel. Ruffalo linked Ellison to the financing of the merger and suggested it could be used to advance an "apartheid system of oppression." He stated that criticizing Israeli Prime Minister actions or technology contracts is not equivalent to criticizing Jewish people.
"The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest," Ruffalo said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "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."
Fonda argued that Ellison's accusation was a tactic to silence Ruffalo's opposition to the merger. "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 told The Hollywood Reporter. "It’s a tactic they’re using. He should be ashamed of himself, Larry Ellison."
More than 180 Jewish entertainers and artists have also signed a letter in support of Ruffalo, stating that charges of antisemitism are being weaponized against those who highlight the connection between the assault on Palestinians and domestic liberties. Fonda also voiced concerns about the merger's impact on consumers and the industry, citing potential price increases, job losses, and a reduction in bargaining power for creatives.
Fonda acknowledged her personal relationship with David Ellison, whose company Skydance financed her show "Grace and Frankie," but insisted her opposition to the merger was not personal. "I like him, but that doesn’t change things. This is not a personal thing," she said.