Actor John Cusack has expressed solidarity with fellow actor Mark Ruffalo, who is embroiled in a controversy with Paramount over accusations of invoking "antisemitic tropes." The dispute arose after Ruffalo criticized Oracle executive vice chair Safra Catz and the company's alleged involvement with the Israeli military.
Ruffalo had reposted a video of Catz discussing "really profoundly scary technologies" used by Oracle to assist the Israeli military. He linked this criticism to the proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by the Ellison family, which includes Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Paramount CEO David Ellison. Ruffalo raised concerns about editorial independence and potential job losses if the deal, which would consolidate CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros. under one family's control, proceeds.
Paramount issued a statement expressing concern over the invocation of antisemitic tropes in what it characterized as a business dispute, arguing that terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" in this context are inappropriate and diminish real suffering.
Ruffalo, however, rejected the antisemitism accusation as "appalling and fundamentally dishonest." He stated that criticism of the Israeli government, military technology contracts, or associated executives should not be conflated with anti-Jewish sentiment. He maintained that scrutinizing the Ellisons' business practices, including Oracle's work with surveillance technology and government contracts, is essential for evaluating the potential impact on media freedom and employment.
Ruffalo also noted that lawmakers have called for a national security review of the proposed merger, and regulators have yet to provide public clarity. He argued that the deal should not move forward until these issues are thoroughly addressed.
The potential merger has also attracted legal challenges from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general. Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have agreed to delay the transaction's closing until five days after a court ruling on the states' claims or until June 1, 2027, whichever occurs first.
Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, commended Paramount for addressing what he described as the crossing of a line from legitimate debate into antisemitic tropes. Conversely, film critic Christian Toto suggested that Ruffalo might have preferred Cusack remain silent, alluding to Cusack's past comments on the Middle East. Toto also observed that the controversy highlights a growing divide within Hollywood and the Democratic Party regarding the issue of antisemitism, potentially creating internal conflict.
